Vatican Summit promises major changes on sexual abuse
This report from a Catholic perspective so more positive than most. Nevertheless, it is good to read what Catholics think they accomplished at last week's Vatican Summit
At the recent Vatican summit on child protection in the Church, a number of tangible goals were set in place to better handle clerical sex abuse, including: closing legal loopholes that have allowed bishops to cover up their crimes with impunity, giving more power to the laity to help hold bishops accountable, and the creation of three concrete initiatives to better handle clerical sex abuse.
ALEXANDER FOSTER
The 114 episcopal conference presidents used the 21-24 February gathering as a platform to discuss global issues relating to clerical sexual abuse face-to-face.
Cardinal Oswald Gracias of Bombay, India called the meeting “very useful, very necessary and very timely.” He added that the issue of sexual abuse in the Church is now a “common priority” and that all attendants acknowledge that “this is a real serious problem.”
“These have been challenging, fruitful days,” President of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Cardinal Daniel DiNardo said of the event. “We owe survivors an unyielding vigilance that we may never fail them again.”
Others were not so satisfied with the meeting’s outcome. Some victim-survivor groups believed the event was not radical enough and a deflection from effectively preventing abuse.
Shaun Dougherty, who was abused by a priest between the age of 10-13, said, “My fears have been answered. I don’t believe that the bishops and cardinals are any more equipped to police themselves than they were last week, before the conference began.”
There is also some belief that the meeting was overshadowed by accusations that Pope Francis had been covering up for clerical abusers, including Argentinian Bishop Gustavo Zanchetta, (see story immediately below) who was recently accused of sexually inappropriate behaviour with seminarians.
The meeting was opened by Pope Francis, who expressed hope that participants would “hear the cry of the little ones who plead for justice” and that the summit would address “this evil” in a “synodal, frank and in-depth manner.”
Nine presentations were held over three days, with each day dedicated to a different theme: responsibility on day one, accountability on day two, and transparency on day three.
Presenters included five cardinals, one archbishop, a religious sister and two laywomen, all of whom covered a wide variety of issues, including the need for the Church to draw close to the wounds of victims, acknowledge mistakes, and ask for forgiveness to restore credibility and guarantee the safety of children.
It was suggested that use of the “pontifical secret” be rescinded to invite Church leaders to see the media as allies rather than enemies in uncovering sexual misconduct and bringing abusers to justice.
The summit concluded with a penitential liturgy, which gave bishops an opportunity to confess to covering up abuse and ask for pardon.
What do they do here? Confess to one another and absolve one another's sins against God and children? There needs to be a spectacular turning toward God and a pouring out of the Holy Spirit. I don't think this is the way.
Archbishop Mark Coleridge of Brisbane acknowledged that at times abuse victims have been seen “as the enemy” and that “we have not loved them; we have not blessed them.”
In additional comments to reporters, he said it is “very clear now” that anyone in the Catholic Church who thinks they can “get away with sexual abuse of the young and vulnerable has absolutely nowhere to go.”
If that were really true, priests will be leaving the church in droves.
In his closing address, Pope Francis outlined an eight-point plan in an “all-out battle” against the sexual abuse of minors in order to “turn this evil into an opportunity for purification,” which involved a “change of mentality” to focus on protecting children rather than “protecting the institution” and genuine purification beginning with “self-accusation”.
The summit concluded with a moto proprio [papal decree] “on the protection of minors and vulnerable persons” by the Roman Curia and Vatican City State; a handbook from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith to help bishops understand their responsibilities.
Archbishop Charles Scicluna stressed that the summit is just the beginning, with its follow-up set to make significant further progress.
Argentine bishop's case overshadows
Pope's sex abuse summit
In this Aug. 26, 2016 file photo, former Bishop of Oran Gustavo Zanchetta participates in negotiations with border workers in Oran, Salta, Argentina. The Associated Press reported in January 2019 that the Vatican received indications of inappropriate behavior by Zanchetta in 2015 and again in 2017, with reports from his former vicars and the seminary rector. (AP Photo/Javier Corbalan, File)
Nicole Winfield, The Associated Press
VATICAN CITY -- Pope Francis may have wrapped up his clergy sex abuse prevention summit at the Vatican, but a scandal over an Argentine bishop close to him is only gaining steam.
The Associated Press has reported that the Vatican knew as early as 2015 about Bishop Gustavo Zanchetta's inappropriate behaviour with seminarians. Yet he was allowed to stay on as bishop of the northern Argentine diocese of Oran on until 2017, when he resigned suddenly, only to be given a top job at the Vatican by Francis, his confessor.
New documents published by the Tribune of Salta newspaper show that the original 2015 complaint reported that Zanchetta had gay porn on his cellphone involving "young people" having sex, as well as naked images of Zanchetta masturbating that he sent to others.
