The Worthy Adversary

Author: Joelle Casteix

  • What’s going on in California?

    What’s going on in California?

    Yesterday, I wrote about the Child Sex Abuse Civil Window cases that are beginning to flood the New York judicial system as the courts reopen.

    But what about California?

    There has been little news about California’s Child Victims’ Act cases because the courts have been closed for filings (a “court holiday”) and/or are only beginning to partially reopen.

    This does not mean, however, that there are no cases. In fact, I have talked to dozens of California survivors during the quarantine who are considering legal action, in the process of filing a case, or interviewing attorneys.

    Independent Compensation Program

    The deadline for the Independent Compensation Program was March 31, and the six participating dioceses (Los Angeles, Fresno, Orange, Sacramento, San Diego, San Bernardino) have not made any public announcements since the COVID “shelter in place” order.

    While I am not a fan of these programs (because they allow cover-up to continue), many survivors have found them to be a healing process. If you are participating in a California ICP, feel free to reach out to me here.

    Bankruptcy

    Will some of California’s dioceses declare bankruptcy? I would not be surprised.

    Wealthy dioceses such as Orange (who recently spent $72 million renovating the former Crystal Cathedral, which the diocese purchased for $57 million in 2012) can possibly absorb the costs of hundreds of lawsuits. Dioceses without such resources, such as Sacramento and Fresno, may seek protection in the bankruptcy courts.

    Bankruptcy does not mean that the dioceses have no money. In fact, dioceses and religious orders across the country who have used bankruptcy as a tactic have emerged from the process in a healthy and sound financial position.

    I wish we could say the same for survivors and their health.

    What should survivors do?

    Justice and accountability should never be forced to the back seat. If you were sexually abused as a child in California, it’s a-ok to talk to people, look at your options, and move forward with exercising your rights. Don’t let COVID and concerns about racial injustice stop you.

    The more you help yourself, the more you can help others.

    No one stood up for us. But we can stand up for kids today and demand accountability.

  • Re-opening of NY courts exposes 11 newly accused clerics

    Re-opening of NY courts exposes 11 newly accused clerics

    Eleven priests who have not appeared on any lists of accused clerics—either court documents, diocese lists, or press reports—have been named as alleged predators in new lawsuits filed against the Catholic Archdiocese of New York this week.

    The 11 were named in a press release today, which also announced 59 new lawsuits.

    The priests publicly accused for the first time are:

    Father Gerald Boyle, accused of sexually abusing a minor from approximately 1969 to 1970 at St. John’s in Goshen, NY

    Father Francis Doersam, accused of sexually abusing a minor in approximately 1964 at St. Joseph’s in New York, NY

    Father Joseph Faraone, accused of sexually abusing a minor from approximately 1973 to 1976 at St. Francis of Assisi in Mount Kisco, NY

    Father Robert E. Gallagher, accused of sexually abusing a minor in approximately 1967 at Sacred Heart of Jesus in New York, NY

    Father Tilak Jayawardene, accused of sexually abusing a minor from approximately 1983 to 1986 at Our Lady of Solace in Bronx, NY

    Father James Kenny, accused of sexually abusing a minor from approximately 1970 to 1971 at St. Michael’s Home in Staten Island, NY

    Father John Larkin, accused of sexually abusing a minor from approximately 1977 to 1979 at Sacred Heart in Mount Vernon, NY

    Father George W. Moore, accused of sexually abusing a minor in approximately 1959, while at St. Mary in Wappinger Falls, NY

    Father Peter Raich, accused of sexually abusing a minor from approximately 1980 to 1985 at St. Francis de Sales in New York, NY

    Father Alfonso Solimene, accused of sexually abusing a minor from approximately 1969-1971 at St. Joan of Arc in Bronx, NY

    Father Robert Trainor, accused of sexually abusing a minor from approximately 1970 to 1972 at St. Rose of Lima in New York, NY

    Why is this important?

    Cardinal Dolan and the Archdiocese of New York have used their Independent Reconciliation and Compensation Plan (IRCP) since 2017/18 to compensate victims of child sexual abuse by diocesan priests.

    We do not know if any of the men listed above were named by survivors in their IRCP claims.

    Why?

    The church set up the IRCP programs so that church officials are not required to tell us. They leave the heavy lifting—telling the media and warning the communities about the risks that these alleged predators pose—to the survivors.

    It shouldn’t be that way. The church should be and do better. But then, why should we expect anything different?

    If anyone has information about lawsuits, IRCP settlements, or accused clerics in NY, feel free to contact me here.

  • “Can’t you just let it go?”

    “Can’t you just let it go?”

    In my talks to groups, I always try to impress on people how child sexual abuse destroys communities. When a predator undermines family and community bonds to target a child, the ripples of sexual abuse damage radiate farther than the child victim.

    It happened in my case—affecting (and destroying) my family, my peers, and the school community where the abuse was covered-up.

    But I have not seen anything like I saw in this article in the Saint Cloud Times, about my friend, Billy Dinkel.

    He was recently profiled in the St. Cloud Times, but it was this excerpt that grabbed me.

    Billy met or talked by phone with Times’ journalists more than five times in the last year. Reporters examined court records and interviewed Billy’s therapist, wife and many experts in an attempt to corroborate his story. One of his brothers provided a limited interview to the Times, three siblings declined to speak on the record, two other relatives (nephews) declined to comment and several others did not respond to the Times.

    No one contradicted Billy’s story of sexual abuse, nor would anyone comment on the record about who may have known of the abuse as it happened. (emphasis mine)

    In other words: it happened and his family just wants him to stop talking about it.

    Billy won’t stop talking; and he shouldn’t. Telling him things like “Just let it go” or “Forgive and move on” are only tools to perpetuate silence and more abuse.

    May Billy stay loud and may he help ensure that other families and other communities are not destroyed like his were.

  • Tough Questions for the Diocese of Richmond

    Tough Questions for the Diocese of Richmond

    Buried in the news about COVID and the global George Floyd protests, the Catholic Diocese of Richmond, VA, quietly announced today that it is starting “formal investigations” of child sexual abuse against four former priests.

    What is NOT interesting about the investigation is that there are four accused priests. What IS interesting is the relevant—but scant—information we do have about THESE four priests.

    All four of the accused retired early, took leave, and/or had their faculties removed years ago.

    What does this tell us?

    That the diocese has possibly known about these men for decades and chose to keep quiet, cover up abuse, and dump the priests in unsuspecting communities.

    What questions should we ask?

    Why were these men removed?

    Who knew what and when?

    Why weren’t these men investigated and publicized years ago?

    Why are they finally telling us now?

  • Join us Wednesday, May 20!