Will a controversial deacon be ordained a priest by Bishop Serratelli?

Raise your hand if you remember the "Society of St John" (SSJ)?

Matt Abbott has posted a letter, written by Jeffrey M. Bond, Ph.D., president of St. Justin Martyr House of Studies, which was sent to Bishop Arthur J. Serratelli, of the Paterson, N.J., Catholic diocese:

The letter reads, in part:

'Your Excellency,

'The purpose of this letter is to bring to your attention certain facts concerning Deacon Joseph Levine who, according to the web site of the Diocese of Paterson, is to be ordained a priest at St. John the Baptist Cathedral in Paterson, New Jersey, on May 26, 2007. It is to be hoped that, upon examination of these facts, you will become convinced that Deacon Levine must never be permitted to work in a parish or ever be ordained a priest.

'My knowledge of the character of Deacon Levine stems from my experience as President of the St. Justin Martyr House of Studies, a civil corporation in the state of Pennsylvania the purpose of which was to establish the College of St. Justin Martyr. The College of St. Justin Martyr was initially part of the overall project proposed by the now suppressed Society of St. John (SSJ), a public association of the faithful erected in the Diocese of Scranton by former Bishop of Scranton, James C. Timlin. The SSJ, to which Deacon Levine belonged, hired me in May 2000 to found a liberal arts college in Shohola, Pennsylvania where the SSJ planned to build a Catholic city.

There are also excerpts of additional correspondence which might leave one with the impression that the Diocese of Paterson has no intention of doing what seems to be the proper action in this matter...

In a followup email to Ken Mullaney, general counsel to the Paterson diocese, Mr Bond writes:

...I know you have been contacted by two other witnesses, Dr. Russell Buss and Rev. Richard Munkelt, both of whom have first-hand knowledge of the fact that Deacon Levine knew SSJ priests were sharing their beds with boys. Yet Deacon Levine failed to denounce this immoral behavior, and he even accepted the position of superior general of the SSJ and used his position to defend and protect those priests whom he knew had been sleeping with boys under their spiritual direction. Moreover, as superior general, Deacon Levine deliberately deceived Catholic donors as to the feasibility of the SSJ's proposed city in Shohola, PA, and he defamed those of us who sought to expose this fraud and the immorality of the SSJ priests. No objective investigation of Deacon Levine's actions and words can ignore his culpability in these matters.

'Is it your position, then, that a deacon in a position of authority who defends and protects priests charged with homosexual abuse — when he has prior knowledge of their sleeping in the same bed with minors — is fit to become a Catholic priest himself? I would appreciate a direct answer to this direct question. Or do you contest that these are indeed the facts in this case?' [my emphasis]

Anyway, it seem that the fireworks are in place and fuses are lit. All that we're waiting for is the show to begin...

An interesting read to say the least. And BTW, if anyone recalls the last Bishops' meeting, some were quite upset with the way Bishop Serratelli responded and acted toward Archbishop Burke when he attempted to make his interventions regarding the groups Courage and Encourage in the document, Ministry to Persons with a Homosexual Inclination: Guidelines for Pastoral Care...