Statement of Fr. Tom Euteneuer: Setting the Record Straight

For more details see LifeSiteNews

January 31, 2011

It is with great sadness, but also with a certain measure of relief, that I can now respond to the many inquiries about my departure as president of Human Life International (HLI) at the end of August 2010. It has been painful for me to remain silent in light of the ongoing speculation, particularly when much of it assigned blame to those who were, in fact, blameless. I am thankful to be able to set the record straight so that speculation can stop and blame can be placed right where it belongs - with me.

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. 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. Moreover, they were all motivated exclusively by my desire to give priestly assistance to people in great spiritual distress. 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.

I take full responsibility for my own poor judgment, my weakness and my sinful conduct that resulted from it. I offer no excuse for my professional or moral failures, nor do I shift the blame to anyone else. I state without reserve that I am deeply sorry for my actions. I have personally apologized, where possible, to anyone I have harmed. I am saddened beyond words for my fall, not only because of the harm done to my priesthood and my family, but also because of the harm done to all others who are affected, to the faith of those who placed so much trust in me and our Church, and to the pro-life movement so populated with heroic, faithful people. I must face and make amends for the disappointment I have caused. I have, of course, asked for God’s forgiveness and I have confidence in his boundless mercy. I am now grateful to be able to publicly ask for all of yours as well.

As to my departure from HLI, Church officials are completely without blame, having dealt in a timely and appropriate manner with a crisis that was not of their making. I offer this statement as a matter of justice to vindicate Church officials who have been unjustly criticized by those writing and speaking in ignorance of the facts.

While I would much prefer to allow this public act of contrition to stand alone, I regret having to address the malicious falsehoods that were published this past week on various internet sites. I can only say that I am shocked to the depths of my being at the malicious efforts by supposedly faithful Catholics to destroy a priest who has served the Church faithfully for 22 years. The campaigners have made intolerable attempts to contact my family, to defame innocent co-workers and even to solicit and to persuade others with whom I have prayed that they are victims despite their unequivocal statements to the contrary. Some have even claimed falsely and maliciously that there is a possessed person living in my family’s home. No one should have to endure such malevolence or such treatment of innocent family members. Despite the rhetoric of justice and truth-seeking, the sinful campaign has not made one single positive contribution to the resolution of this difficult situation that has already been handled appropriately by Church authorities for nearly six months.

While I would otherwise willingly suffer calumnies in silence to atone for my sins, and knowing how pointless it is to respond to every crackpot with a website, I cannot remain silent when such falsehoods threaten to damage the Church, the priesthood, and other innocent persons and organizations that are or have been linked to me. I therefore affirm and will never deviate from my affirmation that the following are true:
•My violations of chastity were limited to one person only, an adult woman;

•The violations of chastity happened due to human weakness but did not involve the sexual act;

•The accusation that I “targeted” vulnerable women or otherwise sought them out for spiritual direction is utterly false and a serious defamation of my character and ministry;

•With rare exceptions, my exorcism/prayer ministry was always conducted with prayer helpers (third parties) present; situations where prayer or pastoral care occurred without helpers present were exceptional situations where I believed it was necessary for me to act quickly in order to help the afflicted person; while not proper protocol, these departures from the norm were never done with a motive to be alone with vulnerable women;

•I repudiate any allegations of financial impropriety in conducting my prayer/exorcism ministry; I never, under any circumstances, solicited money for the ministry other than travel-related reimbursements, nor did I use HLI donor funds to carry out this work; any gifts offered to me were unsolicited and only accepted so as not to offend the giver and in most cases immediately given to those more needy than myself;

•I have no knowledge of any persons who received any financial settlement in this matter, nor have I asked for that to be given.

I pray that my two decades of faithful priestly ministry and my efforts in the defense of life will be seen in the light of the good fruits they have produced and not denigrated because of my moments of weakness in a most challenging ministry. I also wish to state that I have never entertained even the slightest thought of leaving the holy priesthood or the Roman Catholic Church as a result of my failings. Currently I am under obedience to my bishop who has allowed me to make this statement and in whose hands I leave all questions of continuing priestly ministry. I conclude with an expression of deepest gratitude for the prayers of the many generous supporters of my priesthood and of the prolife movement.

Stop the Speculation About Fr. Tom Euteneuer

In the scene in Hamlet where the young prince has just communicated with the ghost of his father,  he is reluctant to confide in his friends about what the ghost said and what he has seen. He makes Horatio and Marcellus swear that when they see him put on an "antic disposition" they will never "with arms encumbered thus, or this headshake, or by pronouncing of some doubtful phrase, as 'Well, well, we know,' or 'We could an if we would,' or 'If we list to speak,' or 'There be, an if they might,' or such ambiguous giving out, to note that you know aught of me. This not to do....swear!"

It is just such "doubtful phrases" and "ambiguous giving out" that is roiling around the internet about Fr. Tom Euteneuer, the former director of Human Life International who departed suddenly a few months ago. Jenn Giroux has written a timely article at Renew America urging people to stop the speculation. "Maybe, just maybe," she says,  "we don't need to know the whole story." I agree.

The character in Hamlet who has to know everything and be at the center of every intrigue is Polonius, an "opinionated donkey," according to my 16-year-old granddaughter. He ends up dead, stabbed by Hamlet in a case of mistaken identity while he's eavesdropping behind the tapestry in Gertrude's bedroom. Sometimes curiosity really does "kill the cat," or the donkey in this case.

Let's all just swear off idle speculation about Fr. Euteneuer. How many of us really have a need to know after all?

Fr. Paul Marx, OSB: Rest in Peace, Good and Faithful Servant of God

Pro-life warrior Fr. Paul Marx died today. I first met Fr. Mark in the 1970s when I attended his Marriage and Family Life Workshops at St. John's Abbey in Collegeville, MN. What an experience. Those were opportunities to meet some of the pioneers in Natural Family Planning as well as many laity and religious fighting for the unborn. It was a real encouragement to my own commitment in working for life.

Later on I had other contacts with Fr. Paul when he started Human Life International in a warehouse in Maryland. I went over one day with some friends and he invited us to have lunch in his spartan apartment right there in the warehouse. He gave us a tour of the facility which was a lot different from the current HLI building in Front Royal.

Fr. Marx was one of my heroes. His book, The Death Peddlars and his long article, The Mercy Killers, were two early works that exposed the abortion/euthanasia movement in all their demonic ugliness. Reading his well-researched writings was essential to understand the scope and nature of the culture of death here in the United States.

I have no doubt that this giant for Life was escorted to his Master by Mary, the Mother of God, "terrible (to Satan) as an army dressed in battle array" and a whole army of angels, the guardians of the little unborn babies he worked so hard to save. No doubt Father will continue his powerful work on earth through his intercession in heaven. We need you, Father, please pray for us.

Please pray for Fr. Marx today. None of us, even the holiest, is guaranteed a pass from Purgatory. He was so faithful to us; let us pray faithfully for him. May the Divine Assistance be always with us, and may the souls of the faithful departed, especially Fr. Marx, through the mercy of God rest in peace. Amen.