The age of the "young people" isn't clear. But Francis told his summit Sunday that Vatican legislation criminalizing possession of child porn involving children under age 14 should change to include older victims.
"We now consider that this age limit should be raised in order to expand the protections of minors and to bring out the gravity of these deeds," Francis said.
It wasn't clear if Francis was referring to the Zanchetta case, which is now under investigation by both the Vatican and Argentine judicial authorities after alleged victims came forward accusing Zanchetta of sexual abuse.
The Vatican has insisted that Zanchetta was only facing "governance" problems at the time of his 2017 resignation and appointment at the Vatican, and that the first sexual abuse allegation was made in late 2018.
The documents, however, make clear that the Vatican was aware of inappropriate sexual behaviour by Zanchetta two years before he resigned.
They show that Oran's seminary rector was so concerned that he told the Vatican ambassador in a formal complaint in 2016 that "urgent measures" were needed to protect his first-year students, since their introductory classes were held in Zanchetta's residence.
The 2016 complaint, signed by the rector and two former vicar generals, listed Zanchetta's problematic behaviour with seminarians, including walking by their rooms at night, asking them for massages, going into their rooms to wake them up in the morning and sitting on their beds, inviting them to drink alcohol and having an "obsessive omnipresence" in the seminary that made the young men feel "asphyxiated."
The Vatican's longtime sex crimes prosecutor, Archbishop Charles Scicluna, on Sunday noted Francis' comments about wanting to raise the age to 18 for victims of child pornography. He said the Vatican to date only considers it a "grave delict" -- and therefore handled by the Vatican office that handles sex abuse -- if the porn involves a child under 14.
Asked if Francis had the Zanchetta case in mind in proposing the change, Scicluna said he didn't know any specifics about the case. But he said "if someone is investigating a case, that's not covering it up."
How a devastated family watched their son's life spiral after George Pell abuse
One non-survivor's Story
Four Corners By Louise Milligan
The boy was 13 years old when he was abused by George Pell. (Supplied)
The family of one of the boys sexually abused by George Pell have revealed their sadness and anger at watching their son's life spiral out of control in the wake of his abuse.
The boy was one of two 13-year-old choirboys molested by Pell in the priests' sacristy at St Patrick's Cathedral in 1996.
His father has told Four Corners how they watched their son change from a cheerful young kid — with no idea why. "He went from being this lovely boy, who used to come to the football with me, who used to go and help his grandparents and helped around the house, to this boy wanting to go out all the time," he said.
"His schoolwork, I noticed that it started slipping. His whole attitude changed. His whole being just, he was a different boy."
Andrew La Greca was a member of the choir at the time the boys were abused and he also noticed the change in one of the victims. "He was just a different boy. Just totally different. Just didn't care about anything. Didn't care about anyone. Just didn't even want to breathe," he said.
As one survivor put it, 'it is murder of the soul'! Especially when it comes from someone who is supposed to be a man of God.
PHOTO: The St Patrick's Cathedral choir in 1996. (Supplied)
Within a year of the abuse, the boy had started using heroin. "I noticed some bits of foil, that had been burnt. My parents noticed that — his grandparents," his father said.
His mother twice asked him if he had been sexually abused, but he never revealed what had happened to him.
"It's devastating to watch your child spiral out like that. It was very hard to watch," she told Four Corners.
Their son died of a drug overdose in 2014.
It wasn't until a year after his death, when the other victim made a formal complaint about the abuse, did the family realise what had happened to their son.
The father says he has mixed emotions about the trial and conviction. "I'm glad that it's over and it gives me an idea of why my son went through hell. Why he did the things he did," he said
"And myself, I'm just disgusted. I'm disgusted in the Catholic Church."
Lawyers for Pell say he maintains his innocence and an appeal has been lodged.
Police found Church 'difficult' to deal with
Police Sergeant Doug Smith ran Taskforce SANO when it first started investigating George Pell in 2015. (ABC News: Jeremy Story Carter)
Doug Smith was the sergeant overseeing Taskforce SANO's investigation into Pell.
He told Four Corners that, over the years, the police tasked with investigating child sex abuse cases in the Catholic Church found the church "difficult" to deal with.
"They were openly saying that they would cooperate, but I think you could almost say that the way that they classed their cooperation would be similar to a protester lying on the ground in the middle of the street not resisting the police, but the police would have to pick that person up and drag them off the street," he said.
"I think that that's the level of cooperation that the Catholic Church gave us."
While Pell was cooperative at all times, Sergeant Smith says they faced arrogance from him.
"There's a level of arrogance that some people get to where they're at this position in standing in the community. When you are seen to be someone with some level of importance, I think there is a level of arrogance that goes with that. And he's not going to hide that from the police," he said.
