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Media Coverage
of Opus Bono Sacerdotii
“When people wish to destroy religion, they begin
by attacking the priest, because where there is no longer any priest
there is no sacrifice, and where there is no longer any sacrifice there
is no religion.”
St. John Vianney, Patron Saint of Parish Priests
- Accused Catholic priests left in limbo
by Daniel Burke, Religion News Service, May 5, 2010
But other priests aren’t so lucky, said Joe Maher, executive director of Opus Bono Sacerdotii, a Michigan-based support group for accused priests. “I know priests who are living out of hotels, eating one meal a day,” he said.
- Attorney on Crusade
by Kim Ode, Star Tribune April 28, 2010
"I completely understand people when it comes to children who have been molested, whether by priests or family members," Maher said. "These cases happened not under the current Holy Father and not under current bishops, but they're put in the position of having to rectify what has happened and still minister to the people of God and lead them into heaven."
- St. Paul attorney on the front lines of church abuse crisis
by Tim Nelson, Minnesota Public Radio April 16, 2010
Maher concedes the Catholic Church has had problems. But he says Anderson is making a lucrative living exploiting those failings and intimidating church officials.
"The bishops and the insurance companies that represent the dioceses -- they're afraid of Jeff Anderson, in some sense," Maher said. "It's not a matter of justice. It's a matter of what are we going to have to settle for, (for) Jeff Anderson to go away." Joe Maher founded Detroit-based Opus Bono Sacerdotii eight years ago, to offer financial and personal support to priests accused of abuse.
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Was priest falsely accused?
by Matt C. Abbott, Renew America
"As God is my witness, I swear as I swore on a Bible before the diocesan officials, these allegations are totally and completely untrue. My mind and my soul are bruised, beaten and trampled down. My parishioners are most supportive but I am not permitted to visit them and I cannot afford to call them by telephone. My health is not good and I had avoided many appointments with my doctors. This past Christmas Eve and Christmas Day were the worst emotionally devastating events I have ever had to endure. I was close to suicide. I suffer panic attacks, acute anxiety and severe depression. Worst of all, there is nobody that can really understand or share this onerous burden that I bear."
- Mercy Toward Our Fathers
Sr. Camille DArienzo August 18, 2008
Maher
argued that a large number of accused priests are innocent and that,
abandoned by bishops and laity, they are denied the resources to clear
their names. He spoke also of the need to give culpable priests
opportunities to reform and return to active ministry. And he said that
many victims who claim abuse are merely seeking financial gain, and
argued against the suspension of statutes of limitation in cases of
sexual molestation.
- Helping Accused Priests Is His Calling
Sue Ellin Browder, National Catholic Register July 15, 2007
Worldwide,
how many priests have been removed from ministry? More than 5,000. The
problem, as I see it, is this: A priest is typically removed because he
cannot disprove an allegation.
- He inspires fear in the church, hope for victims
KEVIN HARTER, Pioneer Press January 28, 2007
"Jeff
Anderson is not interested in reforming the church, but in the huge
cash settlements he will receive," said Joe Maher, founder of the
Detroit-based Opus Bono Sacerdotii (which means "work for the good of
the priesthood"), an organization that gives legal and financial
support to clergy accused of abuse. Maher uses words like
"unscrupulous" to describe lawyers such as Anderson who take on the
church. They "prey upon people with emotional disorders or unbalanced
lives" with promises of huge payoffs, he said. "Jeff Anderson has
developed a money-making machine."
- Accused Priest Hits Back With Lawsuit
Sue Ellin Browder, National Register Correspondent January 14, 2007
Are
false accusations on the increase? Joseph Maher, president of Opus Bono
Sacerdotti, a Detroit-based organization that works to help accused
priests, believes they are. “In this past year in particular, we’re
seeing a lot of accusations that are blatantly false,” Maher said.
Maher advises priests that “if it really is a false allegation, scream
it from the rooftops and never stop saying it.”
- More priests likely to sue
Manya A. Brachear, Chicago Tribune staff reporter December 03, 2006
"The
priests feel they are getting no hearing, no real defense, or real
opportunity to defend themselves in the church," said Joseph Maher,
president of Opus Bono Sacerdotii. They actually feel they are treated
more justly and fairly in the civil realm than they are in the church
realm," he said. Maher said the decision of whether to sue is difficult
for any priest. While he advises priests to avoid lawsuits, he
understands why some go that route. "Virtually every priest who has
been falsely accused, who can profess his innocence, has agonized over
this," Maher said. "Were not talking about somebody whos gone through a
divorce. When a priest is accused, its over. His entire life is gone
absolutely in totality. Theres nothing to compare to it."
