BishopAccountability.org
	Moral Authority Missing Boston Herald [Springfield MA] February 13, 2004 Hypocrisy, thy name is Dupre. Bishop Thomas L. Dupre to be exact. The leader of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield resigned Wednesday, just a day after Springfield's leading newspaper submitted questions to the diocese about allegations Dupre had sexually abused two boys in the 1970s. It's horrible that Dupre may have betrayed the trust of the boys and their families as a parish priest 30 years ago. And it's even worse that Dupre more recently has mishandled abuse allegations against other diocesan priests - and has been roundly criticized for protecting predators over victims. But the gall of the man to have spent the past several weeks going from parish to parish in Western Massachusetts to garner opposition amongst the Catholic faithful to any recognition of gay relationships. "When the family is sick, the nation suffers as well," Dupre told a congregation in Hadley. Referring to the breakdown of the institution of marriage, Dupre said, "We have also experienced the disastrous consequences on family life and on children." As opposed to the disastrous consequences of sexual abuse committed by priests, Bishop? Dupre sought approval of his resignation from the Vatican shortly after a mother had come forward to accuse him of molesting her son, according to The Republican. To then have the audacity to use his moral authority as bishop to tell Catholics where they should stand on gay unions is beyond the pale. The Catholic Church has every right to stand against gay marriage and lobby for its point of view. Its cause, though, is immensely harmed for being led by an alleged pedophile and pedophile-protector.
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