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June 27, 2003
Diocese auditing
compliance
Local church officials trying to follow
abuse guideline
WORCESTER- The Catholic Diocese of Worcester
is cooperating with the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and
is auditing its compliance with the Charter for the Protection
of Children and Young People adopted last year by the American
bishops, according to Raymond L. Delisle, diocesan spokesman.
The diocese wants to demonstrate that "we are complying with the
national charter and understand better the scope of child sexual
abuse in the church's recent history," he said.
June 26, 2003
Laity groups call for openness
from Reilly, Worcester Diocese
Advocates urge Catholics to ask questions
and become more involved
WORCESTER- David J.
O'Brien, director of the Center for Religion, Ethics and Culture
at the College of the Holy Cross, is calling on Catholics to
become informed and ask questions about what American bishops
are doing to resolve what he calls a 20-year-old sexual abuse
scandal.
Openness has emerged as an issue in the Worcester Diocese.
Bishop Daniel P. Reilly has refused requests to open diocesan
records on the scandal from Worcester Diocese Voice of the
Faithful, an organization of concerned Catholics, and the
Worcester Voice, another Catholic advocacy organization.
June 21, 2003
Rev. Szantyr to be
arraigned July 18
WORCESTER- The Rev. John J. Szantyr, 72, who
served in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Worcester during the
1980s, faces three charges of indecent assault and battery on a
child under 14 and is to be arraigned July 18 in Central
District Court, according to District Attorney John J. Conte.
........The district attorney also did not reveal the name of
the alleged victim of Brother Laperle. He said the incidents
happened between Jan. 1, 1968, and June 30, 1968, when Brother
Laperle was teaching at Notre Dame Academy. Brother Laperle was
located in Pascoag, R.I.
The district attorney said Brother Laperle can only be charged
with offenses that were in effect in Massachusetts in 1968. The
charge of indecent assault and battery did not exist at the
time, he said. Since the three assault and battery charges are
misdemeanors, Brother Leperle has a right to a show-cause
hearing before the clerk of the Fitchburg District Court
June 20, 2003
U.S. Bishops Admit to
Conspiracy of Silence
Clergy's unexpected move seeks to 'put this terrible chapter
behind us' and to 'move forward in shepherding God's people'
St. Louis,
June 19, 2003 - In a stunning announcement, the United States
Conference of Catholic Bishops, meeting in St. Louis today,
admitted to a conspiracy of silence in facilitating the
long-running child sexual abuse scandal that has beset the
Catholic Church nationwide.
June 19, 2003
DA Conte Files
two criminal application for prosecution today.
In the start of what we hope will be a succession of
prosecutions by Worcester District Attorney John J. Conte a
criminal complaint was issued on three counts of indecent
assault and battery against
Rev. John J. Szantyr, who at the time was
assigned to Our Lady of Czestochowa parish, Richard Chesnis of
Worcester, father of alleged victim has become very out
spoken on his quest for prosecution and public exposure.
Mr. Chesnis spent
many a Sunday at St Paul's Cathedral. Arrangements will be
forthcoming to return Rev
Szantyr to Worcester Superior court to face criminal
charges.
Father, son allege priest sex abuse
In FITCHBURG District Court, a criminal complaint was filed
today against Brother Lewis Laperle who is charged with one
count of assault and battery based on available legal statue in
the year 1968. The alleged incident occurred with a 15
year old child while attending school. Arrangements for
prosecution will be determined by the Assistant District
Attorney handling the case.
a list of all current prosecution in Worcester County is
available by our new link criminal actions.
June 17, 2003
Of February 15, 2002 Worcester Dioceses
Bishop Daniel P. Reilly knowing mislead Fr John E. Doran,
Pastor of St Leo parish by projecting misleading and false
information addressing the past sexual abuse history of Rev
Peter Inzerillo. By
attempting to blame the media.
Fr Doran also was fully aware that serious
questions of an inappropriate sexual nature had arose on the
Eighth grade class trip June of 2001, concerning Rev
Inzerillo. These issues were brought to Fr
Doran's attention following the students return. Two weeks after
this meeting Fr Doran placed Rev Inzerillo
in charge of the St Leo Alter Severs.
We seek the Catholic Bishops to address
accountability for those "Bishops" who have knowingly projecting
false information in relation to clergy sexual abuse in direct
contrition to our teachings of Jesus Christ our Lord.
How can these Catholic Bishops who
proclaim to be one with God continue to fail to address the true
issues of the Catholic Church Sexual Abuse Crisis? It must begin
with the Catholic Bishops taking responsibility and releasing
all records and information, anything else is their continued
failure.
