Saturday, May 07, 2005
REGARDING LEVINE
The question was raised in a combox yesterday about the fact that Deacon Levine, Superior General of the SSJ, was not yet ordained. I emailed Dr. Bond to ask for clarification. This is his response:
Dear Carrie,
Yes, it is truly incredible that Levine was made Superior General as a Deacon. Who knows what crazy thoughts led the SSJ members to elect him, but no doubt they somehow felt it would protect them since Levine was apparently not involved in the sharing of beds with boys and young men. All of the other SSJ priests--Fullerton, O'Connor, Carey, Sarweh, and Roberts--were too closely connected to the crimes of Urrutigoity and Ensey. In a word, I think the SSJ members felt the election of Levine would deflect criticism and give them a new start.
"Lauda" is right to say that the title "Superior General" was not even appropriate for anyone in the SSJ, but these grandiose titles were part of the way the SSJ attempted to fool its donors, and the Diocese of Scranton let them get away with it.
Pax tecum,
Jeff Bond
