Another Pennsylvania Diocese Releases List of Pedophile Priests

Report puts spotlight on child sex abuse involving Harrisburg Diocese clergy

Ivey DeJesus

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg on Tuesday was in the news amid a report regarding child sex abuse within its ranks.

A report by The York Daily Record indicated that the diocese named 15 priests who have been accused of sexually abusing children and who had worked in the 15-county diocese.

Raymond Prybis

The YDR report specifically names the Rev. Raymond Prybis, who once served at St. Joseph's in Dallastown. Prybis was accused of abuse during his time at a Boston-area parish before he was transferred to York County. The report cites a personnel file released by the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis in January 2015. Prybis did not have a credible allegation of abuse against him while at St. Joseph's, the YDR reported.

Many of the clergy members' names cited in the YDR report have appeared in reports by PennLive and The Patriot-News, both of which have over the years published reports regarding allegations of sexual abuse against priests from the diocese - as well as the respective response from the diocese to those allegations.

Those reports include accounts involving:

Guy Marsico, a former priest assigned to St. Leo the Great Catholic Church in Rohrerstown, Lancaster County. (No criminal charges were ever leveled against Marsico).

The 2004 report from the diocese confirming it had received credible reports of sexual abuse of 64 minors by 22 priests since 1950 and had spent $1.9 million in settlements, legal fees and counseling. None of the 22 priests were in active ministry at the time.

In April 2002 the diocese received a "credible allegation" of sexual misconduct with a minor against John Allen, senior pastor at St. Margaret Mary Alacoque Church in Penbrook. The allegation stemmed from an incident more than 20 years earlier. Allen resigned from the priesthood within 12 hours. Prosecution was not possible because the statute of limitations had expired.

The 1996 coverage of the Rev. John R. Bostwick, a former priest in Harrisburg. The then 55 Bostwick was placed on administrative leave in Richmond, Va., after the bishop there was notified by Harrisburg diocesan officials that a 28-year-old man had accused the priest of molesting him 15 years prior. Bostwick had assisted at various intervals between the late 1970s and 1992 at three parishes: St. Catherine Laboure in Swatara Twp., St. Leo the Great in Lancaster and Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Lebanon. Bostwick also worked at Mount St. Mary's College in Emmitsburg, Md., in the 1980s.

The story that broke in December 1994 involving the Rev. Augustine Giella, who spent nearly seven years as pastor of St. John the Evangelist Church in Swatara Twp., as well as serving at a parish in Hanover in southern York County. Giella was arrested at his retirement home in Manchester, N.J., and charged with molesting the 14-year-old daughter of a Dauphin County couple whom he had befriended through the church. He died awaiting trial. The Diocese of Harrisburg paid more than $900,000 to the girl's family to settle a civil suit by her parents.

He'll be tried in a Higher Court.

In 1994, the diocese paid out $950,000  to settle nine confirmed cases of sexual abuse of minors by priests. That same year, then-Bishop Nicholas Dattilo appointed a nine-member board of lay persons and clergy to review the diocese's investigative practices and policies regarding sexual misconduct by priests and to encourage victims to come forward with any allegations. The nine confirmed cases of sexual abuse of minors dated back to 1950.

In addition, amid the wake of the grand jury reports out of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, PennLive in 2011 published a comprehensive report on then-Bishop Joseph McFadden, who told PennLive that he had no knowledge of the abuse in Philadelphia. 

There are no liars in the Kingdom  of Heaven.

McFadden was in 2004 appointed auxiliary bishop of the archdiocese. Although McFadden was not named in any of the grand jury reports into widespread and systemic clergy sex abuse in the archdiocese, he spent 11 years as secretary to Cardinal John Krol, who along with Cardinal Anthony J. Bevilacqua, featured prominently in the reports' findings.


The late Bishop Joseph McFadden in 2011 told PennLive that he had not known about the widespread clergy sex abuse and cover-up in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. McFadden spent years serving in the archdiocese as a top administrative official.

McFadden said his duties in the cardinal's office had been strictly administrative.

The YDR noted that the March grand jury report into widespread clergy sex abuse in the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown had spurred its own report on the Harrisburg Diocese. Among the priests mentioned in the YDR'S report are:

Gerald Bugge who served at St. Anthony of Padua in Lancaster from August 1986 to April 1988. The diocese responded it had no record of a credible allegation against the late Bugge.

William Geiger , who spent time at Our Mother of Perpetual Help in Ephrata from July 1987 to August 1993 and from August 1999 to June 2007; and was at St. Anthony of Padua between April 1994 and August 1999. The diocese has no record of a credible allegation against the late priest, the report stated.

Thomas F. Lawler, who was assigned to churches in the Harrisburg diocese for more than two decades from the 1960s to the 1980s.

