Catholic Newspaper condemns Signal coverage

By Jeff — Jeff Wilson

The Tidings, the Catholics newspaper for the Los Angeles Archdiocese is calling for an apology from The Signal for its recent story about Monsignor Martini, the new pastor at OLPH:

Every person deserves the right to his or her good name, especially when they have been exonerated of one of the most heinous accusations that can be made against an individual today: sexual abuse of a young person.

That is why it is shocking that the Santa Clarita Signal Newspaper would choose to run a story April 7 concerning a single discredited allegation against an exemplary priest and future pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, Monsignor Richard Martini, without first putting in the extra effort to get all the facts.

…

Monsignor Martini was never removed from ministry and has never had another allegation made against him in 31 years as a priest.

Finally, the Signal owes Monsignor Martini and the Catholic Community an apology for implying that he was criminally charged with abuse. The story wrongly states that he “was never convicted of the allegation.” The fact is Monsignor Martini has never been charged with any crime whatsoever.

Ouch. Seeing your town’s newspaper called out like that is pretty disappointing. Hopefully the Signal will learn from this and improve. Here’s the original story.

On the other hand, can anyone blame parents for being a bit on-edge and suspicious of anything coming from the Catholic hierarchy lately? It’s not like the church has built up a reservoir of good-will and trust in its handling of sex abuse cases; quite the opposite in fact.

Comments (9)

BrianApril 12, 2010 at 2:05 pm

If you can’t trust the church …..

mikeApril 12, 2010 at 2:45 pm

you SO had that one! IHeart, time to pay up!

mikeApril 12, 2010 at 2:50 pm

Last month, it was hard to read without threaded comments.

Whiskey Tango FoxtrotApril 12, 2010 at 2:57 pm

The Catholic church has done a pathetic job in policing itself for the last several decades and to now read this sanctimonious response to the Signal’s article is almost laugh out loud funny. I just love seeing them jump up and down over the rights of their priests when they didn’t lift a finger to protect the rights of the young victims. They have a long road to hoe in my book before they can begin to reclaim the moral high ground regarding this issue. Yes, “The Tidings” newspaper, parents in your diocey have every reason in the world to be hyper vigilant and in large measure it is because of your Cardinal Mahoney and his need to protect sexual predator priests in his charge over the rights of their young victims. What he did was criminal and the Catholic newspaper should be a whole lot more contrite. By the way if it makes any difference, I say this as a God fearing Christian person.

spineflower2April 12, 2010 at 3:26 pm

One interpetation of the Signal and OLPH statements is that charges were “dismissed for lack of evidence.” If this is the case, it is far from “exoneration.” A private act with ony the victim as a witness rarely provides any physical evidence. So the question of fact is whether he was charged or merely accused. But who would have paid for the “FBI investigation”? The “Clergy Misconduct Oversight Board”? That sounds like a church organization, hardly without prejudice or agenda in a case liek this! And why was he named in the settlement if it was so crystal clear that he was innocent?

CCApril 12, 2010 at 4:23 pm

Gee, who ya gonna believe? A crappy newspaper ‘owned’ by the powers of SCV or the Catholic church which has hidden their crimes from the light of day?

ReaderMamaApril 12, 2010 at 6:48 pm

Parents, keep your children close. The Catholic church and its priests are not to be trusted.

CoastalSageApril 12, 2010 at 7:18 pm

Back when the Archdiocese of Los Angeles settled the mega million dollar lawsuit which had been filed it by a long list of victim-paritioners, a judge was given all of the personnel files for the defendant priests. The judge wrote a summary concerning what was in each priest’s file, concerning complaints of misconduct, evidence produced in terms of witness statements or forensics. The summary written about each defendant priest was posted on the internet. As to many priests, the judge concluded in his report that the claims were “unsubstantiated”. It seems to me that if there is anything to the stories about Monsignor Martini, they would be in that judge’s report. Perhaps the Archdiocese should put up and re-release the report, or shut up.

