Tuesday, October 04, 2005
EMAIL FROM DR. BOND
Dear Friends,
Deacon Joseph Levine, former Superior General of the suppressed Society of St. John, who was recently removed from his assignment at Mother of Divine Providence Parish in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, is now staying at Villa St. Joseph in Dunmore, PA, which serves as a home for retired priests of the Diocese of Scranton.
As readers of this newsletter will recall, Levine became the Superior General of the Society of St. John after its founder, Carlos Urrutigoity, was exposed as a homosexual predator priest. Levine himself has never been accused of abusing anyone, but Levine used his office to praise and defend Urrutigoity's spiritual leadership of the SSJ long after it was manifest that Urrutigoity was guilty. Levine also used his authority to attack and defame those who accused Urrutigoity, an action for which Levine is being sued. (See http://www.saintjustinmartyr.org/news/DefamationComplaint.html)
The Diocese of Scranton is now likely to do one of three things with Deacon Levine:
(1) Levine may be assigned to a parish in the Diocese of Scranton. Although the Archdiocese of Philadelphia removed Levine from his parish assignment when it learned of his past connections to the Society of St. John, nevertheless the Diocese of Scranton may decide otherwise. After all, the Diocese of Scranton's history of protecting predator priests has not been publicly exposed by a Grand Jury report such as the one recently released in Philadelphia.
(2) The Diocese may try to ordain Levine quietly and then give him an assignment either in Scranton or elsewhere.
(3) The Diocese may realize that Levine is a liability and seek to laicize him.
The third possibility is the only acceptable course of action, yet we do not expect the Diocese of Scranton to take this step. Why? In order to recognize the fact that Levine is unfit to be a priest, the Diocese would have to recognize that Bishop Timlin and his toadies are also not fit to be priests, for they defended and protected the homosexual predator priests of the SSJ just like Levine did. They cannot condemn Levine's actions because they will not condemn their own.
Many of you have already written or called the Diocese to register your concerns about Levine's possible ordination. Based upon the number of people who sent me copies of what they wrote or said to the Diocese, it is fair to say that Levine's file is literally overflowing with complaints. If you have not yet written or called the Diocese, or if you are inclined to write again now that Levine is back in the Scranton Diocese (and possibly awaiting a new assignment), then please contact Bishop Joseph Martino. Bishop Martino's address is 300 Wyoming Avenue, Scranton, PA 18503. His telephone number at the Chancery is (570) 207-2238, or you can fax him at (570) 207-2236. Even if you are unable to speak directly with Bishop Martino, please register your concern with whomever you do speak.
Pax vobiscum,
Dr. Jeffrey M. Bond