James E. Noel, born in York, was the subject abuse allegations after his death, the Harrisburg diocese said. It said there were no allegations against him while he was alive.

James Shaughnessey, who was assigned to Assumption Blessed Virgin Mary in Lebanon and St. Joan of Arc in Hershey in the 1930s and '40s. He is named among accused priests by the Boston archdiocese on its website.

Frederick Vaughn, who served at St. Joseph's in York, St. Peter's in Elizabethtown; St. Mark the Evangelist in Franklin County; and St. James in Dauphin County The Harrisburg Diocese said it received allegations of abuse against Vaughn after his death but not while he was alive, according to
The YDR.

Archbishop Hires PR Firm to Battle Child Sex Abuse Statute of Limitations Reform Legislation

Courtney M. Soliday

PHILADELPHIA — The Catholic Church launches a PR campaign against pending bill HB 1947 in response to the increased momentum by child sex abuse victims and advocates to reform the statute of limitations. HB 1947 makes it possible for more child sex abuse victims to bring lawsuits against any Pennsylvania diocese which enabled and protected their predators.

Tonight in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at 6pm advocates gathered to send message that Catholic hierarchy’s opposition to victims’ access to justice is immoral and wrong.

Peter Kuzma and Rep. Mark Rozzi

Why?

Archbishop Chaput, with the aid of his lawyers and a PR firm, has launched a no holds barred, multi-faceted, expensive communications campaign aimed at convincing Philadelphia Area Catholics that changing the laws pertaining to the sexual abuse of children is a wrong, unfair and will cause the archdioceses to go into bankruptcy, close many more schools and severely limit financial resources for their many ministries.

Chaput wants them to call their legislators and tell them not to support pending bill, HB 1947.

HB 1947: 
removes the criminal SOL for child sex abuse
extends the maximum age to file a civil suit to 50

Walk for a Window

Next Sunday, June 5th, survivors of child sex abuse, along with legal scholars, advocates and others will join together for the Walk For A Window across Brooklyn Bridge.

The goals of child sex abuse statute of limitations window legislation include:

• Identify Hidden Child Predators
• Disclose Facts of Sex Abuse Epidemic to Public
• Arm Parents to Protect Children
• Shift Cost of Abuse from Victim to Those Who Caused It
• Create Justice for Victims Ready to Come Forward Who Have Been Damaged

‘Walk For A Window’ is a tri-state unity walk in support of child sex abuse survivors’ access to justice. Specifically, the walk is in support of pending child sex abuse statute of limitations revival/window legislation in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

When support builds up for child sex abuse statute of limitations reform, so does the opposition. Please keep in mind, when reviewing their arguments, that statute of limitations reform only extends the time victims have to come forward. The case still has to be proven in a court of law with evidence, etc.



“The Catholic Church has learned hard lessons regarding child sexual abuse and has taken responsibility for the abuse that has occurred within its ranks.  The dioceses across Pennsylvania have implemented changes that offer assistance to abuse survivors and affirm that they are not at fault for the crime committed against them."
                                                             
The Church has also taken great strides to protect children and provide financial assistance for survivors and their families, no matter how long ago the crime was committed, and for as long as necessary. Children and adults are trained to recognize and report signs of abuse to ensure that the children in our care are safe and secure. To date, Pennsylvania’s dioceses have spent over $16.6 million to provide compassionate and supportive victim assistance to individuals and families.  

Despite that, state lawmakers are considering legislation that would retroactively nullify the statute of limitations for filing a civil lawsuit alleging childhood sexual abuse. It would force parishes, dioceses, schools, and charities to defend cases that are 20, 30, or 40 years old, long after the perpetrator and possible witnesses have died or clear evidence is gone. It could lead to the closure of parishes, schools, and ministries of today’s Catholics, who are in no way responsible for abuse that occurred decades ago.”

                                                                                      -  Pennsylvania Catholic Conference

Entire statement and additional information available at SOL-Reform.com

Child sex abuse advocates present the following in support of the impact and relative success of window legislation:

The Relative Success of SOL Window and Revival Statutes, State-by-State

California (2003) (1-year window revived civil SOLs, closed)

Population: 35.25 million
No. survivors who filed claims: Approximately 1,150
Unidentified predators identified: 300+
Entities sued: Family members, Catholic Church, Boy Scouts of America, The Explorers (Los Angeles Police Department), The Salvation Army, The Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Monterey Bay Academy.
False claims: anecdotal reports of handful - none in media


Delaware (2007-09) (2-year window revived SOLs, closed)