A police photograph of the priests' sacristy at St Patrick's Cathedral where the abuse took place. (Supplied)
The family and police have praised the bravery of the victim who came forward and whose testimony ultimately convicted Pell. The victim has asked for his identity to be kept private in the wake of the guilty verdict.
"He's a credit to himself and he needs to be congratulated because he's done a very, very good job at being believed," Sergeant Smith said.
"All you can do is tell the truth, he can't do any more than that. And for a jury of his peers to believe him, I mean, it's fantastic.
"No-one's above the law. The Catholic Church isn't above the law."
Andrew La Greca was a member of the choir at the time the abuse took place. (ABC News: Jeremy Story Carter)
Andrew La Greca is glad justice has been served for both his fellow choirmates, and he praised the victim who spoke out.
"He's a hero. I think deep down, he wasn't just doing it for himself. Deep down he was doing it for someone else as well," he said.
Science education pioneer accused of sexual abuse while teaching in Irish Christian Brothers schools
Frank Esposito, Rockland/Westchester Journal News
Science Education pioneer Robert Pavlica is among several Irish Christian Brothers accused of sexual abuse while teaching at Iona Prep in the 1960s
Court documents reveal that 430 people have claimed they were abused by members of the Irish Christian Brothers order.
A well-known figure in the science education world is among several Irish Christian Brothers accused of sexually abusing students at Irish Christian Brothers schools in New Rochelle in the 1960s and 1970s, lawyers for former students alleged.
Two men alleged that Brother Robert Pavlica of Iona Prep and Brother Michael John of the Blessed Sacrament High School abused them when they were students, said lawyer Mike Reck, attorney at Jeff Anderson and Associates of New York City.
Pavlica, who died in 2007, created the Authentic Science Research Program, which would later become the model for science research programs in New York and around the country.
The alleged victims are all part of a bankruptcy lawsuit filed by the Irish Christian Brothers in 2011. A spokesperson for the Christian Brothers confirmed these allegations were a part of the bankruptcy case.
However, the bankruptcy case has put a freeze on any new suits that the recently signed Child Victims Act could have brought forward, Reck said. "Survivors seeking transparency and accountability, they're prevented from moving forward because of the case," Reck said.
While both named clerics have since died, the naming of Pavlica sent shock waves through New York state because of his high profile in the science education world. After leaving the Irish Christian Brothers, Pavlica joined the faculty of Byram Hills High School in Armonk in 1970.
Science teacher, Robert Pavlica, is photographed at Byram Hills High School in Armonk March 26, 2004. (Photo: File photo/The Journal News)
While at Byram Hills, Pavlica created the Authentic Science Research Program. The school's program bears Pavlica's name in his honor.
Byram Hills Superintendent Jen Lamia had little to say on the allegations, or what would be done with the name of the program.
"I'll be having future conversations with the board, and we'll be looking into this and investigating it," Lamia said. Lamia had not heard of any allegations about Pavlica's behavior during his time at Byram Hills.
The Christian Brothers provided the following statement.
These allegations are not new to us because they were among the claims filed as part of the bankruptcy case in 2012. These allegations took place at schools other than Iona Prep, with the exception of one claim, which dates back to 1968 – and because of the bankruptcy settlement structure, that claim was not tested for its merits.
The Province's policy for the protection of children and vulnerable adults is aimed at the prevention of abuse and any type of misconduct. It includes a swift and open response when allegations are reported. The accused is removed immediately from their ministry and/or position, followed by an independent investigation – and full disclosure and cooperation with the appropriate authorities – to ensure complete transparency and objectivity.
Hundreds allege abuse
These allegations are the latest in a long line of people claiming abuse at the hands of Irish Christian Brothers. As a part of the bankruptcy case, the court required the Christian Brothers to notify prior students that they could join the case.
Court documents reveal that over 430 people have claimed they were abused by members of the order. However, these claims were not investigated for credibility as part of the settlement agreement.
The Irish Christian Brothers were founded in 1802 with the purpose of evangelizing and educating young people. In addition to Iona Prep and Blessed Sacrament, the Brothers — who were headquartered in New York — have schools in New York and New Jersey as well as throughout the country.
Some other Christian Brothers schools include:
Power Memorial Academy (New York, New York)
Cardinal Hayes High School (Bronx, New York)
Bishop Kearney High School (Rochester, New York)
Sacred Heart Grammar School (New York, New York)
Notre Dame/Bishop Gibbons High School (Albany, New York)
Essex Catholic High School (Newark, New Jersey)
Bergen Catholic High School (Oradell, New Jersey)
Cantwell High School (Los Angeles, California)
Palma High School (Salinas, California)
The Chapter 11 suit,which allows the school to negotiate with creditors without having to liquidate its assets, created a $16.5 million trust that will distribute funds to abuse victims.
