Why I Don't Give Money to the PSA

The PSA - Pastoral Services Appeal - is Bishop Tod Brown's annual "pass the basket." My husband and I, in good faith, cannot donate. Instead, we focus our tithing on our local church, the parish of St. Joseph Church in Santa Ana.

A priest who escaped prosecution on allegations that he molested a boy more than 30 years ago was arrested Monday on new charges of molesting a second boy at a Costa Mesa Catholic school during the mid-1990s.

Lyons, who was removed from ministry in April 2002, has cost the Diocese of Orange more than $4 million in settlements of other sex-abuse claims.

Molestation accusations aren't anything new to Lyons. In 1993, he admitted to inappropriate behavior with two adults in 1979, when he was pastor at St. John the Baptist. He was placed into counseling but put on administrative leave in 2002 when he was assigned to St. Edward Church in Dana Point.

In 2003, he was charged with molesting a teenage boy for three years beginning in 1978 at St. John the Baptist. But that case was dropped after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling invalidated prosecutions of some older sex crimes, including acts allegedly committed Lyons.

So, to sum up, Fr. Lyons was having his fun for some 30 years and the diocese did . . . nothing. Then until the diocese cleans up its act, when they come asking for money, I will do the same. And continue to support the parish that I call home.

To those good priests whom I count as friends - and guys, you know who you are - thank you.