RELIGION

Cincinnati's Church: Trust in Jeopardy Amid Porn Scandals

Cincinnati, USAThu Sep 25 2025

In Cincinnati, the Catholic Church is facing a serious trust issue. Four porn-related scandals have rocked the community in recent years. The latest involves Father Edward Burns, who is now on leave after some questionable websites were found on his computer. The archdiocese has handed this over to the police, but they won't say much more. This leaves parishioners wondering what's going on and if their children are safe.

A Pattern of Scandals

2024: A Year of Distrust

  • Broderick Witt, a former seminarian, admitted to serious crimes involving minors. He got probation, but the damage was done.
  • Father Barry Stechschulte stepped down after a messy situation involving porn on an old computer.
  • Father Tony Cutcher, his predecessor, was already in trouble for inappropriate messages to a young teen.

Father Michael Bachman

  • Admitted to watching porn and getting caught in a sex sting.
  • The archdiocese defended him at first, but later had to backtrack.
  • They never apologized to the parishioners who were told to stop gossiping.

The Latest Scandal: Father Edward Burns

  • The same old story is playing out.
  • The archdiocese is staying quiet, and people are getting suspicious.

Parishioners Demand Answers

  • They want to know if the websites involved children.
  • A simple yes or no would help, but the archdiocese won't say.
  • This silence makes people think the worst.
  • It doesn't help that Father Burns was friends with a priest now in jail for abusing an altar boy.

Time for Transparency

The archdiocese needs to step up and be honest.

  • They should explain what's happening with Father Burns.
  • They should clarify how they handle these situations.
  • People deserve to know if their kids are safe.
  • Trust is already broken, and silence is only making it worse.
  • It's time for the Church to show some transparency and take responsibility.

questions

    What steps is the archdiocese taking to ensure transparency and accountability in light of the recent scandals?
    Are the recent scandals part of a larger effort to discredit the Catholic Church from within?
    How does the archdiocese plan to rebuild trust with parishioners who have been affected by these incidents?

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