Clergy Child Molesters (130) — References/Archive/Blog

Curia writes about false allegations against the Archbishop

 
   Malta Today, www.malta today.com.mt/ 2006/11/05/ l3.html , By Charles Buttigieg, Public Relations Officer, Archbishop's Curia, Floriana, November 05, 2006
   FLORIANA, Malta: Reference is made to the article "Gozitan clergy abuse scandal rocks Maltese Church's omerta", written by Mr Karl Schembri, and published in the 'Malta Today' on the 22 October 2006.
   Archbishop Mgr Joseph Mercieca fully rejects the gratuitous insinuations and allegations levelled against him by Mr Karl Schembri.
   The following are three instances where Mr Schembri claimed that:
   1. The Archbishop "steadfastly ignored warnings from foreign dioceses about priests who had child abuse records and were named and blamed in the foreign and national press". False.
   2. "Mgr Mercieca was in fact responsible for handpicking" a particular priest "who after learning of child abuse reports to Canadian police was rushed to Malta and posted as a spiritual director in a girl's secondary school in Malta." Also, "incredibly the Maltese Archbishop posts him as a spiritual director at ..." False.
   3. The religious priest was rushed to Malta from Canada and "the Curia takes denial and stops investigations." False.
   It is very unfortunate, to say the least, that Mr Schembri continues to persist in his false and malicious accusations in spite of having been provided, on various occasions since 2002, with information and explanations by the Public Relations Office of the Archbishop's Curia. Such system of conduct is contrary to the Code of Ethics of Maltese Journalists. Freedom of expression and of the media is one of the cornerstones of a democracy. However, no one has the right to abuse this fundamental principle.
   Mr Schembri's stance in his article published on Sunday the 22 October 2006 in "MaltaToday", reflects his same highly objectionable approach in an article he wrote on 26 October 2003 in "The Malta Independent on Sunday". On that occasion, Mr Schembri's reporting of the answers he was given by the Public Relations Office of the Archbishop's Curia was so selective and unfair that, "The Malta Independent", i.e. the daily sister paper of "The Malta Independent on Sunday" agreed to publish immediately the full text of Mr Schembri's questions and the answers given to him by this Office. In fact, "The Malta Independent" published the full text of the questions and answers the very next day, i.e. 27 October 2003.
   One of Mr Schembri's questions then was the following: "What does the Archbishop reply to the suggestion that he forms part of the 'culture of Omerta' which he so harshly criticised a couple of months ago?"
   The PRO of the Archbishop's Curia replied as follows:
   "The very fact that the Archbishop was a leading figure in the efforts that led to the introduction of the Response Team in itself shows that the Archbishop wanted to encourage victims to come forward with the truth and so help to identify and combat better the abuse. At the same time, the Archbishop fully shares the policy that victims (or their guardians) should be done that may discourage them from doing so.
   "The basic reasons behind the fact that the Response Team continues to deal with the cases in full confidentiality are (a) because Canon Law requires such confidentiality; (b) many of the alleged victims that have been coming forward to the Response Team insist that they are only ready if they are guaranteed full confidentiality.
   "The Archbishop strongly rejects and regrets 'the suggestion that he forms part of the 'culture of Omerta' which he so harshly criticised a couple of months ago".
   Thus, it is incomprehensible how Mr Schembri is alleging that the Archbishop has opted "instead to bury his internal inquiries". The Archbishop is deeply grieved whenever members of the clergy, whose vocation is to help people lead a holy life in the sight of God, cause suffering especially to the young, and expresses his solidarity and concern to the victims and their families.
   The Church in Malta acts according to Canon Law and Holy See directives in vigore. The policy and procedure of the Church in Malta regarding allegations of sexual abuse is known to the Vatican authorities. At the same time, it does not hold anyone from reporting cases of abuse to the police.
   Charles Buttigieg
   Public Relations Officer
   Archbishop's Curia
   Floriana

