News that the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled to overturn Massachusetts’ abortion clinic buffer-zone law is welcome by those who respect life all across the country! Cardinal Sean O’Malley issued a statement hailing the ruling as a free-speech victory for pro-life Americans. He said, “”Clearly this was an attack on pro-life Americans’ freedom of speech, and we welcome the Court’s decision to overturn the law.”
Here are BCI, we are glad to hear the Cardinal voiced his concern about attacks on pro-life American’s freedom of speech. But frankly, he is being a hypocrite. When the Supreme Court makes a ruling to protect the rights of pro-lifers to gather outside of an abortion clinic, there he is front and center with a statement. Yet, the same Cardinal O’Malley was also front and center honoring one of the worst pro-abortion politicians in the U.S. a month ago at Boston College’s commencement, in direct violation of the USCCB’s own guidelines that say Catholic institutions should not honor pro-abortion politicians. When was the last time Cardinal O’Malley said a word publicly about the scandal of pro-abortion Catholic politicians? 2007. Besides being a hypocrite by honoring Kerry last month, he also is apparently violating the Boston Archdiocese’s own Code of Conduct and presiding over a corrupted Code of Conduct violation reporting system. A Catholic reported the Code of Conduct violation a month ago, and cannot get a response, even though O’Malley himself is quoted as saying they will respond “promptly.”
Below is the Ethicspoint report sent to us by a Catholic reader who says the Code of Conduct is a sham.
The organization does not have any questions or comments at this time.
Report Submission Date
5/24/2014
Reported Company/Branch Information
Location Boston College
City/State/Zip Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, 02465, United States
Violation Information
Issue Type
Misconduct or Inappropriate Behavior
Please identify the person(s) engaged in this behavior:
Sean O’Malley – Archbishop of Boston
Do you suspect or know that a supervisor or management is involved?
Do Not Know / Do Not Wish To Disclose
Is management aware of this problem?
Yes
What is the general nature of this matter?
Cardinal O’Malley participated in the honoring of Sec. of State John Kerry at the Boston College commencement on May 19 in violation of both USCCB guidelines and the RCAB’s own Code of
Where did this incident or violation occur?
Monday, May 19 at Boston College
Please provide the specific or approximate time this incident occurred:
Monday, May 19.
How long do you think this problem has been going on?
Once
How did you become aware of this violation?
Other
If other, how?
All over the news media
Details
That Cardinal O’Malley participated in the commencement is obvious here:
2014.html
The Code of Conduct says:
All Church Personnel must uphold Christian values and conduct and work diligently to serve and enhance the mission of the Church. This Code provides a set of standards for conduct in certain situations and is designed to deter wrongdoing and to promote honest and ethical conduct.
The public and private conduct of Church Personnel can be a source of inspiration and motivation, but it can also scandalize and undermine the faith of the people that are served. Church Personnel must at all times be aware of the responsibilities that accompany their work. It is essential, therefore, that anyone who undertakes a position of ministry, employment or leadership in the Archdiocese or for any Archdiocesan Affiliated Organization, be ever mindful of the trust that has been placed in him or her. The faithful discharge of the responsibilities that accompany this work requires constant and prayerful reflection since all of us must be sustained by God’s goodness and grace.
Responsibility for adherence to the Code rests with each individual. This responsibility requires all Church Personnel to periodically take a personal inventory. It is hoped that the Code will assist in this task. Church Personnel who disregard or violate this Code will be subject to remedial action. This action can take several forms, from an oral or written warning to removal and termination of employment or services, depending on the nature and circumstances of the offense.
Principles of Ethics and Integrity
As representatives of the Archdiocese or any Archdiocesan Affiliated Organization, and regardless of the pressures inherent in conducting Church affairs, all Church Personnel must act responsibly and in a manner that will reflect favorably on the Archdiocese.
Accordingly:
Church Personnel will conduct themselves in a manner that is consistent with the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church as enunciated by the Holy Father and the Bishops in communion with him; more specifically, Church Personnel shall, in all such matters, accept, rely upon and defer to the teaching authority of the Archbishop in all matters of faith and morals.
