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Rev. Terry Jones

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Thou Shalt Not Bear False Witness

(circa 2007, Courtesy:The Mountaintop Eagle)

The Diocese of Scranton has removed Rev. Mark Honhart from active ministry. The priest was named as a defendant in a child sex abuse civil suit in Kansas City, Missouri after a credible allegation.
The Diocese made the announcement on its website on February 8th. It did so in a news release announcing clergy appointments and indicated Honhart was granted a Leave of Absence for reasons of health. Here's the link:
http://www.dioceseofscranton.org/2011/02/08/bishop-bambera-announces-clergy-appointments/
A month later, the diocese issued a statement on its website concerning Honhart in which it acknowledged, the allegation and seemingly grandstanded its swift action. Here's the link:
http://www.dioceseofscranton.org/2011/03/08/statement-regarding-fr-mark-honhart/
The diocesan statement came only after the story broke in Kansas City.
Here's the problem. Must the faithful now assume that all priests granted a leave of absence are suspected child molesters? The answer of course is, "no." But by failing to deal accurately with this priest's removal, the Diocese has only created confusion and suspicion.
According to the Bishop Accountability Project, nineteen priests in the Diocese of Scranton have been accused of sexual molestation.
In fairness, Father Honhart is accused civilly, not criminally charged and innocent until proven guilty.
It seems the accused (and yes they are only accused) are protected by a quickly closing circle of collegiality. This is destroying any credibility the Diocese of Scranton has left in dealing with a most egregious sin.

The News Business

When I awoke this morning, I checked my Facebook page and noticed a post, "Charlie Sheen Dead!"
It turned out to be not true. It was a virus.
But also today I saw (on legitimate news sites) that 13 people were killed in a bus crash in New York.
On almost any other day, this would be the top story in the world.
But not today.
Today we are still watching the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. There is also a threat of nuclear meltdown at a Japanese nuclear power plant.
Hundreds, if not thousands, are dead. The potential nuclear disaster threatens not only Japan, but the world.
But it got me to thinking.
If Charlie Sheen really did die, where would the story be placed in the daily news budget?
I fear I know the answer.
And so do you.

Jack Smith 1924-2011

 Jack Smith has died. 

I've known Jack for over 30 years. From retired prizefighter to bail bondsman, I covered it all. Jack was known as the , "Mayor of South Main Street." in downtown Wilkes-Barre. Late in life he would sit in his office directly across from The Max Rosenn U.S. District Courthouse and hold "court."

I don't know how this started but every time I would encounter Jack, he would swear up a storm. There was not a single bit of malice in it. But it was intense. And Jack did it for one reason only; it would make me roar. And they weren't your run-of-the-mill swear words, not for Jack. He marched out the big-leaguers. 

The longer it took me to laugh, the worse it got.

I remember covering a proceeding at Federal Court. Jack was sitting in his office watching everything and uttered not a word. I knew something was wrong. I ran over and said, "Hello," and checked on him. He said he wasn't feeling well. He then told me to, "get out."

Jack added an extra couple of words I won't use here.

With his passing, another of the colorful figures in Wilkes-Barre is gone. He won't be forgotten.

So readers, forgive me as I say good-bye to an old friend, the only way I know how.

"Rest in Peace, Jack and $#*!@%&!"

Happy Holidays!

I'm not one of those. You will not hear me complain when someone, with the best of intentions wishes me, "Happy Holidays."

It's time we got over this idea that to wish someone, "Happy Holidays," is somehow disrespecting Jesus Christ.

Happy Holidays.

Holidays is the way we now say, "holy days."

So to wish someone, Happy Holidays," is to recognize that indeed Christmas, December 25th is a Holy Day when we celebrate the birth of a Savior.  And so is January 1st, when Catholics celebrate the Solemnity of Mary.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Happy Christmas and a Merry New Year!

Seasons Greetings!

Have a Cool Yule!

Happy Hanukkah! I'm not Jewish, but right back at ya!

Happy Kwanzaa. I'm not an African-American, but the same to you.

If someone you know, or even someone you don't know, goes out of his or her way to send you a  holiday wish consider yourself truly lucky and if you believe, give it right back.

So from me and mine to you and yours, have a Merry, Blessed and Joyous Christmas surrounded by family and friends and a healthy and prosperous New Year.

Time for a Change

The Luzerne County Commissioners have approved a measure that will mean county employees will now "clock-in." A biometric system that will rely on palm recognition will be used.

I was fortunate to have (for the most part) wonderful employees when I worked for the county Board of Election. 99.99% of the time, employees were on time. Most arrived early. Workers were required to sign their name to a daily attendance sheet with the time of their arrival.

And because they were early, they served citizens who came to the office before the "official" start of the day at 9:00 AM. I was never asked to compensate employees who found themselves working before the work day began. Please note that legally some business could not be transacted before 9:00 o'clock but that didn't mean employees couldn't get much of the preliminary work accomplished and then time stamp documents once the day began.

The vast majority of Luzerne County workers are dedicated public servants who take their jobs very seriously.

I cannot wait for the first complaint brought by a citizen who is unhappy because workers would not serve them before 9:00.

Be careful for what you wish.

Passings

Rev. Daniel D. Hitchko has died. Father was the Principal at Central Catholic High School from 1968-1974. He was particularly close to my graduating class, the Class of '74. He was beloved and admired  In our last year at "Central" the name of our high school was changed to Bishop O'Reilly. We all hated the name and some of us got in big trouble after we complained in writing to then Bishop J. Carroll McCormick. 

At our graduation dinner, Father Hitchko gave each of us a special gift. It was a small snifter. On it were the words, "Central Catholic High School, Class of 1974." It's the only thing I have from my graduation that says, "Central Catholic."

Requiescat in pace, Father.

Several weeks ago, I wrote about Kaiden Abul-Ela and his courageous battle against a rare form of brain cancer. Kaiden passed away this morning in the arms of his parents. There is a group on Facebook that was dedicated to following his story. (Let's Help Kaiden) His father writes poignantly of his son's death.

Kaiden was just two years old.

Rest in Peace.