Population: 935,000
Most active predator who had been previously undisclosed: Pediatrician Dr. Earl V. Bradley
No. survivors who filed claims under initial 2-year window: Approximately 175
No. survivors who filed claims under follow-up window for healthcare providers: Approximately 1,000 (claims solely against Pediatrician Dr. Earl V. Bradley)
Entities sued under initial 2-year window: Family members, Catholic Diocese of Wilmington, St. Elizabeth’s Roman Catholic Church, Laurel School District, Archmere Academy, Inc., The Premonstratenian Fathers, Inc., The Norbertine Fathers of Delaware, Boy Scouts of America, Fairwinds Baptist Church, Salesianum School, The Capuchin Friars, The Brothers of the Holy Cross, St. Edmond’s Academy, St. John the Beloved Church
Entities named under follow-up window: Beebe Medical Center (connected to Bradley), Medical Society of Delaware (connected to Bradley), Medical Society of Delaware Insurance Services (affiliate of Medical Society of Delaware, connected to Bradley)
False claims: None reported


Minnesota (2013-16) (3-year window, open)

Population: 5.5 million
No. survivors who filed claims: 44 plus 419+ notices of claim in RCC bankruptcy context
Unidentified predators identified: 69 Priests
Entities sued: Boy Scouts, Lutheran Church, YMCA, Children’s Theatre Company, Dioceses of Crookston, Duluth, New Ulm, St. Cloud, and Winona, Archdiocese of St. Paul-Minneapolis,
False claims: None reported


Hawaii (2012-2016) (2-year window with 2-year extension revived civil SOLs)

Population: 1.42 million
No. survivors who filed claims: Approximately 125
Unidentified predators identified: Jay Ram (Big Island farmer who used California foster care system to import boys to abuse in 1980s/90s); Principal of Damien Memorial High School; several priests, e.g., Fr. Joseph Turk, Fr. Gerald Funcheon, Fr. George DeCosta, Fr. Joseph Henry
Entities sued: Hawaii School for the Deaf and Blind, Damien Memorial School, Congregation of Christian Bros. of Hawaii, Diocese of Honolulu, Society of Priests of St. Silpice, St. Anthony Parish of Kailua, St. Philomena Parish of Honolulu, Catholic Foreign Mission Society of America, Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers
False claims: none reported


Massachusetts (2014) (revives civil SOL up to age 53 against perpetrator) (revives civil SOL with discovery +7 years against entities)

Population: 6.7 million
No. survivors who filed claims: Unknown
Unidentified predators identified:
Entities sued: Deerfield Academy, Harvard University, Fessenden School Archdiocese of Boston, Diocese of Fall River, Springfield, Worcester,
False claims: None reported


Connecticut (2010 to present) (revives expired claims to age 48)

Population: 3.6 million
No. survivors who filed claims: undetermined
Entities sued: Indian Mountain School, Inc., Hartford Roman Catholic Diocesan Corp.
False claims: None reported


Georgia (2015-17) (2-year window revives civil SOL against perpetrator (not entities), in effect 7/1/2015, currently open)

Population: 10.1 million
No. survivors who filed claims: 9
Unidentified predators identified: James S. Collins, current leading lobbyist and former Baptist Church and YMCA youth coordinator
Entities identified but not sued due to narrow scope of window: Pak Karate, Amateur Athletic Union, US Taekwondo Association, Toombs County Church, First Baptist Church of Vidalia, Boy Scouts of America
False claims: None reported

Utah - window and retroactive extension to age 53 against perps and aiders and abettors.

Rival Pediatric Hospitals Unite to Aid Sexual Abuse Victims

John George
Senior Reporter
Philadelphia Business Journal

An unprecedented partnership between Philadelphia's two pediatric hospitals aims to ease the painful process sexually-abused children go through as investigators work to gather information about the crime.

In conjunction with the Philadelphia Department of Human Services and Philadelphia Children’s Alliance [PCA], the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children will staff a state-of-the-art medical suite for victims of sexual abuse at PCA's Juniata Park offices.

The suite was created to help PCA expand its continuum of services to victims of child sexual abuse in the city, and save families an extra trip to the hospital for an examination.

PCA is a nonprofit organization that helps child abuse victims and brings abusers to justice by bringing together police, social workers, prosecutors, medical professionals and victim advocates.

An official ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new medical facility, located at 300 East Hunting Park Avenue, will be held Dec. 4.

Officials from all four organizations, along with representatives from the Philadelphia Police Department and the city’s District Attorney’s office, will be in attendance.

The nonprofit Children's Hospital of Philadelphia was founded in 1885 as the country's first hospital dedicated to the health care of children. St. Christopher's Hospital is owned at operated by Tenet Healthcare Corp. (NYSE: THC) of Dallas, Texas.

This is great - putting the patient first is the way it should be but all too often isn't. Proud of you guys. This should make life easier for a lot of victims.