1 00:00:04,920 --> 00:00:10,080 Speaker 1: Welcome to the ten Minute Storyteller. That's me Bill Simpson, 2 00:00:10,280 --> 00:00:15,040 Speaker 1: your host, narrator and author. We hear at the ten 3 00:00:15,080 --> 00:00:19,680 Speaker 1: minute Storyteller endeavor to entertain you with tall tales or 4 00:00:19,720 --> 00:00:24,840 Speaker 1: rendered swiftly and with the utmost empathy. We pledge to 5 00:00:25,000 --> 00:00:29,520 Speaker 1: pack as much entertainment, emotion, and exploration into the human 6 00:00:29,560 --> 00:00:40,120 Speaker 1: condition as ten minutes will permit. Mini novels on steroids. 7 00:00:41,920 --> 00:00:47,640 Speaker 1: This week we meet Father Joseph. Father Joseph and Nathaniel's 8 00:00:47,680 --> 00:00:51,560 Speaker 1: parents sit in the Priest's office and have a nice 9 00:00:51,600 --> 00:00:56,880 Speaker 1: little chat. They discuss the upcoming pancake breakfast, the flower 10 00:00:56,920 --> 00:01:01,280 Speaker 1: show to raise money for the local orphanage, and next 11 00:01:01,480 --> 00:01:06,640 Speaker 1: Sunday sermon on assisting the poor and the persecuted. Father 12 00:01:06,760 --> 00:01:11,040 Speaker 1: Joseph has an engaging smile and an easy laugh. He's 13 00:01:11,240 --> 00:01:18,039 Speaker 1: very popular among his parishioners. Unfortunately, Joe is a very 14 00:01:18,160 --> 00:01:30,440 Speaker 1: sick pup. Father Joseph and his blood red Feriolo. Father 15 00:01:30,600 --> 00:01:35,360 Speaker 1: Joseph leans back in his chair and smiles. He feels happy, 16 00:01:35,600 --> 00:01:42,640 Speaker 1: content satiated. A knock hits his office door. Father Joseph calls, 17 00:01:42,760 --> 00:01:46,280 Speaker 1: come in, come in, doors open. He meant to leave 18 00:01:46,319 --> 00:01:50,279 Speaker 1: the door open. He likes his office door wide open 19 00:01:50,680 --> 00:01:54,440 Speaker 1: to all souls who need him, unless, of course, he 20 00:01:54,560 --> 00:01:59,560 Speaker 1: desires privacy, and then the door is best closed and locked. 21 00:02:00,880 --> 00:02:06,720 Speaker 1: The Kennedys enter Joan and Bill staunch supporters of the diocese, 22 00:02:07,400 --> 00:02:11,960 Speaker 1: ten percenters all the way, always ready to volunteer, usher, 23 00:02:12,240 --> 00:02:17,840 Speaker 1: make pancakes, dust the chandeliers in the sanctuary. Five kids, 24 00:02:18,120 --> 00:02:22,840 Speaker 1: three sons, two daughters, thinking maybe one more, not doing 25 00:02:22,880 --> 00:02:29,519 Speaker 1: anything to prevent it. Their eldest, Nathaniel twelve, presently serves 26 00:02:29,760 --> 00:02:33,919 Speaker 1: Father Joseph as an altar boy, though Father Joseph prefers 27 00:02:33,960 --> 00:02:38,240 Speaker 1: the term acolyte. He likes to say in his serene, 28 00:02:38,480 --> 00:02:43,519 Speaker 1: casual style, acolyte gives the job a certain bit of 29 00:02:43,720 --> 00:02:46,919 Speaker 1: a bit of dignity, so important in life to have 30 00:02:47,000 --> 00:02:53,239 Speaker 1: one's dignity. Nathaniel just departed. He slipped out the side 31 00:02:53,280 --> 00:02:57,160 Speaker 1: door that leads to the changing room where Father Joseph 32 00:02:57,320 --> 00:03:02,400 Speaker 1: keeps his clerical clothing and ms. A bit of a 33 00:03:02,520 --> 00:03:07,600 Speaker 1: dandy and from a well to do, if somewhat dysfunctional family. 