- Children of the Church
Bernice Yeung, Legal Affairs Magazine October 02, 2006
"The
entire Code of Canon Law, the entire theology, is based on mans
redemption," explained Joseph Maher, the president and co-founder of
Opus Bono Sacerdotii, an organization that represents priests in
trouble. "The church looks at canon law in terms of helping the priest
to increase his desire to grow in Holiness and thus be saved and enter
Heaven."
- Accused, charged, exonerated – Ousted priest wages two-year battle to clear name, return to ministry
Gail Besse, National Catholic Register May 07, 2006
There
is one Detroit-based lay advocacy group for priests, Opus Bono
Sacerdotii (Work for the Good of the Priesthood), which gives referrals
and moral and spiritual support. And the Confraternity of Catholic
Clergy, based in Marysville, Pa., helps diocesan priests with
fellowship and formation. Father John Trigilio, its president, warned
against a “miscarriage of justice” by “over-reacting to the clergy sex
scandals by denying priests their natural right to due process, legal
defense and the presumption of innocence.”
- NFPC "This Week" October 2005
Fr. Bob Silva, National Federation of Priests Councils November 07, 2005
Recently
you received a request for donations from Opus Bono Sacerdotii so that
they could continue their work in support of priests needing legal
services. Here are some statistics you may be interested in...
- Priest advocate cites moral obligation
By PATRICK M. OCONNELL, Tribune Staff Writer October 29, 2005
Maher,
who says his organization has aided about 2,000 priests since the group
began in April 2002, calls the work "a calling from Christ. My heart
goes out to these guys," Maher said about priests accused of misconduct
who have been banished from public ministry.
- Questions answered about LeBrun letter
WNDU October 29, 2005
Parishioners
got the letter, asking for donations to help pay for Father Paul
LeBruns legal defense. Opus Bono wants to raise more than $100,000 for
LeBrun. The organizations sole purpose is to help priests accused of
sexual misconduct. Supporters of LeBrun contacted the organization
about a month ago asking for help.
- Letter seeks aid for accused priest
Gwenn OBrien and Patrick M. OConnel, The South Bend Tribune October 28, 2005
Maher
includes in the letter what appears to be a note from LeBrun himself,
who maintains his innocence. LeBrun has not publicly responded to the
charges. The note says:"I do not believe that God has placed me in a
situation wherein my only option is to lie. For me to accept a plea
bargain I must lie. I choose instead to try to prove the truth in
court. If I fail at trial I go to prison forever.
- Bishop says unauthorized group raising money for Arizona priest
Associated Press October 28, 2005
"Although
I make no statements as to Father LeBruns innocence or guilt, I do know
that everyone is entitled to a competent defense and the fact that he
is a Catholic priest with no personal financial resources makes it very
difficult for him," Maher said.
- Catholic parishioners asked to support LeBrun defense
Judi Lykowski, NewsCenter16 Reporter October 27, 2005
The
letter is from Joseph Mayor, the president of a Detroit organization
called Opus Bono Sacerdotii. It is a group trying to raise more than
$100,000 in defense money for Father LeBrun.
- Blind Eye Unto the Holy See
An SF Weekly Investigation by Ron Russell July 13, 2005
Jenkins
says that he and others of the six-member panel were especially
disturbed by reports that a "support group" for priests accused of sex
abuse had held meetings at the residence. (The founder of one such
group, Detroit-based Opus Bono Sacerdotii, confirmed recently that
Ingels is an "adviser" to it. "Father Ingels may be the best canon
lawyer in the United States, and were grateful to have him," said Joe
Maher. "Hes an excellent priest, a very holy man, and hes a great help
to us.")
- Opus Bono Sacerdotii
Vicars of Clergy Newsletter, a joint publication of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and St. Luke Institute July 01, 2005
Each
day I climbed into my tomb, rolled the stone in front of it, and got
lost in my addiction. I have often said that this experience is the
best worst thing that has ever happened to me. I certainly would not
wish it on my worst enemy, but it saved my relationship with God and
others. With family and friends immediately reaching out to me, I was
directed to a treatment program. At nearly the same time, I was
introduced to Joe Maher of Opus Bono Sacerdotii. These two programs, as
well as my family and friends, saved my life at a time when I was
feeling very alone.
