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Published: March 30, 2007
Insulting
Are Catholics --- especially their clergy --- predisposed to lie under oath? The Los Angeles archdiocese vs. the Los Angeles Times.
Are Catholics more likely to lie under oath? Yes, the March 26 Los Angeles Times seems to say.
Catholic clergy and religious, in particular, are a particularly cagey bunch, according to the Times, because they ascribe to the “doctrine” of mental reservation. Though admitting that mental reservation “is not sanctioned by canon law” and “is infrequently invoked,” “in litigation arising from clergy sex abuse cases in the Los Angeles Archdiocese, at least half a dozen lawyers representing victims report having encountered it,” the Times said.
Ira Zalkin, lawyer for alleged victims of clergy molestation, said he asked an elderly nun about mental reservation, and “she explained in her own way that it is ‘to protect the church from scandal.’” Because of mental reservation, Zalkin said, “you really don’t know” if a Catholic under oath is telling the truth. “It complicates that process when there is a doctrine that allows for a lie to avoid scandal to the church.”
 But, quoting Father Thomas Doyle, a canon law expert consulted by clergy-abuse victims’ lawyers, the article asserts the doctrine has been used in modern times to "claim that it is morally justifiable to lie in order to protect the reputation of the institutional church."
Doyle said new cardinals vow never to tell secrets "the revelation of which could cause damage or dishonor to the Holy Church."
In a March 26 statement, the Los Angeles archdiocese took the Times to task for its story, calling it “insulting to Catholics.” The story, said the archdiocese, “gives attorneys suing the Church over sexual abuse unchecked reign to define Church teaching and to assert that all bishops, priests, nuns and church employees are predisposed to lie under oath in order to protect the Church.”
The newspaper, said the statement, should have consulted the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which forbids lying under oath. Mental reservation is not found in the Catechism --- even Father Doyle “a priest who serves as an expert witness on behalf of” the lawyers the Times interviewed, “admits in the story that mental reservation is “not accepted church teaching,” said the statement --- which adds that the Times “apparently did not consult a moral theologian or expert in church law who was not connected with lawyers” suing the Church.
The Times story noted how lawyers will question clergy (Cardinal Mahony in particular) about mental reservation, only to have their lawyers tell them not to answer. The archdiocesan response acknowledged this, but said, because the lawyers think clergy cannot be trusted to tell the truth, the question “is not really a question at all. It is an unprofessional and insulting remark dressed up as a question.”
And as for the oath cardinals take, the Times selectively paraphrased it, said the archdiocese, and “distort[ed] its true meaning.” “The oath begins with a promise to live forever faithful ‘to Christ and his Gospel,’ and ends with a pledge to serve the Church ‘in accord with the norms of the law,’” said the statement. “There is not one word to suggest that the cardinals be anything other than truthful under oath, as the Catechism plainly states.”
Posted Friday, March 30, 2007 5:16 AM By Edgar A. SUter MD
Certainly the NOVUS ORDO clergy is predisposed to lie. They have been lying to us for years about theology, morality, liturgy, perversion, embezzlement, history, justice, and their secret lives. Yes, the NOVUS ORDO clergy is predisposed to lie.
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Posted Friday, March 30, 2007 8:41 AM By David
Lies. so many lies. Doyle is an ex-Dominican priest. He cooperates with groups like SNAP and Voice of the Faithful and others of the dissenting left. The Church in California is weak. The faithful out there need to endure persecution in order to stand up for Holy Mother Church.
St. Michael the Archangel & St. Paul, Pray for us.
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Posted Friday, March 30, 2007 9:47 AM By Puttss
I've been a Catholic all my life. Yes, the clergy lies. Yes the clergy has been lying for more years than anyone can remember. They use scholastic philosophy and Sophistry better than anyone you will ever meet, So they have talked their way into thinking that they don't lie. But they do. They're the best there is.
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Posted Friday, March 30, 2007 10:06 AM By semperficatholic
"THOU SHALT NOT STEAL" I teach my 9 year old granddaughter that, to tell a lie is to "steal the truth." I am never shocked at what excuses many who hold the beautiful offices in our Church will make. Shame on them! There is a last breath that these corrupt people will take and I pray for their souls.
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Posted Friday, March 30, 2007 11:08 AM By Daniel
This is a crying shame, an honest newspaper that only prints the truth with no deviation for political or other reasons, good honest lawyers never resorting to unethical tactics, and we the Catholic Church lying our eyes out to deceive these two American bastions of truth and honestly, how awful we are. We need to follow the example that these two great institutions set every day and tell the truth just like they do, of course if we do we may find that hell is at our doorstep. Bashing Catholic's is a sport with these creeps. Prove Mahoney lied beyond a reasonable doubt. I do not like the way a lot of things were handled, but putting my faith in the LA Times and lawyers to be truth guidance directors is not in the cards.Notice they now paint ALL CATHOLIC'S with the same brush, that makes for better press.
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Posted Friday, March 30, 2007 11:30 AM By Richard
Politicians lie. The clergy are basically politicians, so what is the surprise. All this talk about "mental reservation" is silly. A bald- faced lie -- and we have heard some big ones --is a lie. If they don't want to/can't reveal "secrets" then they should either keep quiet or say that they won't talk about the subject, and let the chips fall where they may.
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Posted Friday, March 30, 2007 12:25 PM By Janet
The LA Times is calling Bishops liars?
Isn't that the pot calling the kettle black!
