Was Fr. John Hardon protecting a pedaphile priest?

McGuire in 2002, shortly before a criminal
investigation into his sexual abuse
of teenage boys began.

January 11th, San Fransisco Weekly published an article Tainted Saint: Mother Teresa Defended Pedophile Priest which went on to report that both Mother Teresa and Fr. John Hardon defended former Jesuit Donald McGuire, who is now 81 and serving a 25 year prison sentence for child molestation.

Upon seeing some evidence against McGuire, Fr. Hardon wrote in a 1994 letter to McGuire's superior:

"I understand how grave is the scandal touching the priesthood in the U.S.A. and how careful we must be to guard the purity and reputation of that priesthood," the letter states. "I must say, however, that I have confidence and trust in Fr. McGuire and wish to see his vital ministry resume as soon as possible."

Although Mother Teresa does endorse McGuire, the charge is much less serious I think, and is barely worth mentioning except it makes for a better headline. 

Last week Phil Lawler at Catholic Culture wrote an in depth analysis of the charges.  It's definitely worth a read (he agrees that Mother Teresa was included to sell more than anything).  To put it in perspective, Lawler write:

Certainly it is true that the leaders of the Jesuit order were guilty of lapses far more serious than the apparently imprudent judgment of Father Hardon. (In fact in retrospect it is exceedingly curious that the Jesuit order accepted Father Hardon’s recommendation, with so much countervailing evidence already weighing against it.) At least six different Jesuit provincials were warned that McGuire was molesting teenage boys. His ministry had been restricted, but the restriction had not been enforced. His superiors had been warned repeatedly that he was traveling with teenage boys, yet the travel continued. In 1998, a provincial who had access to all the personnel records wrote to a bishop that McGuire “had never been accused of improprieties with minors.” As late as 2007, Jesuit leaders denied having evidence of abuse beyond the cases for which McGuire had already faced formal charges. Even while he was awaiting trial on federal abuse charges, McGuire was living without restrictions at a Jesuit residence in Chicago, where he was free to entertain young men in his room.

But it still seems unclear how Fr. Hardon could have been so duped by McGuire, and then go onto so ardently defend him.

[Hardon] also had an impeccable reputation for honesty and for looking at facts without blinking. If Father Hardon testified that McGuire was innocent of grave wrongdoing, the Jesuit order seemed prepared to accept that testimony.

So Father Hardon visited McGuire in Pennsylvania, spoke to him privately at length, and—sad to say—he blinked. 

In their long conversation, which Father Hardon later recorded in correspondence that has now been made public, McGuire admitted that he had showered with his teenage companions. He admitted that he had asked the boys to give him massages. He admitted using pornography with them. But he denied the more serious charges of engaging in actual sex acts. Father Hardon wrote that he accepted the veracity of McGuire’s denial: “I do not believe there was any conscious and deliberate sexual perversity.”

The guild for the cause of Fr. Hardon issued a response to the charges:

Any cause which is opened has as its scope “the gathering of proofs in order to attain moral certitude on the heroic virtues or the martyrdom of the [person in question] whose beatification and canonization are asked.”

The postulator is “first and foremost…to conduct research into the life of the Servant of God, which is useful for knowing the reputation of holiness” of the person, which not only includes all that which might affirm his cause, but also which may be negative. The postulator is “obliged to act for the greater good of the Church and, therefore, to seek the truth conscientiously and honestly.”

With all this in mind, if anyone should have any substantive evidence which would assist the Church in her discernment of the cause for the Servant of God John A. Hardon, S.J, he or she should contact the office of the postulator and include his or her name, contact information, and relationship to the Servant of God John A. Hardon, S.J., so that he may present fully, honestly and faithfully what is required of him once the diocesan inquiry has been opened officially.

Father Robert T. McDermott
Postulator

I'm sure these charges against Fr. Hardon will be taken seriously and investigated.  Like Lawler states in his article, it probably depends on how much Fr. Hardon knew.  But for what he did know, it's clear he did not react appropriately.  McGuire should have been removed from active ministry immediately upon his admission.  Another sad tale in the scandal of our generation.