---

Editorial note:
   Mr Buttigieg claims the Archbishop rejects three specific statements which are however entirely grounded in fact.
   The Archbishop ignored warnings and held back information from foreign dioceses in at least two particular cases that have been documented in the press. One case regards Fr Louis Scerri, a former Jesuit dismissed by his order following serious child abuse allegations. He was allowed to leave abroad and work in a parish in Bournemouth, UK, Diocese of Portsmouth, where he was then given marching orders as soon as the diocese got to know he was being investigated for child abuse. At no point did the Maltese Curia share its information with the Portsmouth Diocese. In fact, the Communications Director of the Portsmouth Diocese, Barry Hudd, said in 2002: "Our initial information didn't come through church circles. As soon as we heard we withdrew his licence to serve in the Portsmouth diocese. We didn't know about the allegations until the day he got his marching orders. If we had had that information we would have shared it."
   Another case regards Fr Godwin Scerri. The Maltese Archbishop posted the priest at Can. P. Pullicino Girls' Secondary School in Rabat, a year after news of his alleged sexual abuses in Canada were made public on the Canadian and Maltese media in 1993. When his name surfaced in new child abuse allegations in 2003 linked to the St Joseph Home for children in Santa Venera, a spokesman for the Education Division had told The Malta Independent on Sunday: "Fr Scerri was posted at the Rabat state school between 1994 and the first weeks of this academic year. Fr Scerri was hand-picked by the Curia, which selects spiritual directors for our schools." The Curia never challenged that statement given by government officials, particularly that Fr Scerri was "hand-picked by the Curia".
   A year before he was posted there, The Windsor Star broke the news about criminal charges Fr Godwin Scerri was facing in Canada. The report published on 24 June, 1993, said that Fr Scerri was facing "sexual assault charges if he ever returns to Canada" following a warrant of arrest issued by the Ontario Provincial Police. Police sources told The Malta Independent on Sunday last week that Canadian police did not issue an international arrest warrant against Fr Scerri, meaning that he could only be arrested on Canadian territory.
   Fr Scerri, who had fled from Canada and accepted back in Malta by Mgr Mercieca by the time his arrest was ordered, had allegedly sexually abused a 12-year-old boy while he was in Emeryville and Pelee Island between 1983 and 1987. The Windsor Star report said that the Maltese Curia had been informed of the charges, including sexual assault and gross indecency, adding that Fr Scerri had refused to return to Canada.
   Three months later, KullHadd followed up the story and published the charges against Fr Scerri in a front-page report on 5 September 1993. Following his steps here in Malta, KullHadd reported that Fr Scerri was posted by the MSSP at the San Domenico Savio oratory for youths in Birkirkara, as well as St Joseph's Home in Santa Venera, where he allegedly abused children. Fr Scerri is in fact now facing paedeophilia charges for crimes he allegedly committed after his return to Malta at the St Joseph Home, together with Fr Charles Pulis and Br Joseph Bonnett.
   The Archbishop's Curia had confirmed to KullHadd that it knew about the allegations in Canada "but only through foreign newspaper reports" while former MSSP Superior General Fr James Bonello had told the media that Fr Scerri had denied the allegations during the MSSP's internal "preliminary investigations".
   Without referring to Fr Scerri by name, Mr Buttigieg told The Malta Independent on Sunday that when the curia's Secretariat for the Clergy "came to know that a religious priest who had previously been accused of child abuse in another country was serving as a spiritual director at a particular girls' school" it rested its case on the priest's own denial of the charges.
   "Exchanges followed between the Secretariat and the religious superior of the religious priest concerned, whose religious order had investigated his case," Mr Buttigieg had said. "The kind of information that was made available to the Curia Secretariat at that stage regarding the alleged child abuse was (a) that the religious priest concerned had always strongly denied the allegation against him by one person; (b) according to investigations carried out by the religious order the evidence available did not show a probability that the alleged abuse did take place".
   The curia was also reportedly informed about the Canadian arrest warrant by Ontario Police, apart from media reports published at that time. Mr Buttigieg would not answer whether the Curia had contacted Canadian police about the case, nor whether it had contacted the Canadian victim. Despite the Curia's knowledge of the charges, Mr Buttigieg said "the Curia was not involved".
   The MSSP's "investigation" itself was, however, concluded, on the basis of Fr Scerri's denial that he ever abused children in Canada. #