34 00:03:08,440 --> 00:03:14,480 Speaker 1: Father Joseph has a very nice selection of cassocks, capes, collars, hats, 35 00:03:14,720 --> 00:03:21,440 Speaker 1: and feriolos. The changing room also contains Father Joseph's clerical 36 00:03:21,520 --> 00:03:26,440 Speaker 1: wardrobe that he wears during masks, the amiss, the alb, 37 00:03:26,960 --> 00:03:33,640 Speaker 1: several cinsures, the stole, and a variety of chasibels in green, purple, white, black, 38 00:03:34,000 --> 00:03:41,080 Speaker 1: and blood red. Father Joseph loves blood red. Oh Lord, 39 00:03:41,520 --> 00:03:45,760 Speaker 1: who has said, my yoke is easy and my burden light, 40 00:03:46,360 --> 00:03:49,520 Speaker 1: Grant that I may be able to bear it, that 41 00:03:49,720 --> 00:03:55,800 Speaker 1: I may obtain thy grace. Amen. And the sink in 42 00:03:55,840 --> 00:03:59,760 Speaker 1: the corner where Nathaniel and the other accolytes wash Father 43 00:04:00,120 --> 00:04:05,080 Speaker 1: Joseph's hands and sometimes his feet before the priest dresses 44 00:04:05,200 --> 00:04:10,080 Speaker 1: for mass, give virtue to my hands, O Lord, that 45 00:04:10,280 --> 00:04:14,120 Speaker 1: being cleansed from all stains, I might serve you with 46 00:04:14,360 --> 00:04:20,800 Speaker 1: purity of mind and body. Joan and Bill Kennedy stand 47 00:04:21,040 --> 00:04:26,120 Speaker 1: until Father Joseph insists they sit now. Bill has his 48 00:04:26,200 --> 00:04:29,880 Speaker 1: doubts about the whole religion thing, but he keeps these 49 00:04:29,960 --> 00:04:34,279 Speaker 1: doubts to himself. He knows how much the church and 50 00:04:34,480 --> 00:04:38,640 Speaker 1: this priest mean to his wife anything to keep her 51 00:04:38,720 --> 00:04:43,320 Speaker 1: calm and steady. His job is to provide food and shelter, 52 00:04:43,720 --> 00:04:48,760 Speaker 1: safety and security. He's only here because Joan asked him 53 00:04:48,800 --> 00:04:53,599 Speaker 1: to come. Bill looks around the office while his wife 54 00:04:53,600 --> 00:04:58,320 Speaker 1: and the priest chat. He sees family pictures on the walls. 55 00:04:58,640 --> 00:05:04,480 Speaker 1: More family pictures on the priest's desk looks to be parents, siblings, 56 00:05:04,640 --> 00:05:09,120 Speaker 1: maybe nephews and nieces. Bill hears his wife and the 57 00:05:09,160 --> 00:05:14,240 Speaker 1: priest talking about Nathaniel and David ten also an altar 58 00:05:14,279 --> 00:05:20,039 Speaker 1: boy father. Joseph, in his quiet, pleasant voice, assures Joan, 59 00:05:20,120 --> 00:05:22,800 Speaker 1: the boys are doing a bang up job, Joe, a 60 00:05:22,839 --> 00:05:28,400 Speaker 1: bang up job first class. The conversation drifts to last 61 00:05:28,440 --> 00:05:33,440 Speaker 1: Sunday's sermon, to next week's pancake breakfast, to next month's 62 00:05:33,640 --> 00:05:38,239 Speaker 1: flower show to raise money for the local orphanage. Bill 63 00:05:38,400 --> 00:05:43,840 Speaker 1: hears them babbling away, occasionally laughing, but mostly he's thinking 64 00:05:43,880 --> 00:05:47,240 