Catholic Diocese of Des Moines withheld details of abuse, critics say

[Ian David]

Diocese withheld details of abuse, critics say
The Rev. Phillip Hobt was a teacher in Council Bluffs before being suspended.

By SHIRLEY RAGSDALE
REGISTER RELIGION EDITOR
April 18, 2007

Advocates for victims of priest abuse on Tuesday blasted the Catholic Diocese of Des Moines for failing to reveal important facts about allegations against the Rev. Phillip Hobt, a former teacher and priest at St. Albert Catholic Schools in Council Bluffs.

Bishop Joseph Charron, before he retired last week, asked the Vatican to remove Hobt, 42, from the priesthood, the diocese announced Tuesday.

The diocese received allegations against Hobt in January. He was suspended from ministry in February. After the charges were found to be credible by the diocesan allegation review board, Hobt agreed to submit himself to the Vatican process to remove him from the priesthood, according to Anne Marie Cox, a spokeswoman for the diocese.

However, the diocese declined to say where Hobt is now living or anything about the nature of the abuse.

<snip>

"Hobt is still a danger to children, even after he leaves the priesthood," Theisen said. "If the diocese doesn't let the parishes and communities know where he's residing, parents can't protect their children against him. If he has not been convicted of abuse, his name won't appear on any of the sex offender lists and he doesn't have to register with local police."

More:
http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070418/LIFE05/704180377/-1/SPORTS06

[Blackhatjack]

1. "I am shocked, simply shocked...." NOT....

This has been the pattern for decades.

And BTW the Vatican has decreed that there will be no funds flowing from Rome back to the US to compensate victims, even though they were directly involved in moving these molesters around and knowingly keeping them in contact with children.

Des Moines diocese is like so many others in the US, they might have to file bankruptcy. But that is ok with the Vatican.