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DIOCESE/State WATCH
Bridgeport, CT (www.votfbpt.org): The
Darien, CT (Bridgeport diocese) debacle has
focused attention once again on what the diocese knew
about their high-living pastor; what parishioners knew
and when; and what becomes of one whistleblower.
In Darien, CT (Diocese of Bridgeport) a diocesan investigation
into allegations of a pastor's financial improprieties
led to the resignation of the pastor of St John’s
church. The associate pastor, Fr. Michael Madden, was
then appointed as acting pastor; he and the church's
bookkeeper, using their own funds, hired a private investigator,
without the knowledge of the diocese, who then reported
his findings to the Darien police. What followed is another
instance of a priest going out on the limb of truth-telling
and finding himself in conflict with his bishop - and
demoted; it is also another instance of misplaced focus
- a concern about the “scandal” of publicity
for the diocese rather than demonstrated financial accountability
for the parish. While parishioners came to Fr. Madden's
defense in force, Fr. Madden's fate remains uncertain.
The story was covered in The New
York Times (NY/Region of May 24, 2006)
and May 29 ); the Stamford
Advocate; and the Connecticut
Post . The Bridgeport diocesan web
site also posted a statement at www.bridgeportdiocese.com.
- VOTF Bridgeport TODAY JUNE 8 is
hosting a diocesan-wide discussion on the question – “Do
you know where your contributions to your parish and
diocese go?”
- Erie, PA: “Gannon College,
a Catholic institution, allegedly demoted its first
female chaplain, Lynnette Petruska, solely because
of her gender. A trial court threw out Petruska’s
sex discrimination suit at the earliest possible stage
of litigation on the grounds that Gannon, as a church-affiliated
school, had immunity under the First Amendment’s
freedom-of-religion provisions. Recently, a divided,
2-1 Third Circuit issued a decision reviving the case
and establishing an important precedent that breaks
from or refines case law from several other courts.” Go
to http://www.afj.org/fullcourtpress.html. But there’s
more: According to Petruska’s press release (for
more information, contact attorneys AnnDrea Benson
at 814-734-3428 [Erie contact]; Chet Pleban, Esq. at
314-645-6666; or Marci Hamilton at 215-353-8984). “On
March 11, 2004, former Gannon University Chaplain, Lynette
Petruska, filed a lawsuit in the Federal District
Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania against
her former employer, Gannon University, the bishop
of the Diocese of Erie, other Erie clergy, and university
officials. In her suit, Petruska alleged that she was
discriminated against based upon her gender and in
retaliation for reporting priest sexual misconduct
to the bishop. Her suit also alleged that the university
failed to engage in proper oversight of its bishop/chairman
as part of an ongoing effort to cover-up priest sexual
misconduct, among other things. On December 27, 2004,
the district court dismissed Petruska’s action
agreeing with the Defendants that the First Amendment
to the United States Constitution prohibited her from
suing the religiously-based institution, church officials,
or its Board of Trustees. On May 23, 2006, the Third
Circuit Court of Appeals disagreed and reversed the
district court’s decision, allowing Petruska
to proceed to trial on her claims against all the Defendants.”
- Another pastor has been accused of theft in Chicago,
IL. Learn
more.
- Abuse victims will have to decide for themselves
whether or not to accept the mediation offer from the
Denver archdiocese. Learn More.
Boston, MA: Cardinal O’Malley led 10 Masses or
prayer services as part of a pilgrimage of penitence
for the pain inflicted by the Church on the victims of
clergy sexual abuse and their families. Boston VOTF and
others asked the Cardinal to keep them in mind during
his parish visits: VOTF’s Protecting Our Children
noted the requirement that parishes establish “safe
environment” programs and urged the Cardinal “to
take the opportunity when you are visiting these parishes
to inquire as to whether the VIRTUS, TAT and CAP programs
have been implemented.” According to Boston Globe
coverage:
“When Cardinal O'Malley announced the pilgrimage
two weeks ago, Webb [survivor and anti-abuse activist]
said the initiative was a step in the right direction,
even though the venue was wrong. But she said yesterday
that disclosures this week about the cardinal's handling
of sexual-misconduct complaints against Dr. Robert M.
Haddad [see Boston bullet under Bridgeport, CT above],
who resigned early yesterday as head of the archdiocese's
healthcare system, undercut the credibility of O'Malley's
penance.”
- Like all the survivors of clergy sexual abuse, like
Fr. Madden and Lynette Petruska in the stories above
(CT), the human resources chief of Caritas Christi
in the Archdiocese of Boston spoke
out against her boss – and things changed. See
the Boston
Globe profile of Helen Drinan.
- Good news from Our Lady Help of Christians, Newton,
MA: OLF meeting with Fr. John and Fr. Joe.
On Saturday June 3, members of the Steering Committee
of OLF had an excellent meeting with Our Lady's new
co-pastors, Fr. John Sassani and Fr. Joe Keil. We learned
that Frs. John and Joe are committed to welcoming all
as parishioners, just as we have understood "All
Are Welcome" in the past. They talked of their
strong desire to reach out to the many parishioners
who have stopped coming to invite and welcome them
back. The Steering Committee was very heartened by
this meeting and looks forward to putting most of our
emphasis on OLF goal #2: "To restore Our Lady's
community to be a healthy, full functioning, vibrant,
and welcoming parish". To receive the OLHC occasional
e-update, write to ourladysfriends@yahoo.com.
Their web site address is www.ourladysfriends.org.
Spokane, WA: The
News Tribune reports, “Judge
voids sex abuse settlement - Deal called unfair to
victims who didn’t sue or who haven’t
come forth.” Learn
More.
Ohio: On WCPO.com from Associated
Press: “Ohioans who were victims of sex abuse as
children decades ago lost their last remaining legal
battle Wednesday to sue priests and the Roman Catholic
Church over those claims.” Time limits to file
lawsuits apply even if the victim had no reason to believe
until recently that the church knew of the abuse.” SNAP
said the group respected the State Supreme Court’s
ruling and noted that abusers “basically have gotten
away with it.” A survivor of abuse that took place
in the 1980s said, "We feel like we have really
exposed the Catholic Church's behavior to the light of
day. The press coverage has gotten the word out for people
to know to keep an eye on their kids and keep an eye
on their clergy."
Vermont: A VOTF press release on a
questionable move by the Vermont diocese drew a response
from Bishop Matano. As reported in the May 18 Vineyard, the
bishop placed the state-wide diocese’s parishes
in a charitable trust. Go to Vermont’s Times
Argus.
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