Speaker 1: about those reports his boss wants by the end of 65 00:05:47,279 --> 00:05:51,800 Speaker 1: the week, and the new secretary in accounting with the 66 00:05:52,000 --> 00:05:56,880 Speaker 1: mile long legs. The thought of having those killer legs 67 00:05:57,000 --> 00:06:01,960 Speaker 1: wrapped around his neck nearly causes Bill to pant, but 68 00:06:02,000 --> 00:06:06,240 Speaker 1: he quickly drives the thought away, as Bill knows full 69 00:06:06,279 --> 00:06:12,320 Speaker 1: well the consequences of any workplace shenanigans. One wrong word 70 00:06:12,520 --> 00:06:16,240 Speaker 1: to miss long legs, and he can kiss his cozy 71 00:06:16,400 --> 00:06:20,520 Speaker 1: desk job goodbye. It's not like the old days when 72 00:06:20,560 --> 00:06:23,680 Speaker 1: you could flirt and kit around and even lay a 73 00:06:23,760 --> 00:06:31,640 Speaker 1: hand on your secretary's ass. Those days are over. Centuries ago, 74 00:06:31,920 --> 00:06:37,600 Speaker 1: the Catholic Church ordered its priests to remain celibate. No 75 00:06:37,720 --> 00:06:43,520 Speaker 1: more marriage, no more wives, no more legitimate kids. The 76 00:06:43,640 --> 00:06:48,320 Speaker 1: Vatican issued this decree because it wanted Catholic priests to 77 00:06:48,440 --> 00:06:53,400 Speaker 1: remain one hundred percent faithful to God. Of course, this 78 00:06:53,640 --> 00:06:56,760 Speaker 1: was a lot of bologney. The real reason the Church 79 00:06:56,920 --> 00:07:00,640 Speaker 1: didn't want its priests to marry was because the Pope 80 00:07:00,839 --> 00:07:06,720 Speaker 1: and his cardinals didn't want wives and kids inheriting property. 81 00:07:06,839 --> 00:07:10,880 Speaker 1: The Pope wanted it all for himself, and so for 82 00:07:10,960 --> 00:07:15,400 Speaker 1: the past five or six hundred years, thousands, maybe tens 83 00:07:15,480 --> 00:07:19,520 Speaker 1: of thousands of priests have been wandering around the world 84 00:07:19,600 --> 00:07:23,520 Speaker 1: trying to figure out where to put it. Just look 85 00:07:23,560 --> 00:07:27,400 Speaker 1: at Father Joseph. He was at a diocese in another 86 00:07:27,520 --> 00:07:32,320 Speaker 1: state before he arrived here. The Church quietly moved him 87 00:07:32,360 --> 00:07:39,520 Speaker 1: here after a quote unquote misunderstanding unsettled the congregation. The 88 00:07:39,600 --> 00:07:43,560 Speaker 1: local police even took an interest briefly, but soon the 89 00:07:43,640 --> 00:07:49,200 Speaker 1: rumors were squelched and the archdiocese suggested Father Joseph take 90 00:07:49,240 --> 00:07:55,480 Speaker 1: a new posting. Now here's the thing. Joseph like virtually 91 00:07:55,640 --> 00:07:59,960 Speaker 1: all mammals roaming the planet, especially mammals with a foul 92 00:08:00,800 --> 00:08:06,960 Speaker 1: has needs, desires, impulses. For Christ's sakes, it's these impulses, 93 00:08:07,000 --> 00:08:10,680 Speaker 1: after all, that keep the whole ball of wax rolling along. 94 00:08:11,840 --> 00:08:16,920 Speaker 1: Desire leads to fornication, fornication to pregnancy, and pregnancy to 95 00:08:17,000 --> 00:08:24,720 Speaker 1: the survival of the species. It's a good, clean, simple system. Unfortunately, 96 00:08:25,040 --> 00:08:31,800 Speaker 1: on occasion, these desires and impulses go awry. Here at 97 00:08:31,840 --> 00:08:36,760 Speaker 1: his new posting, Father Joseph is very popular with the parishioners. 