Church Personnel will exhibit the highest Christian ethical standards and personal integrity.
Church Personnel will continually and objectively examine and evaluate their own actions and intentions to ensure that their behavior promotes the welfare of the Archdiocese and each applicable Archdiocesan
Affiliated Organization and exemplifies the moral traditions of the Church.
The definition of “integrity” is any of the following:
adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character
the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles;moral uprightness.
n. 1. Steadfast adherence to a strict moral or ethical code.
Integrity is a concept of consistency of actions, values, methods, measures, principles, expectations, and outcomes.
Cardinal O’Malley chose to boycott the BC commencement in 2013 that was honoring Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenney for his support of pro-abortion legislation because of USCCB guidelines that that say “the Catholic community and Catholic institutions should not honor those who act in defiance of our fundamental moral principles. They should not be given awards, honors or platforms which would suggest support for their actions.” He made a public statement to that effect.
Then comes along John Kerry in 2014. Secretary Kerry is a supporter of legal abortion, the public funding of abortion, partial birth abortion, abortions at military hospitals and buffer zones limiting free speech around abortion clinics. He has also endorsed contraception, cloning, embryonic stem cell research, physician assisted suicide, same gender marriage, federal gay rights legislation, the distribution of condoms to minors, family planning programs as part of U.S. foreign aid, and taxpayer financing of both Planned Parenthood and the U. N. Fund for Population Activities. As a U.S. Senator, Kerry received a 100% rating from NARAL Pro- Choice America. As a presidential candidate in 2004, Kerry was endorsed by the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, and promised, if elected, to appoint only those jurists who agree with Roe v. Wade to the U.S. Supreme Court, effectively disenfranchising believing Catholics from high judicial office. Kerry, in August, 2003, attacked Pope, now Saint John Paul II in the the Boston Herald. Kerry accused the recently canonized pontiff of “crossing the line,” of violating the American separation of church and state because of a Vatican exhortation to Catholic political leaders to oppose same gender marriage. For 30 years, John Kerry has in total support for Planned Parenthood and NARAL.
That Cardinal O’Malley ignored USCCB guidelines in 2014 to Honor Sec. of State John Kerry, who unarguably has committed far worse in defiance of our fundamental moral principles than Enda Kenney violates many principles of the Code of Conduct:
This conduct scandalizes and undermines the faith of the people that are served. If the Cardinal Archbishop of Boston participates in honoring on of the Catholics in political life in the U.S. who is most defiant against our moral values, how is that not scandal and how does that undermine the faith of Catholics served. If the Chair of the Pro-Life Committee of the USCCB cannot uphold USCCB guidelines that scandalizes the faithful.
This conduct is not consistent with the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church as enunciated by the Holy Father and the Bishops in communion with him
This conduct demonstrates a low Christian ethical standard and a complete absence of integrity—there is no consistency of actions and values (even from one year to the next), and Cardinal O’Malley has undermined Catholic moral values to millions of Catholics in Boston and hundreds of millions worldwide.
The Code of conduct says those who violate it may be warned or may face removal and termination of employment or services, depending on the nature and circumstances of the offense. I would like to hear specifically what repercussions are ordered against Cardinal O’Malley.
Follow-Up Notes
Jun 03, 2014, 3:48 PM
When might I expect a response?
Jun 09, 2014, 1:34 AM
It’s been about two weeks since I filed my report of misconduct. When can I expect to get a response?
Jun 16, 2014, 1:20 PM
Is anyone monitoring this? Is the Archdiocese of Boston ignoring my complaint? Are they not obliged to respond to complaints of misconduct and violations of the Code of Conduct? Or have you concluded that there is simply no plausible explanation for the scandal and violation of the Code of Conduct by Cardinal O’Malley, so you’re not going to attempt to give one?
