July 13, 2007

Social Worker Complaint filed against Co-director of Office of Healing, Frances J. Nugent.

A victim of clergy sexual abuse who first sought to contact the Worcester Diocese, Office of Healing but left a message with Father Rocco Piccolomini waited almost a month but received no reply.

Finally after meeting with an advocate, Mr. Michael Chensis went to the Office of Healing, personally to arrange an appointment.

A complaint has been filed with the Massachusetts Division of Professional Licensure, Social Workers' Board, Investigate Bureau. The complaint outlines the treatment that was received when seeking services as a clergy abuse individual from the Office of Healing.

The Social Worker's complaint address inaccurate statements contained within the mandated review committee statement obtained by Frances Nugent. Also sited within the complaint are alleged unethical and unprofessional conduct as well as alleged conflicts of interest concerns.

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July 20, 2007

SPENCER — It has been more than four years since Keri Burnor accused the Rev. Joseph Chu-Cong, at the time a monk at St. Joseph’s Abbey in Spencer, of fondling her without her consent. Burnor, who goes by “Sister Keri,” filed a grievance May 18 with the state Board of Bar Overseers against her attorney for that case, Anthony Marotta, alleging that he “threw” her case. Burnor said that Marotta was “overly concerned and ‘cooperative’ with the defense and not focused on prosecuting the case to the full extent of the law.” Burnor also alleges another woman stepped forward with similar allegations against Chu-Cong, but her lawyer did not bring that up during Chu-Cong’s 2003 trial. When contacted, Attorney Sarah Chambers of the Office of the Bar Counsel said that “our investigations are confidential” and “can’t be discussed. “I can’t confirm that there is a case,” she said.

Marotta could not immediately be reached for comment.

On March 13, 2003, Chu-Cong was found not guilty in Western Worcester District Court in East Brookfield of one account of indecent assault and battery. Two years earlier, on Aug. 23, 2001, Burnor met with Chu-Cong to discuss his book On the Contemplative Experience, as well as her relationship with the abbey.

“As Fr. [Joseph] was leaving after my brief confession, he fondled my left breast,” Burnor told the New Leader in April 2003.

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July 27, 2007

Robert Kelley denied parole

In a recent parole bid, Worcester Diocesan Priest Robert Kelley was denied a chance to be released.

Robert Kelley was sentence October 1, 2003 after pleading guilty of, two counts of rape of a child and four counts of unnatural rape of a child. He was sentenced of 5-7 years with 20 years probation to follow his release.

According to a July 11, 2007 parole board audit, The Massachusetts Parole Board has been lax in how it supervises parolees, failing to conduct bi-annual polygraphs of some paroled sex offenders and neglecting to collect more than $700,000 in supervision fees.

In Massachusetts the Parole board exercises judgment regarding what inmates will be released, when the inmates are to be released and under what conditions the parolees are than required to follow.

The Massachusetts Parole Board is made up of seven members appointed by the governor to serve staggered five-year terms.

According to a source who requests to remain anonymous, Robert Kelley has thirty days to appeal the decision. He can also request reconsideration of the decision after ninety days. If at the end of ninety days the reconsideration is not accepted, Robert Kelley will not be eligible for parole until his annual review.

August 4, 2007

‘Hermit nun’ takes abuse allegations to a new level

A Brookfield woman who accused a Trappist monk of sexually assaulting her, only to see the 84-year-old monk found not guilty in court, has appealed a decision of the state Board of Bar Overseers that there was no cause to discipline the lawyer who handled the case from District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr.’s office.

Keri M. Burnor, who considers herself a “hermit nun,” complained to the board in May that Assistant District Attorney Anthony J. Marotta did not properly or effectively prosecute the state’s 2003 case against the late Rev. Joseph Chu-Cong, a monk at St. Joseph’s Abbey in Spencer.

Ms. Burnor said that she has forgiven the monk, who has since died, and does not want to sue the monastery, but maintained that Mr. Marotta was too eager to cooperate with the defense.

“How do I get justice? By having (Mr. Marotta) prevented from practicing law in the state of Massachusetts,” she said. “I am disheartened with the process. I’m upset with the Board of Bar Overseers because I feel they swept this whole thing under the rug.”

Ms. Burnor said she was dissatisfied with the prosecution of the case under former District Attorney John J. Conte, whom Mr. Early succeeded in January. Mr. Marotta is a carryover from Mr. Conte’s staff.

Now, she says, the new district attorney has been uncooperative with her, yet eager to inform a local weekly newspaper, the New Leader of Spencer, last month, when the bar overseers found no fault with Mr. Marotta.

“I am even more upset with our district attorney, who I was hoping would be a change,” she said.

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August 10, 2007

Szantyr victim seeks help from dioceses.

A letter seeking assistance concerning Fr John Szantyr who the diocese of Hartford CT reports as not in good standing goes unanswered.

In May, 2007 after being told of a conversation that occurred with Michael Hodgkins who alleges sexual abuse by Fr John Szantyr concerning an unsolicited phone call he received after an article in Boston Herald had been written. Donald Nohs so moved by the fact that Fr John Szantyr, who is without facilities yet was performing sacraments wrote for assistance.

The letter was sent to Archbishop Henry J Mansell of Hartford, CT and to the Diocese of Worcester, Bishop Robert McManus. Neither Bishop after three months has responded in writing.

Additionally an email was sent to the diocese of Hartford and copied to Father Rocco Piccolomini and Worcester Office of Healing coordinator, Frances Nugnet.