- Work for the Good of the Priesthood
Joe Maher, Touchstone Magazine April 14, 2005
It
is said that once you have set out to do good and in particular to do
good for God, expect the unexpected––or, even more poignant, as one
friend quipped “prepare for the ride of your life!” Ride is probably a
good way to describe the emotional roller coaster of helping priests
accused of sexual abuse especially when one has the rather dubious
distinction of rallying support for even the most notorious of
so-called predator priests.
- Sex-abuse victims group protests Law's role
By GARY STERN, THE JOURNAL NEWS, April 12, 2005 April 12, 2005
Joe
Maher, the founder of Opus Bono Sacerdotii, a lay group that defends
the rights of priests accused of sexual misconduct, said in a statement
from Detroit that John Paul believed Law was sincere in his remorse.
"Cardinal Law, the repented sinner who has amended his life and has
been forgiven, like Christs Prodigal Son, has every right to the same
human dignity and freedoms of all," Maher said.
- Former Boston archbishop Law draws protests during Rome mass
BY STEVE KLOEHN, Chicago Tribune April 12, 2005
A
Detroit-based activist for priests rights, meanwhile, defended Laws
appearance, calling him a "repented sinner who has amended his life."
"Since John Paul II believed that Cardinal Law was sincere in his
remorse and repented for any wrongdoing or any harm he may have caused
to others, there is no reason why the cardinal cant celebrate mass,"
Joe Maher of the group Opus Bono Sacerdotii wrote in a news release
e-mailed to reporters.
- Two Americans protest role of Boston cardinal in Mass for John Paul
By Patricia Montemurri, Knight Ridder Newspapers April 11, 2005
Joe
Maher, a Detroit-area businessman who founded a support group for
accused priests called Opus Bono Sacerdotii, said Monday that Law had
apologized more than two years ago for his actions and should be
forgiven. Maher noted that Law, the only American to lead one of the
nine mourning Masses offered in the popes memory, was given the role in
his capacity as archpriest of St. Mary Major, not to single him out for
favor.
- He was true shepherd
Detroit News April 05, 2005
The
Holy Father had a choice. Pope John Paul II knew that the church
hierarchy and much of the operations of the church needed to be
improved, and that the people of the world needed a shepherd. He chose
to be a shepherd.
- Tending to Wayward Shepherds
Sarah Childress, Newsweek April 04, 2005
Joe
Maher never knows what to expect when he picks up the phone. Sometimes
theres a trembling pause before a priest, choking back tears, tells him
a disturbingly familiar tale: an accusation of sexual abuse, exile from
his community. Other times, theres a caller screaming obscenities,
furious that Maher would even speak to these "sinners." A
mild-mannered, devout Roman Catholic, Maher is the founder of Opus Bono
Sacerdotii—Latin for "Work for the Good of the Priesthood"—the only lay
advocacy group for priests accused of sexual misconduct. Some of the
priests seeking help are likely innocent, others are not. But Maher
believes in supporting them all. "Priests are out there destitute,
abandoned and desperate," he says. "And they need help."
- After Norms, Debate Rages
by WAYNE LAUGESEN, National Catholic Register Correspondent March 13, 2005
“The
whole concept of zero tolerance is inappropriate,” says Maher, who
founded Opus Bono Sacerdotii, a Detroit-based organization devoted to
defending priests. “The Church is founded on conversion and redemption
of the sinner. We’re always taught ‘love the sinner but hate the sin.’
We’re taught that conversion is the foundation and mission of the
Church. Thus, redemption is the whole goal so we can get to heaven, and
zero tolerance is completely contrary to Catholic teaching and
Scripture.
- Accused priest suing Hughes for defamation
The Times-Picayune, By Bruce Nolan, Staff writer February 11, 2005
"Priests
feel completely abandoned by their bishops -- thrown to the wolves, so
to speak," said Joe Maher, a Detroit businessman who founded an
organization that supports Catholic priests taken out of the ministry.
Whatever its merits, the process has left thousands of priests
"disheartened," said Maher, who runs the priest advocacy group. Maher
said he talks to a dozen priests and fields a hundred e-mails from
priests every day. His group, with 12 full-time volunteers who are
suspended priests, puts accused priests in touch with lawyers, sends
some a little financial support and offers them moral and spiritual
support. "Actually, we advise them against suing the bishop," he said.
"I dont think it helps a priests reputation anymore, and it certainly
doesnt help the lay faithful when they see priests suing bishops. "But
I completely understand when a priest goes that route. They feel like
theres nothing left to do."
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