The Worthy Adversary

Category: Penn State

  • UPDATED 5/18: PA State Grand Jury Investigates Six Catholic Dioceses: What you need to know

    UPDATED 5/18: PA State Grand Jury Investigates Six Catholic Dioceses: What you need to know

    UPDATED 5/24

    PA’s Catholic Dioceses receive copies of 884-page report. Public release slated for June.

    PA’s Catholic Dioceses have said they “won’t block the release” of the Grand Jury report.

    Bishop says that the report contains information that is “difficult to hear.”

     

    UPDATED 5/9

    Bishop Trautman Smells Blood in the Water – His Own

    After the presentment of charges against Erie priest Fr. David Poulson, Erie Bishop Emeritus Donald Trautman came out with a statement today saying “there was no cover-up.”

    He can “abhor the evil of sexual abuse” all he wants. But experience has shown us that such abhorrence has done little to stop the cover-up.

    We will see what the PA State AG Grand Jury Report has to say about his role in Erie.

    You can read his statement here.

    First Presentment of Charges: Fr. David Poulson

    Read the Presentment here.

    AG Josh Shapiro’s full press conference is linked here.

    Important to note: Poulson is a priest from the Diocese of Erie. Will his arrest reflect on Bishop Trautman?

    We are still awaiting the rest of the AG’s report.

     

    UPDATED 4/17

    Three Men to Watch: Wuerl, Persico, and Trautman

    (and one to discount)

    More rumors are circulating about who was called to testify and what the grand jury investigation will uncover. But one thing is clear:

    There are three men to watch.

    Cardinal Donald Wuerl

     

    Wuerl, now the Cardinal Archbishop of Washington, D.C., was Bishop of Pittsburgh from 1988 to 2006. According to his Wikipedia page, one would think that he’s a champion for victims. Critics have called him the “Teflon Cardinal,” due to the fact that scandal seldom sticks to him. Outside of two known abusive priests that Wuerl did not warn parishioners about, what else will the grand jury investigation tell us?

    I can only assume he was asked to testify. He was the bossman for 20 years.

    Erie Bishops Lawrence Persico and Donald Trautman

    The Diocese of Erie is in full protection mode. Earlier this month, officials there released a list of 34 priests and 17 lay people who have been credibly accused of abuse.

    Yesterday, the bishop announced the expansion of the diocese’s child protection office.

    If they were so concerned about such things (you know, exposing abuse and protecting kids), why didn’t they release these names before? Why not expand the Diocese of Erie child protection office in 2015 or in 2013?

    They are getting ready for a bomb to drop.

    Trautman was Erie’s bishop from 1990 to 2012. He retired at the mandatory age of 75. Persico took over in 2012.

    I wonder if the AG will be brave enough to indict a sitting bishop or cardinal.

    And a man to discount: Nicholas Cafardi

    Peter Smith at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette wrote a great piece today about the upcoming grand jury report. He quotes Robert Hoatson, a wonderful advocate for victims, as well as some of the players mentioned below.

    He also quotes Nick Cafardi, a former chairman of the US Bishops National Review Board for the protection of minors.

    Cafardi is quoted as saying:

    [Cafardi] said he doesn’t expect major surprises from Pittsburgh in the grand jury report.

    This is the same Nicholas Cafardi who was general counsel for the Diocese of Pittsburgh itself.

    *Ahem*

    Cafardi was the Bishop of Pittsburgh’s LAWYER.

    So let’s just scratch him off the “credible” list.

    Original post   4/15

    Cease and desist letters, bully tactics, salacious rumors, lists of accused, Cardinal Roger Mahony and … Bill Cosby? They are all a part of the big picture surrounding the PA state grand jury investigation of six local Catholic dioceses.

    If you live in or around Pennsylvania and are concerned with issues anywhere within the state’s borders (or the Catholic clergy sex abuse scandal), you’ve probably heard about the statewide grand jury investigation of six Catholic dioceses across the state.

    The result of the two-year investigation, which will be issued in report form, should be released in the beginning of May. The report may or may not include the presentation of criminal charges.

    No one can predict exactly what the report is going to say. But we do know this: it is going to be ugly, just like a 2016 report of the Altoona-Johnstown Diocese and three previous grand jury investigations in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

    The purpose of this post is to be the best press and public backgrounder around.

    Hopefully, this will become the most comprehensive (and always expanding) list of the real players, the deep intel, links to research, the best sources, and data.

    This is where you will be able to ask questions/make comments BEFORE the report drops.

    It’s a living document – keep checking back for updates.

    If you have information that is helpful to this PLEASE SHARE IN THE COMMENTS or email me at jcasteix@gmail.com.

    What is this grand jury and why did it come about?

    Don’t know what the grand jury process is in Pennsylvania or what its powers are? Read more here or here.

    Former PA State Attorney General Kathleen Kane empaneled the statewide probe in 2016, after a smaller, but similar, grand jury investigation of the Altoona-Johnstown Diocese found that hundreds of children were abused over five decades by at least 50 priests.

    That grand jury report (which I also call a “grand jury investigation”) resulted in criminal charges. Here is the Attorney General’s press release of the criminal charges presented.

    From the report:

    The Grand Jury was able to document child sexual abuse by at least 50 different priests or religious leaders within the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown. The evidence also demonstrated that hundreds of children have been victimized by religious leaders operating within the Diocese; and that the mere presence of these child predators endangered thousands of children by exposure to potential sexual abuse. Predator after predator came before the Grand Jury. Each indicated that it was the first time any law enforcement official had questioned them.