Ex-clergyman convicted of molesting boy

 
   The Australian, www.theaust ralian.news. com.au/story/ 0,20867,2071 1250-1702, 00.html , By Suzanne Klotz, AAP, November 06, 2006
   BRISBANE (Qld), Australia: A FORMER Anglican curate has been found guilty in Brisbane of having sex with a teenage organist he was mentoring during the 1970s.
   Robert Francis Sharwood, 62, of Brisbane, had pleaded not guilty in the District Court in Brisbane to five charges including one each of carnal knowledge and permitting carnal knowledge and two of indecent assault, and to a charge of gross indecency.
   A jury tonight found Sharwood guilty of the first four charges, but not guilty of the gross indecency charge.
   Sharwood already had pleaded guilty to another seven charges relating to the sexual relationship which occurred between January 1974 and March 1976 while he was an assistant curate at a parish in Brisbane's southwest.
   The now 46-year-old complainant, who cannot be named, was only 13 and a young parishioner who played the organ at the same parish when Sharwood seduced him.
   A joint love of classical music, particularly Mozart, forged the setting for the abuse which included kissing, masturbation, oral sex and anal intercourse.
   During the two-and-a-half years Sharwood molested the boy about two to three times a week – including when he picked him up after school, at the rectory, during musical concerts, at their homes, and in a car.
   Sharwood befriended the family of the complainant – who is now married with four children – when he arrived at their home to help clean up after the devastating 1974 Brisbane floods – in only his swimming togs.
   In 1976 Sharwood moved to Sydney, and the victim's father intercepted a love letter Sharwood had written to his son.
   He took it to the parish, where a bishop and a another clergyman bestowed "absolute forgiveness and restoration to the church" on Sharwood to reform him.
   Sharwood was an assistant priest at the complainant's wedding in 1982, after the complainant was a groomsman at Sharwood's wedding in 1977.
   Sharwood later worked at a exclusive Brisbane private school, which terminated his employment in 2002 on hearing about the alleged abuse.
   In an unusual move today, Judge Fleur Kingham agreed to continue Sharwood's bail until he is sentenced later this week. #

Gordon backs reporting call on child abuse

 
   The West Australian, by BEN SPENCER, p 14, Tuesday, November 14, 2006
PERTH, W. Australia -- Children's Court chief Sue Gordon has added her voice to renewed calls for mandatory reporting of suspected child sexual abuse, describing it as a no-brainer if the State Government is serious about protecting vulnerable WA children.
   Ms Gordon dismissed any suggestion that mandatory reporting would create more work for social workers.
   Her comments are a further sign of the growing momentum behind calls for the Government to review its policy on the issue.
   They come in the wake of a West-poll conducted last week which found that 95 per cent of West Australians supported a plan for employees such as teachers and health workers to be forced to report suspected abuse to authorities.
   "I have a very simplistic view but really I think the whole thing speaks for itself," Ms Gordon said.
   "I just want all children to be safe. I keep quoting the United Nations conventions of the rights of a child and any other argument to me doesn't make any sense at all.
   "If a child is getting abused, that is all that matters to me." Director of Public Prosecutions Robert Cock said he did not have a concrete view on mandatory reporting but said he was not surprised by the overwhelming Westpoll result.
   "Every State except WA has it, so obviously the majority view of Australia at least is it's a good idea," he said.
   WA Police acting assistant commissioner Jeff Byleveld said though there had been much research both for and against mandatory reporting, ultimately it was a matter of Government policy and police would work according to that policy.
   But WA Council of Social Service executive director Lisa Baker called on the Government not to overreact to the Westpoll, saying evidence had shown mandatory reporting was not the solution.
   On Sunday, shadow community development minister Robyn McSweeney said the poll was further proof the Government was out of touch with the community and falling behind the standards of other States.
   And Federal Community Services Minister Mal Brough said it was essential that WA fell into line with the other States.
   The Government's refusal to reconsider the issue has prompted the Liberal Party to introduce into Parliament its own Bill allowing for mandatory reporting.
> EDITORIAL  16

