The Divine Sociopath

As far as I could tell, the tune to this song had three notes. Maybe four.

But never mind. It was good to be in church. I was glad I'd resisted the temptation to storm out over Bishop O'Brien.

Mark Poutenis

*Author's note: I may be sick, but I am not ill. None of us here at New Times could imagine anything worse than a bedside visit from the prelate without a personality, Bishop Thomas J. O'Brien; so we decided to imagine it in words.

Christine Keith

In the courtroom: Bishop O'Brien flanked by defense attorneys Patrick McGroder and Melissa Berren.

Related Content

• Creepy Crawler Ex-Phoenix Priest George Bredemann Dies In Prison
  April 6, 2012
• Sheriff Joe Arpaio Should be Charged, Eric Holder Told in Letter by Former Prosecutors
  April 16, 2012
• Michael Ryan, Vietnam War Hero and One of Our Most Respected Judges, Dies At Age of 66
  January 30, 2012
• Rick Romley Bombshell in Arpaio/Thomas Failed Case Against Judges and County Officials: "Miscarriage of Justice Stops Now"
  August 12, 2010
• Mary Rose Wilcox Gets More Good News: Boxer Luis "Yori Boy" Campas and Trainer Joe Diaz's Lawsuit Tossed
  April 11, 2012

More About

• Thomas O'Brien
• Joe Ladensack
• Lila Swanson
• Criminal Sentencing and Punishment
• Christianity

Like this Story?

Sign up for the Weekly Newsletter: Our weekly feature stories, movie reviews, calendar picks and more - minus the newsprint and sent directly to your inbox.

Privacy Policy Cancel Continue

People are different on Easter than on other Sundays. There are more of them, for one thing. Little girls are nicely dressed and comfort stuffed bunnies throughout the service. One tiny boy sported a lime green golf shirt, shorts, and cowboy boots up to his knees. Stylin'.

But no matter what Sunday you attend, almost the entire congregation takes communion, a dramatic change from when I served Mass.

In the church bulletin, Father O'Grady wrote, "You may have drifted away, walked away or even run away from the church . . . for your own particular reasons."

He invited the disaffected to a meeting. Bishop O'Brien was not mentioned.

Two weeks before Easter, the bishop had underscored his level of remorse for killing Jim Reed the night of the hit-and-run. He had returned to the court and asked that his drive time to and from the deathbeds be included as community service. Understand, he is chauffeured to each of these visits.

As I contemplated Father O'Grady's gracious invitation to the disaffected, I thought about O'Brien and his chauffeur and the terrible toll this man has taken upon the devout.

There are too many who have left the church in deep pain over the pedophilia scandal. What they have lost is their faith. The mystery that turns the bread and wine into the body of Jesus Christ is answered by faith. This particular mystery gives Catholics the answer to life and death and offers hope in the face of judgment and eternity. Bishop Thomas J. O'Brien snatched that faith away from too many innocents.

"Take away our faith," said Father O'Grady on Easter Sunday, "and it's just bread."

E-mail michael.lacey@newtimes.com, or call 602-229-8404.