New state law may not help victims
Other than securing a payout for victims, the bankruptcy also protected the brothers from future suits, Reck said.
"On one hand they shielded themselves from the inquisition that's coming, and the second thing they did was a shrewd risk management decision," Reck said. "Now the Christian Brothers are effectively insulated from the Child Victims Act, because of the bankruptcy bar date."
So much for confession and repentance.
That means if people didn't file claims against the brothers before a certain date the bankruptcy case prevents them from filing a claim against the brothers afterwards, even with the Child Victims Act.
But victims may still sue the diocese where the school was located, Reck said.
"Those survivors, can sue the diocese where the school sits," Reck said. "For example, if Iona Prep is in the New York Diocese, survivors can sue the diocese for its role in covering up and allowing the school to be there."
Two new alleged abuse claims at Iona
Reck said more people are coming forward claiming clerics at Irish Christian Brothers' schools abused them. He said his clients cited Brother John Justin O’Connor and Brother Charles Irwin at Iona Prep as clerics who allegedly committed abusive acts on their clients.
As part of the Christian Bothers' bankruptcy settlement both O'Connor and Irwin were named in a list of alleged abusers who were accused of more than one claim of abuse.
Blessed Sacrament High School closed in 2013, but Iona Prep remains open.
Bergen Catholic High School named
Others, outside the ICB suit, have claimed Irwin abused them in the past. Irwin worked in many schools, mostly in New York, but during the mid-1960s he worked at Bergen Catholic High School in Oradell, New Jersey.
Some of Irwin's Bergen victims were a part of a $1.9 million settlement in 2016. Each victim received between $65,000 and $115,000. The settlement was shared between 21 men who accused staff of Bergen Catholic High School of abusing them.
Attorney Mitchell Garabedian said then that at the time of the alleged abuse, from 1963 to 1978, his clients were between 13 and 17 years old. They are now between 53 and 68 years old.
Irwin also worked at:
St. Patrick’s Provincialate Community; New Rochelle, New York
Santa Maria Novitiate-Novice; West Park, New York
St. Gabriel’s Scholasticate Student; West Park, New York
Sacred Heart Community and Grammar School; New York City, New York
Cardinal Hayes Holy Family Community; Bronx, New York
Cardinal Hayes-St. Helena’s Annex; Bronx, New York
Power Memorial Community and Academy; New York City, New York
Irwin died in 1997.
O'Connor worked at Bergen Catholic in the late 1980s, before he left the order.
In 2017 the Irish Christian Brothers released a list of members who had more than one abuse claim against them. Claims against these men were never validated, as part of the bankruptcy settlement agreement.
Angel, Larry K. (deceased)
Barry, Gerald K. (former)
Beckstrom, Robert E. (former)
Brouillette, Robert (former)
Burton, David B. (Brother)
Carr, Michael T. (deceased)
Carroll, Francis (deceased)
Casale, Albert (former)
Chaney, John (Brother)
Cobb, Alan S. (former)
Collins, Donald Cecil (deceased)
Condon, Eugene (former)
Courtney, Edward (former)
Delamere, Frank P. (former)
Duffin, Thomas (deceased)
Dunn, James Claver (deceased)
Ferro, Salvatore (Brother)
Ford, Thomas C. (deceased)
French, Edward George (Brother)
Gardner, Stephen Justin (former)
Hanney, James (former)
Heathwood, John (deceased)
Heustis, Jerome (deceased)
Hewitt, Andrew Thomas (deceased)
Houlihan, James Alvarez (deceased)
Irwin, Charles (deceased)
Kealey, John (deceased)
Kernan, Joseph (deceased)
Lasik, Ronald (Brother)
Lawlor, John (former)
Medvit, Paul (deceased)
Murphy, Clement Adan (deceased)
Murphy, John E. (former)
Murphy, Thomas Ignatius (deceased)
Nash, Dermod (deceased)
Neary, Walter D. (deceased)
O'Connor, John J. (former)
Padilla, Ruben Mark (former)
Post, Robert (former)
Ralph, Alan Gerard (Brother)
Reycraft, Paul S. (former)
Ryan, Daniel Peter (deceased)
Satterthwaite, Robert (deceased)
Stoyles, Michael E. (deceased)
Thompson, James (former)
Thorne, Harold (Brother)
Walderman, J. Matthew (Brother)
Walsh, Michael (deceased)
Warren, James V. (deceased)
Long before The Boston Globe's Spotlight revealed the first American scandal involving Catholic pedophile priests, Canada had a huge scandal at Mount Cashel, a boy's orphanage in St John's, Newfoundland.
Hundreds of boys were physically and sexually abused at the orphanage which was run by the badly named Christian Brothers of Ireland.
This is one of several Catholic Orders that should disappear in a hurry.
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