Government shuns public demand on child safety

 
   The West Australian, Editorial, p 16, Tuesday, November 14, 2006
   The reasons for the State Government's perverse refusal to introduce mandatory reporting of suspected child abuse are mainly bureaucratic. The fear is that legal compulsion would overwhelm child-protection authorities with a flood of reports.
   Of course, for reasonable and compassionate people, that would be a compelling argument for increasing the capacity of those authorities to investigate reports - not for, in effect, restricting the flow of reports for their convenience.
   Furthermore, the bureaucratic argument is ultimately self-defeating because it implies that there are many cases of suspected child abuse which are not drawn to the attention of the authorities because reporting is not mandatory. That suggests that, at best, people are waiting until they see evidence of severe and protracted abuse before they report their suspicions - by which time children could be irreversibly damaged.
   And Community Development Minister David Templeman has the gall to assert that child protection is "paramount" for the State Government. At the same time, he has sided with the theorisers and ideologues by saying he is unconvinced that mandatory reporting would achieve protection of children without prejudice - whatever that might mean.
   That puts him at odds not only with good sense but also with the overwhelming weight of community opinion. A Westpoll found last week that about 95 per cent of respondents supported people such as teachers and health workers being forced to report suspected child abuse to authorities. Only one per cent opposed mandatory reporting and a few neither supported nor opposed it or did not know. The message to the Government could hardly have been clearer: Forget about the theories and do what must be done to protect children. It comes when there is cause for unprecedented alarm about child protection.
   Disclosures about the Department for Community Development have pointed to a culture in the bureaucratic hierarchy that has made self-preservation and cover-ups paramount, far from dedication to the welfare of children. This is also the culture that has resisted mandatory reporting, regardless of the dictates of common sense and compassion.
   On top of that, the Corruption and Crime Commission has, in effect, condemned the Department of Education and Training for the way in which it has dealt with allegations of sexual contact between staff and students. Again, the prevailing culture at the top of that bureaucracy has been shown to be based on self-interest.
   Clearly, there is a pressing need for radical change in child-protection practices, particularly in the DCD. Whether Mr Templeman has the stomach for the job is yet to be seen. But the signs are not good, given his parroting of the old lines against mandatory reporting and his hollow "paramount" sloganeering.
   This newspaper has supported mandatory reporting for years because it would give abused children the best chance they have of getting the help and protection they need. It would make reporting a legal requirement, not an act depending on individual conscience, disposition or preference. The time for the Government to come to its senses and accept the community view on this is long overdue. #

