A Priest's Confession of a Mistake

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There was much debate, online and
off, about why Father Thomas
Euteneuer left the position
president of Human Life
International, 2010, in August.

The sudden exit led to official
apologies, explanations and
defenses of both Euteneuer's
past behavior as not only the
superstar of the international
pro-life movement, but an exorcist
for the Catholic Church.

A January 27th medical emergency
at HLI's Front Royal, Virginia
headquarters described by
emergency medical responders as a
"medical seizure," and some
witnesses depicted "demonic
possession" of a past female
associate of Euteneuer's.

There were speculations and
accusations against the priest,
attacks on both the priest's
critics and alleged victims.

Euteneuer sliced into the five
months of official silence with
an admission of one instance of
moral failing during his performance
of an exorcism.

"The circumstances that led to my
departure from HLI were related
exclusively to my own decisions
and conduct within the ministry
of exorcism that I carried out
independently from my responsibilities
at HLI," Euteneuer in a February 1st
post on the web site LifeSiteNews.
The "vast majority of my decisions
and conduct, both personally and in
this ministry, were morally sound and
consistent with all standards of
pastoral care of persons," Euteneuer
explained. "I must acknowledge, however,
that one particularly complex situation
clouded my judgment and led me to
imprudent decisions with harmful
consequences, the worst of which was
violating the boundaries of chastity
with an adult female who was under
my spiritual care."

Euteneuer accepted "full responsibility"
for his "weakness and sinful conduct," but
added a denial of some specific online
accusations, such as the presence in a
rental room in his parent's home of a
woman alleged to have been the subject
of repeated exorcisms by the priest.

"The good and safety of others, respect
for privacy, and the common good are
sufficient reasons for being silent
about what ought not be known or for
making use of a discreet language. The
duty to avoid scandal often commands
strict discretion. No one is bound to
reveal the truth to someone who does
not have the right to know it." (Catechism
of the Catholic Church, 2489. Emphasis in
the original.)," the HLI statement.

Source: http://newsblaze.com/story/20110207071627writ.nb/topstory.html