Jun 26, 2014, 10:47 AM
Is anyone ever going to respond? Or shall I tell some of the Catholic blogs that the Ethicspoint program and Code of Conduct is nothing but a sham?
BCI will forward this post to the Cardinal. We urge other readers to do that same. You can send it to the following people:
archbishopsean_o’malley@rcab.org
vicar_general@rcab.org (Bishop Peter Uglietto)
Terrence_Donilon@rcab.org (Communications Secretary
nuntiususa@nuntiususa.org (U.S. Papal Nuncio)
Ask how the Cardinal can justify his actions. Let us know if you get any response
Boston Catholic Insider 
I really wish that there was an easy answer of BCI being radical and unsupported by facts. I wish that NCR was right. Unfortunately, this is “wishful thinking”. The truth is the truth which rains upon us. Cardinal Sean appears to be carrying an umbrella.
and its rainbow colored
I first thought your headline may have been a bit strong but then I looked up the dictionary definition of “hypocrite” and found this: “a person who claims or pretends to have certain beliefs about what is right but who behaves in a way that disagrees with those beliefs.”
So, BCI, you are right once again–objectively, Cardinal O’Malley is a hypocrite. And his behavior shows no consistency or integrity. I wish for the sake of the faithful in the Archdiocese of Boston, he’d resign his post. But alas, I’m afraid we’re going to have five more years of this moral corruption..Lord, have mercy upon us!
obedience to Christ before obedience is due any errant bishop
Clericalism and politics reign supreme in the archdiocese of Boston. Bishops, priests and deacons do whatever they please. We have managers, bosses and politicians, all masquerading as pastors: not too many shepherds, though. O’Malley and his entourage lead the way. That’s why the archdiocese is on life support.
[…] https://bostoncatholicinsider.wordpress.com/2014/06/27/cardinal-omalley-pro-life-hypocrite/ […]
Pope Francis has said, “Who am I to judge.” So we can’t judge the heart of the Cardinal. Even Pope Francis met with President Obama and didn’t shun him. Maybe John Kerry will burn in hell for all eternity, who knows, it’s not up to up to decide and we can’t judge his conscience. Maybe he is living in invincible ignorance. The important thing is we don’t lose our own souls in judging anyone because that is how Satan is trying to entrap us.
magdalene,
That “Who am I to judge” comment was a personal off-the-cuff comment by Pope Francis, which has most often been used and manipulated by those who support people engaging in homosexual activity as a way of justifying their immoral actions. It was used by “Catholic” politicians in Illinois to justify a vote for gay marriage, and was recently used on buttons distributed by St. Anthony’s Shrine around Boston’s Gay Pride march, which celebrates and promotes activities such as men having sex with men and women having sex with women. In my pastoral experience, the only people who have been using that expression since it was said by Pope Francis are those who do not support Catholic Church moral teachings in this area.
As for as what is on Cardinal O’Malley’s conscience, I cannot say. But I can say that his boycotting the BC commencement in 2013 made sense on a moral and ethical basis, and his action attending the BC commencement this year with John Kerry as the honored guest and speaker makes no sense, violates both the USCCB guidelines and contradicts his own statement of 2013 about why he didn’t attend. Objecively,it is scandalous. I think he knows that which is probably why no one from the RCAB can explain why he did it–including himself.
Dear Father,
In the spirit of Matthew 18:15, would it be possible for you and several faithful priests to request a private meeting with the Cardinal and explain to him with respect how his silence about the Boston Franciscans celebrating sodomy and his own participation in the honoring of John Kerry at Boston College is causing confsuion among the faithful?
Diocese Bishops are required to teach, correct, and discipline when necessary. (Canons 915 & 1399).
This is love. This is the Soul of the sinner, and saving the Souls of those scandalized.
Regarding JUDGING: Jesus said to judge with right judgment. – Jn 7:24.
Jesus also said to first take the log out of our own eye BEFORE taking the splinter out of another’s. And that we will be judged with the same measure by which we judge. Mt 7:1-5; Lk 6:42.
