Bishop John Michael D'Arcy- Hero or Zero?

It has been a number of years since I posted on this blog. However, with the passing of Bishop John M. D'Arcy on Sunday, I cannot help but add to what is being written about this man. Bishop D'Arcy was a strong proponent of LifeTeen and the dangers that it caused. When confronted with documented information about problems with it in his own diocese in 2006 and 2007, he not only ordered silence under obedience, but also under obedience ordered it's continuation. He did not believe one of his own priests when told that another of his priests was abusing in his diocese. He, in the end, intimidated him and tried to destroy him. He did not succeed. What he did succeed in doing is driving even deeper underground the clerical sexual abuse and by being perceived as a leader in this area, made anyone who tried to call him out look like a fool with a chip on their shoulder.

Certain publications, i.e. the New York Times, South Bend Tribune, etc... have hailed Bishop D'Arcy as a hero. A hero he is not. He may have written letters to Cardinal Bernard Law in the mid-1980s, but his concern was not for victims as much as it was to keep what was happening buried even deeper... which is what he did in the Diocese of Ft. Wayne/South Bend for the entirety of his 25 years as Bishop Ordinary. In none of the letters he wrote, did he ever advocate going to the authorities. In none of the letters he wrote did he write of contacting victims to help them. John M. D'Arcy is no hero... he is one of the clerical bishops who wanted to keep the Roman Catholic Church from scandal, but went about it in a way very few others had.

His activities against those he was called to lead do not end there. Whenever anyone disagreed with him he would-- by legal means or otherwise-- retaliate. People would be fired for not bowing to his autocratic views. People would be harassed and humiliated until they bowed to his viewpoint. To me, these are not the qualities of a hero... they are closer to the qualities of a zero, a person who has no true integrity but portrays themselves as possessing it.

I can't say I'm sad to see him gone, but hopefully with one less vehement proponent of LifeTeen around, the program will weaken... that is my prayer.