Springfield Diocese Tries to Restore Faith and Trust

This is a long article written by Dave Bakke, who is a columnist and staff writer for The State Journal-Register. Mr Bakke was editor of the Catholic Times, the official newspaper of the Springfield diocese, from 1992 to 1998.

A cursory reading seems to suggest that this is a fairly in-depth report of the history of the Diocese and the problems which have arisen in recent years. It appears to be worth the time necessary to read. Some excerpts:

In the past 20 years, three watershed events in the Springfield Roman Catholic Diocese have shaken, and in some cases destroyed, the image of the priest and the faith of Catholics.

The Rev. Alvin Campbell was first. Campbell used his priesthood at St. Maurice Parish in Morrisonville as a tool to seduce boys. He was convicted as a pedophile in the days when using the words "pedophile" and "priest" in the same sentence was unthinkable. In 1985, Campbell pleaded guilty but mentally ill to molestation charges. He was sentenced to 14 years in prison.

In the 19 years since Campbell's guilty plea, the Springfield diocese has earned a reputation in national Catholic circles as a troubled, volatile place. The list of names of local clergy linked to scandals from homosexual and heterosexual affairs to embezzlement is a long one.

Complete article