Names of 20 priests accused of sexual abuse of minors

 
   The Dialog (Serving the Catholic community of Delaware and Maryland's eastern shore), www.cdow.org/ 111606.pdf, November 16, 2006
   WILMINGTON (DE):
PRIESTS OF DIOCESE OF WILMINGTON
Edward B. Carley - Born 1917, ordained 1948, died 1998. Assignments: St. Mary Refuge of Sinners, Cambridge, Md., 1948; St. Ann, Wilmington, 1954; St. Paul, Wilmington, 1962; St. Peter's Cathedral, Wilmington, 1964 and 1970; Church of the Good Shepherd, Perryville, Md., 1967; Our Mother of Sorrows, Centreville, Md., 1972; St. Dennis, Galena, Md., 1982; retired 1993.
Eugene F. Clarahan - Born 1925, ordained 1952, died 1999. Assignments: Corpus Christi, Elsmere, 1952; chaplain of (Del.) state institutions, 1960; Holy Spirit (residence), New Castle, 1967; St. Peter, New Castle, 1968; Holy Cross, Dover, 1978; Church of the Good Shepherd, Perryville, Md.,1983; St. Benedict, Ridgely, Md., 1987; removed from ministry 1993.
Francis P. Cornely - Born 1924, ordained 1949, died 1975. Assignments: St. Francis de Sales, Salisbury, Md., 1949; St. John the Baptist, Newark, 1950; St. Edmond, Rehoboth Beach, 1958; chaplain, University of Delaware, 1962; St. Mary Refuge of Sinners, Cambridge, Md., 1964; Christ Our King, Wilmington, 1969; St. Edmond, Rehoboth Beach, 1974.
Francis G. DeLuca - Born 1929, ordained 1958. Assignments: St. Francis de Sales, Salisbury, Md., 1958; St. John the Beloved, Wilmington, 1961; St. Elizabeth, Wilmington, 1966; Holy Spirit, New Castle, 1969; St. Matthew, Wilmington, 1976, St. Joseph on the Brandywine, Greenville, 1989; removed from ministry 1993; resides in Syracuse, N.Y.
Douglas W. Dempster - Born 1937, ordained 1962. Assignments: St. Michael the Archangel, Georgetown, 1962; St. John the Beloved, Wilmington, 1962; Immaculate Conception, Elkton, Md.,1966; St. Mary Refuge of Sinners, Cambridge, Md., 1967; St. John-Holy Angels, Newark, 1969; Church of the Good Shepherd, Perryville, Md., 1970; diocesan chaplain of Boy and Girl Scouts, 1971; Church of the Holy Child, Wilmington, 1978; Immaculate Conception, Marydel, Md., 1979; Our Lady of Good Counsel, Secretary, Md., 1992; removed from ministry 1993; resides in Marydel, Md.
Henry J. Dreyer - Born 1903, ordained 1930, died 1969. Assignments: St. Paul, Wilmington, 1930; St. Teresa, Port Deposit, Md., 1931; St. Ann, Wilmington, 1933; St. Charles, Cape Charles, Va., 1937; St. Teresa, Port Deposit, 1941; St. Joseph on the Brandywine, Greenville, 1950; retired 1966; St. Ann, Wilmington (residence), 1967.
Edward F. Dudzinski - Born 1950, ordained 1978. Assignments: St. Joseph on the Brandywine, Greenville (deacon), 1977; St. Mary Magdalen, Wilmington, 1978; St. Francis de Sales, Salisbury, Md., 1983; removed from ministry 1985; resides in northern Virginia.
Richard F. Gardiner - Born 1916, ordained 1968, died 1989. Assignments: St. Edmond, Rehoboth Beach, May 1968; Holy Cross, Dover, Nov. 1968; St. Ann, Bethany Beach, and St. Michael, Georgetown, 1972; St. John the Beloved, Wilmington, 1974; St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Bear, 1978; St. Luke/St. Andrew, Ocean City, Md., 1985.
William E. Irwin - Born 1938, ordained 1964, died 2005. Assignments: St. Edmond, Rehoboth Beach, 1964; Immaculate Conception, Elkton, 1964; Holy Cross, Dover, 1966; St. Mary of the Assumption, Hockessin, 1968; Immaculate Heart of Mary (residence), Wilmington, 1970; Our Lady of Fatima (residence), New Castle, 1972; St. Francis de Sales, Salisbury, Md., 1976; St. Mary of the Assumption, 1986; Holy Family, Newark, 1990; St. Mary Magdalen, Wilmington, 2001; removed from ministry 2002.
John A. Lind - Born 1931, ordained 1960, died 1997. Assignments: St. Francis de Sales, Salisbury, Md., 1960; St. Catherine of Siena, Wilmington, 1962; St. Elizabeth, Wilmington, 1965; removed from ministry 1966.
Leonard J. Mackiewicz - Born 1931, ordained 1957, died 1994. Assignments: St. Edmond, Rehoboth Beach, 1957; chaplain for Boy Scouts, 1957; Immaculate Conception, Marydel, Md., 1958; St. Thomas, Wilmington, 1960; St. Hedwig, Wilmington, 1961; Holy Rosary, Claymont, 1964; St. Thomas, 1967; St. Francis de Sales, Salisbury, Md., 1970; St. Michael the Archangel, Georgetown, 1971; St. Edmond, 1972; St. Mary Refuge of Sinners, Cambridge, Md., 1972; Holy Cross, Dover, 1975; chaplain, Delaware Correctional Institution, 1976; St. Polycarp, Smyrna, 1985; removed from ministry 1987.
Kenneth J. Martin - Born 1945, ordained 1989. Assignments: Holy Cross, Dover, 1989; Immaculate Heart of Mary, Wilmington, 1990; St. Paul, Wilmington, 1991; St. Mary Magdalen, Wilmington, 1991; Holy Family (residence), Newark, 1997; Church of the Holy Child (residence), Wilmington, 1998; removed from ministry 2001; resides in New Jersey.
Joseph A. McGovern - Born 1949, ordained 1979. Assignments: St. Francis de Sales, 1978; St. Mary Refuge of Sinners, Cambridge, Md., 1979; St. Catherine of Siena, Wilmington, 1980; St. John the Baptist/Holy Angels, Newark, 1983; removed from ministry 1986; resides in Philadelphia.
Walter D. Power - Born 1918, ordained 1952, died 1998. Assignments: St. Francis de Sales, Salisbury, 1952; St. Helena, Bellefonte, 1954; director of Boy Scouts, 1956; St. Mary Refuge of Sinners, Cambridge, Md., 1957; Immaculate Conception, Marydel, Md., 1960; chaplain, St. Gertrude Convent, Ridgely, Md., 1960; Sacred Heart, Chestertown, Md., 1964; Holy Name of Jesus, Pocomoke City, Md., 1968; St. Mary Refuge of Sinners, 1969; Immaculate Conception, Elkton, 1979; retired 1983, with residence at Good Shepherd, Perryville.
Francis J. Rogers - Born 1954, ordained 1981. Assignments: Corpus Christi (deacon), 1980; Immaculate Heart of Mary, Wilmington, 1981; St. Matthew, Wilmington, 1986; Holy Rosary, Claymont, 1989; St. Mary Magdalen, Wilmington, 1992; Corpus Christi, Elsmere, 1995; removed from ministry 2003; last known address, Wilmington, Del.
John A. Sarro - Born 1941, ordained 1979. Assignments: Worked in missions as religious-order priest until 1983; St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Bear, 1983; St. Helena, Bellefonte, 1990; removed from ministry 1998; resides in a monitored religious community in Maryland.
Carmen D. Vignola - Born 1946, ordained 1972, died 1989. Assignments: Holy Cross, Dover (deacon), 1972; St. Ann, Wilmington, 1972; St. Elizabeth, Wilmington, 1978; Our Lady of Fatima, New Castle, 1983; St. Joseph, Middletown, 1984; Holy Cross, Dover, 1987.
Charles W. Wiggins - Born 1957, ordained 1985. Assignments: Our Lady of Fatima, New Castle, 1985; Parish of the Resurrection, Wilmington, and chaplain at St. Mark's High School, 1986; St. Francis de Sales, Salisbury, 1987; St. John, Milford, 1991; St. John the Baptist/Holy Angels, Newark, 1992; Our Lady of Good Counsel, Secretary, Md., 1993; Holy Family, Newark, 1994; Holy Spirit, New Castle, 1997; removed from ministry 2003; resides in Norwood, Pa.
PRIESTS OF OTHER DIOCESES
Paul Calamari - Born 1944, ordained 1980 for Archdiocese of New Orleans. Assignments in Diocese of Wilmington: St. Mary of the Assumption, Hockessin, 1997; Holy Cross, Dover, 1999; chaplain in hospital ministry with residence at St. Peter, New Castle, 2000; removed from ministry 2003; last known address, Pennsylvania.
Gerard C. Smit - Born 1924, ordained 1950 for Diocese of Lake Charles, La. Assignments in Diocese of Wilmington: Immaculate Conception, Elkton, 1987; removed from ministry 1996; last known address, Bear, Del. #

