Cincinnati's Church: Trust in Jeopardy Amid Porn Scandals

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. Back in 2024, things were just as shady. A former seminarian, Broderick Witt, admitted to some serious crimes involving minors. He got probation, but the damage was done. Around the same time, Father Barry Stechschulte stepped down after a messy situation involving porn on an old computer. His predecessor, Father Tony Cutcher, was already in trouble for inappropriate messages to a young teen. Then there's Father Michael Bachman. He 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. Now, with Father Burns, the same old story is playing out. The archdiocese is staying quiet, and people are getting suspicious. Parishioners are asking tough questions. 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 also doesn't help that Father Burns was friends with a priest who is now in jail for abusing an altar boy. This pattern of secrecy and protection is wearing thin. The archdiocese needs to step up and be honest. They should explain what's happening with Father Burns and 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.