If they had any proof (as in charges of PERJURY) that any of our Bishops lied, then they would be printing it but they aren't. They are taking something called "mental reservation" something obscure I've never even heard of and saying that it is a "church sanctioned" form of lying. It only shows their absolute ignorance and prejudice. Perhaps they think it's a "conspiracy".
Catholic bashing sells. Conspiracy talk sells. That's all this article is about. LA Times = National Enquirer.
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Posted Friday, March 30, 2007 12:59 PM By Gregorian
Dr. Suter,
You forgot to mention that the Novus Ordo clergy like to kick elderly widows, set fire to orphanages, impale small animals, and ... COME ON, doctor. You're giving proponents of the old rite Mass -- and I am one -- a bad name. Prescribe yourself a valium. The new mass, as so terribly offered around the world, is a symptom, not a cause, of a more systemic rot. Said correctly, especially in Latin, it's beautiful, though not as beautiful as the old Latin rite.
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Posted Friday, March 30, 2007 2:53 PM By Mary Ann
I'm disgusted by some of the comments here. The bias of the LA Times is expected and gross. But the way some of the faithful are talking about our priests is shocking! While some are corrupt, where is your respect and gratitude for the many?
In times of persecution it is the priests and religious who usually take the hits first. Where do you put yourself if you are not standing with them? Consider the first martyrs of England, France, Mexico...the list goes on. Prepare yourself and pray for our clergy.
Old rite or new, we are all in the One Church!
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Posted Friday, March 30, 2007 4:52 PM By janet
Dr. Suter,
You're post is a perfect example of the kind of "rotten fruits" that come from "Rad Trads".
I, too, love the old rite Mass. However, I will no longer attend because there are so many Pharisees there. I'd rather sit at the table of Our Lord with the sinners & publicans than with the "brood of vipers".
Matthew 12:
For by the fruit the tree is known. 34 O generation of vipers, how can you speak good things, whereas you are evil? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. 35 A good man out of a good treasure bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of an evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. (http://www.drbo.org/chapter/47012.htm)
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Posted Friday, March 30, 2007 9:04 PM By Margie
Mary Ann, you are very right to be alarmed at the comments expressed here. It has been a rough time for the church but I feel that "we ain't seen nothing yet!" In every decade of the rosary, my friends and I pray 'save the souls of priests.'
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Posted Saturday, March 31, 2007 9:04 AM By A abuse Victim
The Church Officials have lied to you and others when ever it suits their needs. They use your"Faith" as blind reliance that you will never question them. As a follower of Christ, you have the responsibility to investigate fairly the issues, without preconceived thoughts, just as Christ would, and then follow your heart, not the words of men clothed with the church and all its riches. If you do not cast out the evil from within the church, and continue to be a follower of the evil within, you have sinned, and have failed the teachings of Christ, and deny those victimized children of God, the compassion and empathy that is within your ability to share. It is your church, lead it out of damnation, and onto the path of righteousness, that helps everyone. Don't be an armchair criticent, but a follower of Christ, who never was mean spirited to those who needed his example and help, such as the victims of childhood sexual abuse from catholic institutions do today.
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Posted Saturday, March 31, 2007 10:08 AM By vinnie
Are those who are appalled about finding out that their bishops and cardinals are liars more upset about seeing it in print or about the truth of the statement?
Cardinal Mahony's name has come up several times in the same sentence as perjury over the past few years. The larger problem lies in the failure to actively prosecute. The laws are clear, their application is subject to whims and politics. Oh,that lying was the least of the hierarchy's sins. The John Jay Report funded by the bishops themselves proves that they lied and covered up from Boston to LA and everywhere in between. If the John Jay report isn't enough, there have been Several Grand Juries that have documented these facts too.
Having allowed monstrous atrocities such as the rape, sodomization and molestion of children the hierarchy then protected the perpetrators who committed these crimes in the name of protecting the church. Who wouldn't lie once being caught allowing and fostering child abuse? When are the decent clergy and laity going to demand the ouster of these liars instead of trying to defend the indefensible behavior which lies at the core of the matter.
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Posted Sunday, April 01, 2007 2:54 PM By Sarah K.
How long are Catholics going to continue their charade of "persecution"? They're not persecuted. They're coddled and protected and given special treatment day in and day out. Why aren't these priests and bishops in jail with long sentences like other molesters? Because the judge is Catholic, the cop is Catholic, the parents who don't care about their molested children are Catholic. Persecution? Please. Catholics are hiding in Federal Bankruptcy Court for one reason and one reason only. They allow their children to be raped for the good of the church. How long can the rest of society allow this? The LA Times didn't rape your children. You did.
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Posted Sunday, April 01, 2007 9:37 PM By Stephen
How did the church scandals happen? How could they have been so extensive? Why were the victims treated as culprits, and the culprits protected? Well, people made up their minds. They made a choice. People decided who to trust and what to believe. And anything they saw or heard that did not conform to those choices, those facts simply were not allowed to exist.
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Posted Tuesday, April 03, 2007 3:37 PM By John
Your article was great. Thank you for printing it. Roger Mahony does't need to use "Mental Rservation" to justify a lie. He is already very mental without reservation. "Formation Privilege" was a good one. He just made that one up.
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Posted Tuesday, April 03, 2007 4:11 PM By Maureen
This quote is by Judy Herman: "It is very tempting to take the side of the perpetrator. All the perpetrator asks is that the bystander do nothing. He appeals to the universal desire to see, to hear, and to speak no evil. The victim, on the contrary, asks the bystander to share the burden of pain. The victim demands action, engagement, and remembering".
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