TiredApril 13, 2010 at 12:26 am

From the Catholic archdiocese: That is why it is shocking that the Santa Clarita Signal Newspaper would choose to run a story April 7 concerning a single discredited allegation against an exemplary priest and future pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, Monsignor Richard Martini, without first putting in the extra effort to get all the facts. From the Signal article: Archdiocese officials declined to speak to a reporter Thursday and did not return reporters’ calls on Tuesday and Wednesday concerning Rev. Richard Martini, who is set to become the pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Newhall. Thanks, Jeff. The Signal really got told this time. Stupid Signal needs to learn and get better: Real journalists know that if PR people don’t return your phone calls, you should just never print the article. Please, TMS, start reporting facts the Catholic way… that is, not at all.

BrianApril 12, 2010 at 2:05 pm
If you can’t trust the church …..
mikeApril 12, 2010 at 2:45 pm
you SO had that one! IHeart, time to pay up!
mikeApril 12, 2010 at 2:50 pm
Last month, it was hard to read without threaded comments.
Whiskey Tango FoxtrotApril 12, 2010 at 2:57 pm
The Catholic church has done a pathetic job in policing itself for the last several decades and to now read this sanctimonious response to the Signal’s article is almost laugh out loud funny. I just love seeing them jump up and down over the rights of their priests when they didn’t lift a finger to protect the rights of the young victims. They have a long road to hoe in my book before they can begin to reclaim the moral high ground regarding this issue. Yes, “The Tidings” newspaper, parents in your diocey have every reason in the world to be hyper vigilant and in large measure it is because of your Cardinal Mahoney and his need to protect sexual predator priests in his charge over the rights of their young victims. What he did was criminal and the Catholic newspaper should be a whole lot more contrite. By the way if it makes any difference, I say this as a God fearing Christian person.
spineflower2April 12, 2010 at 3:26 pm
One interpetation of the Signal and OLPH statements is that charges were “dismissed for lack of evidence.” If this is the case, it is far from “exoneration.” A private act with ony the victim as a witness rarely provides any physical evidence. So the question of fact is whether he was charged or merely accused. But who would have paid for the “FBI investigation”? The “Clergy Misconduct Oversight Board”? That sounds like a church organization, hardly without prejudice or agenda in a case liek this! And why was he named in the settlement if it was so crystal clear that he was innocent?
CCApril 12, 2010 at 4:23 pm
Gee, who ya gonna believe? A crappy newspaper ‘owned’ by the powers of SCV or the Catholic church which has hidden their crimes from the light of day?
ReaderMamaApril 12, 2010 at 6:48 pm
Parents, keep your children close. The Catholic church and its priests are not to be trusted.
CoastalSageApril 12, 2010 at 7:18 pm
Back when the Archdiocese of Los Angeles settled the mega million dollar lawsuit which had been filed it by a long list of victim-paritioners, a judge was given all of the personnel files for the defendant priests. The judge wrote a summary concerning what was in each priest’s file, concerning complaints of misconduct, evidence produced in terms of witness statements or forensics. The summary written about each defendant priest was posted on the internet. As to many priests, the judge concluded in his report that the claims were “unsubstantiated”. It seems to me that if there is anything to the stories about Monsignor Martini, they would be in that judge’s report. Perhaps the Archdiocese should put up and re-release the report, or shut up.
TiredApril 13, 2010 at 12:26 am
From the Catholic archdiocese: That is why it is shocking that the Santa Clarita Signal Newspaper would choose to run a story April 7 concerning a single discredited allegation against an exemplary priest and future pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, Monsignor Richard Martini, without first putting in the extra effort to get all the facts. From the Signal article: Archdiocese officials declined to speak to a reporter Thursday and did not return reporters’ calls on Tuesday and Wednesday concerning Rev. Richard Martini, who is set to become the pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Newhall. Thanks, Jeff. The Signal really got told this time. Stupid Signal needs to learn and get better: Real journalists know that if PR people don’t return your phone calls, you should just never print the article. Please, TMS, start reporting facts the Catholic way… that is, not at all.