Pedophile, liar was source of Debus sex claim

 
   The Daily Telegraph (Sydney), http://email. news.com. au/ct/click? q=1b-wAZhI 3N2MV mm9roQ 1h5U4uZR , By Simon Benson, 01:00am, November 22, 2006
   SYDNEY (NSW), Australia: NEW South Wales Opposition Leader Peter Debnam's credibility was in tatters last night after he was exposed as having no evidence other than claims from a pedophile to support his attack on state Attorney-General Bob Debus.
   Serious cracks began to appear in his frontbench, with senior MPs openly admitting he made a grave mistake.
   As former minister Milton Orkopoulos was discharged from hospital one week after apparently attempting to commit suicide, Parliament again descended into grubby chaos.
   Both major parties failed to heed the warnings of a poll published in The Daily Telegraph showing one in four voters are so disillusioned they intended to vote independent.
   Liberal supporters who had gone to Parliament to watch Question Time said they would no longer vote for Mr Debnam after watching his performance.
   The Opposition Leader last week used the protection of Parliament to allege Mr Debus was being investigated by the Police Integrity Commission after a complaint was made by Wood Royal Commission witness W26 that he wrongly transferred him from a low to a maximum security prison.
   Yesterday the Liberal leader's shadow cabinet members bench sat in stunned silence during Question Time as W26 - also believed to be Mr Debnam's informant (which he has not denied) - was finally unmasked by Mr Debus as a compulsive liar who had raped a 15-year-old intellectually disabled boy.
   At one point, a group of schoolgirls was ushered out of the public gallery by teachers when the filthy deeds of W26 were read out in the chamber. [...]