I Now Pronounce Thee Laity!

As you all know we have been dealing with the laicization of Eddie Shoback, former priest in the Scranton Diocese.

I have been trying unsuccessfully to learn about the process of laicization. I understand that the indelible mark on their souls remain, and that they can still confect the Eucharist, although illicitly. And that they must offer confesson and absolution to a dying person in case of an emergency.

Here's my question if the above is true.

What makes you think that a former priest would even bother to follow the rules after being dismissed from the priesthood? I mean if they were busy diddling little boys in the sacristy or whatever illegality they were engaged in, what from their past behavior gives you reason to believe they would bother to offer confession and absolution?

I'm just askin'.

It also seems presumptious on the Church to be like "we're dismissing you from the priesthood, but if someone might be dying in front of you, you must hear their confession."

I just hope I dont fall down nearly dead in front of Shoback, who knows what part of my body he might want to give "absolution" to!

Have a nice weekend!

Commentary denied

You may recall this post about Shoback the pedophile who had his priestly faculties removed.

Well, over at the Citizen's Voice there has been some odd going's on.

This morning, there were 20 comments on the story, some of them actually admitting knowledge of abuse of minors, and some people remarked it was common knowledge.

Well, the Voice deleted all 20 of those comments, and never posted my comment, which asked for a criminal investigation, as well as prayers for the perv and his victims.

Over at the Times Leader, there are only three comments. Again my comment did not appear.

I see we cannot count on the local media to pass along our feelings on stories. If they don't really want to give their readers a forum for our thoughts, why bother to give the option? And worse, why censor the feelings once they have been recorded?

Local Priest Defrocked

This just in: Edward J. Shoback is no longer a priest.

In today's edition of the Catholic Light it was announced that the Vatican has removed the priestly faculties of accused child molester Shoback.

One thing not mentioned in the papers is whether there are any criminal charges against him.

I don't think I've heard of this guy before. Does anyone know this disgraced former priest? Is he still in the area? Hopefully we"ll have more details soon.

And in the meantime be sure to behave as proper Catholics and pray for this predator and his victims.

Below is the article from the Citizen's Voice

The Vatican has defrocked a priest who served in several Luzerne County churches and taught at Bishop O’Reilly High School in Kingston.

Edward J. Shoback was an active priest in the Scranton Diocese from 1967 through 2004, when he was relieved of his duties after the diocese learned he had engaged in sexual misconduct with a minor two decades before. An allegation concerning a second minor surfaced in 2006.

In a statement published in the most recent edition of the diocese’s Catholic Light newspaper, diocesan Chancellor James B. Earley announced that Shoback “has been dismissed from the clerical state. This action was taken in response to a finding of sexual misconduct involving minors.”

The decision means Shoback cannot function as a priest, hold office in the church or teach theology in a Catholic institution, the statement said.

Shoback, 69, served at St. Ann Parish in Shohola, St. Stephen Parish in Plymouth, Holy Rosary Parish in Ashley, St. Aloysius Parish in Wilkes-Barre, St. John Nepomucene Parish in Luzerne, Transfiguration Parish in West Hazleton and SS. Peter and Paul Parish in Scranton, according to The Catholic Light. He was also director of religious education at the former Bishop O’Reilly High School in Kingston while residing at St. Therese Parish in Wilkes-Barre.

Shoback could not immediately be reached for comment.

At least 25 priests from the Scranton Diocese have been accused of having sexual contact with minors since 1950, according to diocesan reports.

In 2007, the diocese agreed to a $3 million settlement with a Duryea man who was sexually abused by a diocesan priest from 1999 through 2002, beginning when he was 14. The settlement was largely paid by the diocese’s insurance carriers and its own insurance funds, the diocese said at the time.