Jesus never stated we should stick our heads in the sand and pretend something does not happen. – That is not love of your Bishop either – to help save his soul.
CCC: “1868 Sin is a personal act. Moreover, we have a responsibility for the sins committed by others when we cooperate in them:
– by participating directly and voluntarily in them;
– by ordering, advising, praising, or approving them;
– by not disclosing or not hindering them when we have an obligation to do so;
– by protecting evil-doers.”
CCC: ” 2285 Scandal takes on a particular gravity by reason of the authority of those who cause it or the weakness of those who are scandalized. It prompted our Lord to utter this curse: “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened round his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.”
Scandal is grave when given by those who by nature or office are obliged to teach and educate others. Jesus reproaches the scribes and Pharisees on this account: he likens them to wolves in sheep’s clothing.”
Code of Canon Law: under “Rights and Obligations of ALL the Christian Faithful”:
” Can 212 §3. According to the knowledge, competence, and prestige which they possess, they have the right and even at times the duty
to manifest to the sacred pastors their opinion on matters which pertain to the good of the Church
and to make their opinion known to the rest of the Christian faithful,
without prejudice to the integrity of faith and morals, with reverence toward their pastors, and attentive to common advantage and the dignity of persons.”
Also see: CCC #907,
Private dialogue is fine. To honor a Catholic HERETIC and SCHISMATIC in public by a Cardinal or Bishop is a SCANDAL.
Scandal is a Mortal Sin if it confuses anyone regarding the teaching of Jesus or His Church.
CCC: ” 2089 … ” HERESY is the obstinate post-baptismal denial of some truth which must be believed with divine and catholic faith, or it is likewise an obstinate doubt concerning the same; …
SCHISM is the refusal of submission to the Roman Pontiff or of communion with the members of the Church subject to him.”
CCC: ” 2284 Scandal is an attitude or behavior which leads another to do evil. The person who gives scandal becomes his neighbor’s tempter. He damages virtue and integrity; he may even draw his brother into spiritual death. Scandal is a grave offense if by deed or omission another is deliberately led into a grave offense.”
Here is another for the Cardinal to consider when publically participating in honoring a heretic/schismatic:
CCC: ” 1759 An evil action cannot be justified by reference to a good intention” (cf. St. Thomas Aquinas, Dec. praec. 6).
The end does not justify the means. ”
No matter what the Cardinal’s intentions may have been – they are not good enough.
To my knowledge, the Cardinal has an open invitation to join peacefully and prayerfully in offering alternatives to those entering 1055 Commonwealth Ave in Boston. To my knowledge, he has not exercised that invitation, which jumps off the pages of the daily Bible readings. He is certainly always welcome.
What also is evident, however, is another question found in the comments in this very useful blog: How many writing comments have a regimen of once a month giving time to do the same?
As far as he has publicly said he is in favor of Abortion and all that goes with it. In addition, I was told by a priest that if you support a party or vote for someone who is pro abortion it is a mortal sin. So if he support the dem party it doesn’t matter what is in his heart, he causes, (scandal) because he supports and is part of a party that abortion is on it’s plat form. (I am sure you know that) . And according to Vote Smart, this is his present record. http://votesmart.org/candidate/53306/john-kerry?categoryId=2&type=V,S,R,E,F,P#.U69i0bFZrIU Do you know this? In reference to the Eucharistic Miracal? It was then Cardinal Bergoglio. Now Pope Francis. Someone I know who’s mother lived in his diocese knew him, she is a judge.
Date: Fri, 27 Jun 2014 19:39:06 +0000 To: sggoeller@outlook.com
[…] quote is yet another example of Cardinal O’Malley, the pro-life hypocrite. in 2011, he preached to his fellow bishops during their ad liminia visit to Rome about the need […]
Does anybody recall hearing from Cardinal O’Malley when Massachusetts enacted Romneycare, which includes artificial contraception as a MANDATED COVERAGE?
http://www.examiner.com/article/did-you-know-romneycare-also-had-a-birth-control-mandate