Within the email to Sr Mary Kelly, Mr. Nohs writes, pictures of John Szantyr were recently posted on the internet. The gentleman with John Szantyr also belongs to the prayer group in your diocese which is headed by John Szantyr. A woman reached out to a victim of John’s living in your Diocese and expressed that she felt fear and threatened if she speaks about John Szantyr. I am trying to get in touch with this woman so I can encourage her to go to the authorities if she is in fear.

Reading of the Worcester District court ruling stating Fr Szantyr has been judged incompetent. On November 2, 2006 the woman first attempted to locate Mr. Chesnis by searching the phone book on line, several numbers were tried however their efforts did not result in contact.

On November 3, 2006 the woman and her friend then contacted the office of Worcester District Attorney, John Conte. providing information they had concerning Fr Szantyr.

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August 20, 2007

Szantyr hearing today.

In Worcester District Court today, two alleged victims of clergy sexual abuse will endure their thirty third court date.

Fr John J Szantyr was arraigned on July 31, 2003 in the first case charged with three counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14. The second arraignment involving one charge of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14 occurred November 10, 2003.

For four years they have suffered continuance after continuance all in an effort to seek justice.

Neither alleged victim was ever contacted by the Diocese of Worcester.  Yet, the young males served as alter boys from Our Lady of Czestochowa parish, in Worcester.

Other alleged victims have traveled from New York, and Connecticut only to sit in the courtroom time and time again.

Today once again they have travel to show support for the two criminal complainants and to see that justice is served.

They will not allow a legal system they feel has failed them to wear them down.

On Friday, August 17, 2007 an Amicus Curiae Brief was filed in Worcester District Court informing the court of all the known information that has been been uncovered by those who also allege sexual abuse but due to the statue of limitations, can seek a criminal complaint, lawyers, and advocates.

All in the hope, that if the Court is informed of all known facts, this case will at long last move forward to trial, and justice can finally served.

August 20, 2007

Another continuance, Doctor blamed for failure.

Worcester District Attorney, Joseph D. Early, claimed today he ”took the psychiatrist at his word that the report of his evaluation of John J. Szantyr would be overnighted to the Worcester Courthouse on Thursday, August 17, 2007”.

The document today, during the 33^rd continuance, could not be located in the building causing the need for another status hearing to be scheduled.  Worcester District Attorney Early admitted no one from his office checked to make sure the document had arrived on Friday, nor checked today previous to the hearing.

Defense Attorney Edward Ryan approached Worcester TV Channel 3’s correspondence, Jennifer Eagan, and informed her she could not photograph his client John Szantyr in open court.

When called to present his case, Defense Attorney Ryan objected to the presence of the camera in the courtroom. When Ms Eagan identified herself as Worcester TV Channel 3 to the court, Judge Ricciardone ruled the camera could stay because of public interest in this case.  

Defense Attorney Ryan then objected again claiming matters of confidentiality were going to be disclosed. Judge Ricciardone informed both parties to inform him before private information was to be disclosed, and he would rule on each matter.

Defense Attorney Ryan withdrew his objection stating he was misinformed as to who was recording the proceeding.

After the court determined that the doctor’s report, which was assigned on April 27, 2007, was not physically in the building nor could be located, ADA Joseph Reilly III, requested John Szantyr to be present in the courthouse, for the September 25th status hearing.  Defense Attorney Edward Ryan, of Fitchburg, boldly objected, telling Judge, David Ricciardone, that his client was incompetent and infirmed by court ruling, elderly and frail.  He further claimed John Szantyr had been stalked, and surrounded by people harassing him outside the courthouse. Judge Ricciardone responded he could certainly ensure his security in the courthouse.

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August 22, 2007

Priest trial delayed for 33rd time

By Dave Wedge, Boston Herald Chief Enterprise Reporter

A Worcester victims rights group is fuming after the case against an alleged pedophile priest deemed incompetent to stand trial was continued for a 33rd time.

The molestation case against the Rev. John Szantyr has dragged on in Worcester District Court for four years and was again continued Monday because prosecutors didn’t receive a doctor’s report in time for the hearing.

Szantyr, who faces charges he molested an altar boy in Worcester in the mid-1980s, has already been ruled incompetent by a judge, but District Attorney Joseph Early Jr.’s office called for a new evaluation “due to information that was brought to our attention.”

Among the new information are reports that Szantyr, 76, was seen walking at a rest stop just minutes after he appeared in court in a wheelchair and that he has continued to oversee religious services in Connecticut. Szantyr, who reportedly is too ill to feed, clothe and bathe himself, also recently renewed his Connecticut driver’s license, court filings show.

“We need to see that justice is served,” said Mary T. Jean, spokeswoman for the clergy abuse support group Worcester Voice, which has criticized prosecutors’ handling of the case.

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August 23, 2007

A holy hold-up

By Scott Zoback, Worcester Magazine

The alleged sex-abuse victims of retired Worcester priest John Szantyr are going to have to wait even longer to find out if there is a chance for justice.

It's something they're almost getting used to — the next time a court convenes on the case, it will be the 34th court date for the criminal cases that have wound their way through the court system since Szantyr's initial arraignment on charges of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14 in July, 2003.

On Monday, another continuance was granted when the Worcester County District Attorney's Office couldn't find the Szantyr psychiatric evaluation that had been supposedly overnighted to the courthouse by the doctor who performed it on Thursday, Aug. 17. A new status hearing is now scheduled for Sept. 25.

The Szantyr case includes multiple criminal and civil charges from several alleged victims. One alleged victim, Mike Chesnis, has publicly claimed that Szantyr molested him in the mid-1980s during Szantyr's time at Our Lady of Czestochowa. Another pending case dates to the same era.

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