Morally Compromised NY Governor and Legislature Destroy Reputations

There has been no investigation, yet.  There is not yet a credible allegation.  There are no other accusations against this man.  Yet the New York Law which went into effect yesterday has destroyed a priest’s reputation callously and totally without evidence.  The state justice system that allows innocent babies to be wiped out of existence, now also allows people to be accused of supposed ancient crimes by people who have kept silent until this hour.  Fr. O’Malley has been accused of sexual abuse which supposedly happened decades ago.  Nothing derogatory has ever been said against him.  In the O’Malley case, evidence may be forthcoming, but usually before such public allegations are made an investigation has already occurred.  Not so here.  The new law has extended the statute of limitations for sexual abuse for a limited time.  And from first reports, lots of folks are taking advantage of it.  Whether it is the Church, the Boy Scouts, or some other charitable organization, the lust for financial gain will prove to be too much for some.  No doubt there will be some credible allegations made, but the New York Legislature and the Governor have turned the quest for justice in this area into a chaotic rugby scrum.  Shame on them.

A Stunning And Suspicious Accusation

From everything we know, Fr. William O’Malley, S.J. is a good, decent, and even holy man.  A well-respected teacher and author, he has always appeared to be the Jesuit’s Jesuit.  The character he played in the Exorcist was a small, but crucial one, and he handled it expertly and movingly.  Then he went on to teach the Catholic faith to lots of kids and adults.  No one ever accused him of abuse…ever.  But now some one did.  That person alleges that it occurred during the mid-1980’s, in the halls and classrooms of a high school.  Think about that for a second.  These would be very public places.  A long time ago. With no one ever reporting it until now. Some psychiatrists say it is not unusual for victims to remain silent that long.  But this is a different case.  O’Malley is well-known, has always been in the area, taught at the school where the alleged abuse happened for years before and decades after the accusation.  Hard to believe no one knew.  Hard to believe this is anything but an attempt at financial gain.  I’ll be the first to apologize if I am wrong.  But in our justice system, you don’t convict someone without evidence and a trial.  Fr. O’Malley has had neither.  He is 87 years old.  You bet I’m going to sympathize with him until I find out if the accuser has a credible story.  He deserves the presumption of innocence from the start.  People say, “What about the victim?”  We do not know there is a victim yet.  If and when we do, then we minister to him.

The Power Of Christ Commands Us

On film, Fr. O’Malley played Fr. Dyer, the friend of the exorcist.  He supported his friend, the exorcist, as the man struggled with his own demons.  He held him as he lay dying after the horrific fall from the window.  It was a powerful and moving film.  When I went to school in D.C. back in the ’80’s, all of us went to see that window and the stairs that played so much a part in the finale.  It was a very famous landmark.  Haunting with a stench of evil.  Fr. O’Malley played one of the good guys in the film.  I’d like to think he is one of the good guys in real life.  And until I am convinced otherwise by facts, I’m going to stand by his side and help keep the devil and the darkness away.

One of the best lines in the movie was when the exorcist expels the devil with the words, “The Power of Christ commands you.”  In the case of Fr. O’Malley, he deserves people who will scope out the truth and publish it no matter what.  And if he is innocent, we all need to shout it from the rooftops.  The Power of Christ commands all of us.

Here’s the full article from Rolling Stone