Bishop Gregory without accountability
healing can never begin.
fax to Bishop Gregory at
8:51pm 618-277-0387
www.Bishop-Accountability.org
United States
Catholic Conference of Bishops web site
June 16, 2003
Openness of bishops still at issue
By Michael Paulson and Michael Rezendes, Globe
Staff, 6/17/2003
Instead of backing down from his comparison of
some bishops to members of ''La Cosa Nostra,'' the American
branch of the Mafia, Keating, in his resignation letter, spelled
out concerns that echo those raised by a number of critics who
say too many bishops are not complying with the new spirit of
openness they pledged a year ago in Dallas.
Victims' advocates, however, say that, ever
since, church lawyers have fought prosecutors and plaintiffs'
attorneys with aggressive legal strategies. These strategies
have included taking sworn testimony from therapists treating
victims and, in a few cases, attempting to force plaintiffs
wishing to remain anonymous to publicly reveal their identities
in lawsuits against the church. Most states allow alleged
victims of sex crimes to withhold their identities from the
public.
Board member Michael J. Bland of Chicago said
135 of the 195 dioceses in the United States have responded to a
questionnaire that asks about the scope of abuse in each
diocese. Initially the bishops had been given a deadline of June
30 for responding, but some have been given extensions of up to
several months, in part, board members said, because poor record
keeping had made data gathering difficult in some places.
Voice note: Has the Diocese of Worcester
responded to this survey?
In direct response at 1:25pm today to the
question requesting if the Worcester Dioceses has sent their
survey into this Board, Fr Rocco replied "that information is
not available" When asked if not available to me or the public
Fr Rocco refused an answer and hung up the telephone.
Does Bishop Daniel P. Reilly tell the truth, has he lied to his
flock and to his Priest to hide the reassigning of a clergy
member after a sexual abuse accusation payment has occurred?
Monsignor claimed extortion
attempts
During
a cell phone conversation while driving his car on May 9, 2002,
Msgr. Thomas. J. Sullivan alleges, Worcester lawyer James J.
Gribouski attempted to extort money from the Worcester Catholic
Diocese to settle a sexual abuse claim against Auxiliary Bishop
George E. Rueger.
In a deposition last month, Msgr. Sullivan
said he told Mr. Gribouski he had spoken by telephone with
Bishop Rueger's accuser, Sime Braio of Shrewsbury, who he said
threatened to go to the press if he could not obtain a monetary
settlement.
Msgr. Sullivan said Mr. Gribouski responded, "Well, how about if
the diocese would offer us some money and a confidentiality
agreement?"
Msgr. Sullivan said he was incensed by what he termed an immoral
request by Mr. Gribouski, one he believed was an attempt at
extortion.
"I'd say it this way: When there is - knowing that the case
has no merits, and believing fully in my heart that Mr.
Gribouski at that time also realized that the case had no
merits, to simply ask the question, would the diocese be willing
to pay money and have a confidentiality agreement over the
matter, is immoral," he said.
Voice note: more information is available
on the Bishop Rueger link
Clergy abuse probed
Conte aide reportedly briefed the diocese
District Attorney John J. Conte has convened a grand jury to
look into charges of alleged clergy sexual abuse, and one of his
assistants has kept the Worcester Catholic Diocese informed
about some of its investigations, according to pretrial
testimony for a civil lawsuit charging Auxiliary Bishop George
E. Rueger with rape
On Friday, James Reagon, the assistant
district attorney in question, denied telling Msgr. Sullivan
that Mr. Braio has HIV.
"Msgr. Sullivan is mistaken," Mr. Reagon said. "I did not make
that statement." Mr. Reagon also said he would not comment on
any of Msgr. Sullivan's comments regarding investigations of
clergy sexual abuse.
June 13, 2003
Release of priest's records
ordered
Accuser can see parts of evaluation
Judge allows records release
Judge Locke ruled last week that Rev. Gagnon forfeited his right
to privacy when he signed a release authorizing that the
assessment be given to the Worcester Catholic Diocese and placed
in his personnel file. The judge ruled Mr. Staney can have
material that is relevant to his case, but is not entitled to
the whole report.......Mr. Ryan filed an instant motion on April
25 for a protective order on the records, asserting that the
treatment records of Rev. Gagnon were protected by
patient-psychotherapist privilege "and therefore nondiscoverable."
A hearing was held in Worcester Superior Court and the judge
ordered that the records in question be produced for his
inspection.
June 10, 2003
Reilly announces new council
Mostly lay panel will advise bishop
Monsignor Piermarini said the first meeting, scheduled for
yesterday, will be mostly organizational, including discussion
of term limits, meeting schedules, procedures and other
orientation issues.
In keeping with the 1983 Code of Canon Law, a diocesan pastoral
council, like a parish council, is an advisory board to
the bishop to assist him in his role as shepherd of the diocese.
It does not possess independent powers.
The late Bishop Bernard J. Flanagan convened such a council
during the 1970s, but it fell into disuse.