98 00:08:37,360 --> 00:08:39,679 Speaker 1: He's been here about a year now. He has a 99 00:08:39,720 --> 00:08:42,760 Speaker 1: fine sense of humor, but still manages to give a 100 00:08:42,840 --> 00:08:47,360 Speaker 1: strong sermon emphasizing the need to help the poor, the sick, 101 00:08:47,559 --> 00:08:53,360 Speaker 1: the elderly, the young, the abused, and on a personal front, 102 00:08:53,640 --> 00:08:59,360 Speaker 1: things have gone very smoothly. Young Nathaniel Joseph feels fell 103 00:08:59,400 --> 00:09:04,440 Speaker 1: into his lap Heaven, sent by God, no doubt, a 104 00:09:04,480 --> 00:09:08,200 Speaker 1: gift for all Father Joseph does for the poor and 105 00:09:08,240 --> 00:09:10,880 Speaker 1: the sick, for the elderly and those who suffer from 106 00:09:11,160 --> 00:09:16,760 Speaker 1: guilt and doubt. Father Joseph turns his attention to Bill. 107 00:09:17,640 --> 00:09:20,600 Speaker 1: You haven't been a regular attendee at church bell The 108 00:09:20,640 --> 00:09:23,640 Speaker 1: priest says, is there anything I can do for you? 109 00:09:23,640 --> 00:09:27,079 Speaker 1: You know, the church only has one purpose to assist 110 00:09:27,120 --> 00:09:31,679 Speaker 1: those in need. I'm good, says Bill. No needs right now. 111 00:09:33,120 --> 00:09:37,240 Speaker 1: When Bill was a kid, an altar boy at Saint Rose's, 112 00:09:37,840 --> 00:09:42,960 Speaker 1: father Michael fondled him on numerous occasions, nothing too dramatic, 113 00:09:43,520 --> 00:09:46,720 Speaker 1: just grabbed him through his corduroys once in a while, 114 00:09:46,880 --> 00:09:50,800 Speaker 1: slipped his hand inside, you know, gave young Bill a 115 00:09:50,840 --> 00:09:55,920 Speaker 1: little feel. Bill suppressed the abuse, told no one has 116 00:09:55,960 --> 00:09:59,720 Speaker 1: acted all his life like it, like it never even happened. 117 00:10:01,360 --> 00:10:06,040 Speaker 1: Joan suddenly stands. Bill slips from his reverie and shoots 118 00:10:06,120 --> 00:10:10,440 Speaker 1: out of his chair. Joan thanks the priest for his kindnesses. 119 00:10:11,440 --> 00:10:14,760 Speaker 1: Father Joseph gives Joan a hug and Bill a sturdy, 120 00:10:14,920 --> 00:10:20,000 Speaker 1: manly handshake. Bill finds it impossible to look the priest 121 00:10:20,280 --> 00:10:25,400 Speaker 1: in the eye. Soon after the Kennedy's depart Father Joseph 122 00:10:25,520 --> 00:10:29,760 Speaker 1: goes into his dressing room, disrobes and pulls on his 123 00:10:30,040 --> 00:10:35,160 Speaker 1: finest feriolo, a blood red ankle length cape made of 124 00:10:35,160 --> 00:10:40,400 Speaker 1: the finest mulberry silk. After admiring the cape and his 125 00:10:40,480 --> 00:10:44,440 Speaker 1: own appearance in the full length mirror, he goes looking 126 00:10:44,559 --> 00:10:48,520 Speaker 1: for his favorite accolade, he finds the boy on the 127 00:10:48,640 --> 00:10:54,840 Speaker 1: high altar polishing candlesticks. Come, Nathaniel, he commands, I