Worcester DA Conte changes pending clergy page of web site.

Last week after failing to gain a conviction in the third straight clergy abuse cases of which investigation was conducted by his Auburn C-Pac State Police unit, currently commanded by Captain Thomas G. Greene, District Attorney John J. Conte has removed the pending clergy case portion, which had been of question lately, from his clergy web link.

(Voice note: DA Conte today, removed pending clergy case direct link address, however the page title can still be read. http://www.worcesterda.com/Clergy/Pending_Clergy_Cases.html The web material was copied in anticipation of this action, we will however, recognize DA Conte's right to remove the material and we will retain for informational purpose only.)

For over a year, Worcester advocates have been proclaiming false illusions within the walls of 2 Main Street, Worcester. What District Attorney John Conte has been publicly releasing and what is actually occurring within his tightly controlled political network, organized over the past 28 years differs tremendously.

Last Friday morning, Worcester Telegram front page headlines proclaim settlement in clergy abuse case, yet in reality court reporter Garry Murray, wrote his story out of old court filings. The hearing that was scheduled to occur in front of Justice Jeffery Locke, to review the current status of clergy abuse cases within Worcester did not occur.  Reporter Murray also notability failed to insert in the settled Kelley case, the other plaintiffs publicly declared they only dropped participation in the civil suit under threats by Travelers Attorney Joann Goulka. Of the cases he reported, no actual terms of settlement were disclosed by Attorney James G. Reardon diocesan lawyer.  Conspicuously, not one victim, or advocate was interviewed for this story.

The Charter for the Protection of Children adopted by the American bishops in 2002 mandates that each diocese not keep settlements secret and that amounts of settled court cases be made public. This is not being done by the Diocese of Worcester. The only way the Catholics of the diocese know how much of their money - or the insurance company's money - goes to settle these cases in when a victim makes it public. 

According to the claims of clergy abuse page on his web site Worcester DA Conte states, part of the obligation as a citizen of our commonwealth is to assist its authorized officers in discovering and prosecuting those suspected of being engaged in the commission of crime.  One could wonder were is the legal and moral obligation of Thomas G. Greene, Massachusetts state police captain to conduct true and factual investigations?

We know that Bishop Daniel Reilly reassigned in December 2001, directly after a $300,000 secret settlement, involving sexual abuse allegations.  Rev Peter Inzerillo was only removal after legal representation was hired by parish parents.  Worcester ADA Christopher Hodgens failed to forward incriminating material to the Auburn C- Pack unit for investigation of the Worcester dioceses and Bishop Daniel Reilly.  Today, Rev Inzerillo currently faces an additional 2004 civil suit alleging sexual misconduct in the buildings of St Leo Parish.

Two year after the clergy sexual abuse crisis has broke in Worcester, we are still in the same secret settlement stage, with secret meetings, with secret names all kept secret by DA Conte issuing a grand jury subpoena without conveying a grand jury which he knew would kept the information secret from the people of Worcester county.  Good thing we can all cast a secret ballot in 2006, it appears to be the "peoples" only hope.