Voice note: This is
another attempt by Bishop Reilly to dissuade the actual facts of
clergy sexual abuse. You can form all the panels in the
world but without actual authority what is the point.
Again we see members on this panel who maintained civic
positions while the clergy sexual abuse was occurring in our
dioceses. Bishop Reilly this additional charade is an outrage to
every honorable Catholic.
Dioceses expand fight against child abuse
June 7, 2003
This week
the Office for Healing and Prevention sponsored four, two hour
training programs and two sessions are to be held Tuesday at St.
Bernard Central Catholic High School in Fitchburg. Mrs. Engdahl
said that more than 100 priests and 750 schoolteachers are among
those who have attended workshops that explain the signs,
symptoms and types of child abuse. All parish religious
education teachers, even teenagers over the age of 14 who help
out, are required to attend.
It was the second time in a year that many employees and
volunteers attended workshops on child abuse. Last year, about
2,300 diocesan employees and volunteers were taught their
responsibilities and obligations as mandated reporters when
state law added church workers to those professionals required
to report suspected child abuse to civil authorities. The
diocese hosted those workshops in conjunction with the Worcester
District Attorney’s Office and the Department of Social
Services.
Voice Note: This training is an attempt to hide the real and tragic
problems of clergy sexual abuse. This issue is not the failure to report child
abuse. The real issue is still the protective closed door operation of the
Catholic Church, and the inability of legal authorities to actually prosecute theses
"predators". It appears in Worcester County, prosecution is
not based on
actions but association. Not one attempt was made at teaching these
"well meaning" people to deal with turning in a "violator" who they
believe has abused a child. No emphases on being strong enough to
stand up to the Diocesan Officials, who to this day are the same people
who have been in control of our Dioceses and allowed this sexual abuse to
continue for years. These are the real issues of clergy child
sexual abuse. The Office of Healing is powerless to make any real and meaningful changes. The
only outcome of this training was to put more (of your) children in harms way.
June 6, 2003
The Worcester "Voice of the
Faithful Chapter " (VOTF) has issued another request to
Worcester Bishop Daniel P. Reilly for full disclosure. The
VOTF also voiced their displeasure with the current statues in
the Worcester Dioceses. The VOTF suggested that Bishop Reilly's
efforts towards the clergy abuse crisis in our dioceses have not
been based on true Christian values.
There is a difference however between a legal response and a
pastoral response. We are requesting that you do more, as a
pastor to your flock. Jesus teaches us to do more than is
required by the law. He expects our “righteousness to surpass
that of the Scribes and the Pharisees” (Matt.5). Subscribing to
the Gospel value of honesty and moving away from secrecy is
essential in restoring trust.
We
are writing again to suggest to you that the most pastoral
approach to resolving this crisis is to give a complete
accounting of the extent of the clergy sexual abuse crisis
Worcester
Diocese Voice of the Faithful
TM
May 31, 2003
June 4, 2003
5 pastors give Reilly
resignations
WORCESTER- The Worcester Catholic Diocese yesterday said
that five of six pastors accused of sexual misconduct have
tendered their resignations to Bishop Daniel P. Reilly.
The Rev. Joseph A. Coonan, pastor of St. John parish, was not
asked to resign, according to his lawyer, Joseph D. Early Jr.
The diocese announced yesterday that
resignations have been submitted by the Rev. Raymond P.
Messier of St. Peter parish, Petersham, and St. Francis of
Assisi parish, Athol; the Rev. Chester J. Devlin of St.
Bernadette parish, Northboro; the Rev. John J. Bagley of
St. Mary parish, North Grafton; the Rev. Gerard Walsh of
St. Roch parish, Oxford; and the Rev. Lee F. Bartlett of
Sacred Heart parish, Worcester.
Rev. Devlin named in suit alleging abuse
Kathleen A. Shaw
TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF
WORCESTER- A civil suit was filed this week in
Worcester Superior Court against the Worcester Catholic Diocese
and the Rev. Chester J. Devlin alleging that the priest sexually
abused a boy in the late 1970s at Holy Name High School.
Joseph M. Laconte of Worcester said in his suit that he first
met Rev. Devlin in the 1978-1979 academic year at Holy Name
because the priest taught one of his classes. The abuse, which
allegedly included touching and fondling, started late in the
academic year and continued throughout Mr. Laconte's time at
Holy Name "and for a short time thereafter," according to the
suit.
June 1, 2003
Rev. Walsh resigns as St. Roch pastor
One of 7 asked by bishop to step down
OXFORD- The Rev. Gerald P. Walsh, on leave for
more than a year following a sexual-abuse complaint, has
resigned as pastor of St. Roch Church in Oxford.
An announcement of Rev. Walsh's resignation
was read at a St. Roch Mass yesterday afternoon.
Rev. Walsh becomes the second of seven priests
to resign after being placed on leave by Bishop Daniel P.
Reilly.
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