have 128 00:10:54,960 --> 00:11:04,080 Speaker 1: something far more important for you to polish. That's a sick, 129 00:11:04,280 --> 00:11:08,440 Speaker 1: sad little story, I know, but hey, it's one that 130 00:11:08,520 --> 00:11:11,280 Speaker 1: must be told over and over so it never happens 131 00:11:11,320 --> 00:11:15,440 Speaker 1: again to anyone. To shy away from these atrocities is 132 00:11:15,480 --> 00:11:19,280 Speaker 1: to condone them. To pretend these abuses don't exist is 133 00:11:19,360 --> 00:11:25,200 Speaker 1: to guarantee the abuses will persist. It's estimated that over 134 00:11:25,240 --> 00:11:28,760 Speaker 1: a quarter of a million children were abused by Catholic 135 00:11:28,800 --> 00:11:33,400 Speaker 1: priests in the United States between nineteen fifty and twenty twenty. 136 00:11:34,240 --> 00:11:37,000 Speaker 1: God only knows the full extent of the abuse over 137 00:11:37,040 --> 00:11:40,960 Speaker 1: the centuries. These priests were sick. It's not normal to 138 00:11:41,080 --> 00:11:46,079 Speaker 1: sexually abuse powerless children. The priests they needed help, They 139 00:11:46,160 --> 00:11:50,880 Speaker 1: needed help. The Catholic Church did not provide the help. Instead, 140 00:11:51,040 --> 00:11:53,720 Speaker 1: the church, from the local parish right up to the 141 00:11:53,760 --> 00:11:59,079 Speaker 1: pope sitting in the Vatican made excuses, denied the abuse existed, 142 00:11:59,440 --> 00:12:04,920 Speaker 1: move sick priests from one diocese to another, where like 143 00:12:04,960 --> 00:12:10,680 Speaker 1: in this story, they abused additional children. Now I considered 144 00:12:10,679 --> 00:12:14,760 Speaker 1: a graphic depiction of what Father Joseph inflicted upon young 145 00:12:14,840 --> 00:12:18,520 Speaker 1: Nathaniel Kennedy, but in the end I just couldn't bring 146 00:12:18,600 --> 00:12:21,680 Speaker 1: myself to do it. There is not a parent alive 147 00:12:21,720 --> 00:12:27,160 Speaker 1: who wants their child sexually abused. So let's condemn the 148 00:12:27,240 --> 00:12:31,040 Speaker 1: Catholic Church for protecting these perverts and once and for all, 149 00:12:31,200 --> 00:12:34,200 Speaker 1: weed out the rats, throw them in jail, and throw 150 00:12:34,240 --> 00:12:48,040 Speaker 1: away the keys. Thanks for listening to this original audio 151 00:12:48,160 --> 00:12:53,959 Speaker 1: presentation of Father Joseph and his blood Red Fario. If 152 00:12:53,960 --> 00:12:58,040 Speaker 1: you enjoy today's story, please take a few seconds to rate, review, 153 00:12:58,320 --> 00:13:03,559 Speaker 1: and subscribe to this podcast, and then go to Thomas 154 00:13:03,600 --> 00:13:08,680 Speaker 1: William Simpson dot com for additional information about the author 155 00:13:08,920 --> 00:13:14,080 Speaker 1: and to view his extensive canon. The Ten Minute Storyteller 156 00:13:14,280 --> 00:13:18,960 Speaker 1: is produced by Andrew Pleglici and Josh Colodney and as 157 00:13:19,040 --> 00:13:24,959 Speaker 1: part of the Elvis Duran Podcast Network in partnership with Iheartproductions. 158 00:13:25,960 --> 00:13:30,920 Speaker 1: Until next time, this is Bill Simpson, your ten Minute Storyteller.