It is difficult to determine what is more disturbing about the
vilification of the late Rev. Dennis P. O'Neil on the opinion page of
the April 30 News-Press: The fact that Charles Unger wrote such a
malicious, error-filled piece, or that the newspaper would choose to
print it.
We thank you for allowing us to correct just a few of the errors
Unger passed on to your readers, and to react to his commentary.
Dennis was the first of 10 children born to Patricia C. O'Neil and
the late Robert J. O'Neil, all raised and educated in the Crescenta
Valley and Glendale areas. His ordination to the priesthood 38 years
ago to the day of Unger's column -- and subsequent celebration of his
first Mass at his home parish of Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in
Montrose -- was then and remains now a source of great pride for this
community.
Dennis' last assignment before becoming auxiliary bishop in the
Diocese of San Bernardino was to the Lynwood "mega-parish" of St.
Emydius. The church, which normally sees 8,000 to 9,000 Catholics
attending weekend Masses, had been without a pastor for six months.
The previous pastor spoke no Spanish, the first language of most of
his churchgoers.
The assignment to St. Emydius was not a strategic step to a
"blossoming career," as Unger suggests. Dennis was sent there because
of his leadership skills, outgoing personality and ability to bring
together people of diverse backgrounds in a multicultural celebration
of God's love. Unquestionably, he had his work cut out for him.
That some of the facts in Mr. Unger's column are wrong is
technically not his fault. It is apparent that he took his erroneous
information from an article printed nearly eight weeks earlier in the
L.A. Daily Journal, a newspaper published for the Southern California
legal community.
Unger's lifted description of Maria Elena Vega as " ... a teacher
at Saint Emydius Church ... minding her own business conducting her
catechism class ... teaching the principles of the Roman Catholic
faith," when Dennis O'Neil " ... resorted to fisticuffs, landing a
punch above the ear of Ms. Vega," is wrong.
Vega was not a catechism teacher at St. Emydius Church. Records
there indicate that she was never even registered as a parishioner.
Parish catechists are required to undergo formal training and
certification. Vega was never trained as a catechist. She did not use
a textbook or follow the two-year curriculum that is standard for
children making their First Communion in the Catholic Church.