    Altoona-Johnstown is not the only Pennsylvania Catholic diocese to come under the scrutiny of a grand jury.

    There have been THREE grand jury investigations of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia: 2003 (made public in 2011); 2005; and 2011, (criminal charges here)

    This current statewide investigation includes the six remaining dioceses in the state. Due to the size of the project, the AG extended investigation until the end of April.

    Are these grand juries common?

    Not as common as they should be. (In my opinion at least).

    Pennsylvania has had the most—and most sweeping—grand jury investigations of its Catholic diocese’s sex abuse cover-ups.

    Other jurisdictions have empaneled grand juries to look into sex abuse and cover-up in their local Catholic dioceses. You can find the full list and a link to the reports here.

     

     

    Mark Rozzi

    The PA players and issues – historical and current:

    Mark Rozzi – Nobody—and I repeat NOBODY—has been a stronger, more eloquent voice for PA’s victims than Mark Rozzi. The survivor-turned-state-legislator is a powerhouse. He has testified before this grand jury and has advocated for PAs survivors by pushing for stronger laws and equal standing in the courts. He wins in my book.

    Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro (UPDATE: link has issues – try this Facebook page)- The upcoming report and any charges will be issued from his office. They, through spokesperson Carol Simpson, have remained tight-lipped about the investigation.

    Barbara Dorris – Barb Dorris is the former executive director of SNAP, the Survivors Network. Although no longer with the organization in order to follow her “moral compass,” she is the person most knowledgeable about the survivors community in Pennsylvania, having spent the past 20+ years building support groups and speaking with survivors there. She now volunteers for other organizations within the clergy sex abuse survivors movement.

    Judy Jones – Judy Jones has been advocating for sex abuse victims in western Pennsylvania since the early 2000s. Her knowledge of abuse and cover-up in Pittsburgh, Altoona-Johnstown, and Greensburg is extensive, as are her connections to the victims’ community. UPDATE: She also has extensive knowledge of the Erie Diocese.

    Every single victim who testified – They are out there. Many have been very public in the media.

    Bill Cosby, Penn State, Jerry Sandusky, #MeToo, The PA State Legislature – Remember, nothing happens in a vacuum. Pennsylvania has been the home of some pretty nasty sex abuse scandals and trials over the past few months/years. No examination of the report is complete without an examination of how public attitudes have changed towards those who sexually abuse children and those who cover it up.

    Thomas Doyle – Tom Doyle is a Dominican priest who has devoted his career to helping victims of clergy sexual abuse. I’m not a betting person, but I would bet good money that he testified in front of this GJ. He testified in front of the Australian Royal Commission and in numerous civil and criminal trials in the US and abroad.

    Patrick Wall – Like Doyle, Patrick is an expert on how the Catholic Church has covered up abusive clergy for decades. A former monk and priest, he is now an advocate for victims. He’s worked as a consultant on thousands of cases nationwide and on dozens in PA. He was also retained as an expert by the US Attorney in Western PA in 2016 on clergy sex abuse cases.

    Bishop Accountability – Terry McKiernan and Anne Barrett-Doyle are the keepers of the “database of the clergy sex abuse crisis.” If there is a document, they know about it and have it. They also have the library of previous grand jury reports.

    Joelle Casteix – (that’s me) I know my stuff. I have worked in the global clergy sex abuse advocacy movement for the past 15 years and understand exactly what’s at stake with this grand jury report. I’m an expert on the cover-up and the effects on survivors and communities.

    Marci Hamilton – Professor Marci Hamilton is the founder and CEO of CHILD USA. She’s is a national expert on child sex abuse; the statutes of limitations that make it difficult for victims to pursue justice; and religious defenses that may lead to neglect. She is also a Fox Family Distinguished Scholar at the University of Pennsylvania.

    The civil attorneys: Richard Serbin has handled more than 300 cases out of his Altoona office. Jeff Anderson is the top lawyer handling clergy sex abuse cases worldwide. No one has litigated more cases and helped more victims get justice than he has. Mitch Garabedian, who was featured in the movie “Spotlight,” and has also helped survivors in PA.

    Jeff Dion, National Center for Victims of Crime, Crime Victims Bar Association – Most of the victims of the crimes that occurred will have no rights in the criminal courts. And besides, the criminal courts are where the State gets justice. For these victims, it’s the civil courts where they will see justice and accountability. Jeff knows the ins and outs of how the civil courts can be one of the better ways for victims to find justice and accountability.

    Lynne Abraham – Abraham was the Philadelphia DA who issued the 2005 grand jury report about the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. She was one of the first to “name names.” Unfortunately, she was unable to issue any indictments at that time. ADA Charles Gallagher led the investigation as its senior prosecutor.

    Civil Windows in Delaware, Minnesota, California, and Hawaii – These laws allowed victims of child sexual abuse to come forward and use the courts when they—the victims—were ready. Will this report make PA finally follow suit?

    John Salveson – John has been an outspoken advocate for survivors in Pennsylvania. The founder of the Foundation to Abolish Child Sex Abuse, he has worked to change statutes of limitations to help victims of child sexual abuse.

    The accused priests we know about – Expect this list to grow. The list as it is is far from complete. Hopefully, the report will fill in a bunch of blanks. If you click on the link, you can access a database of accused priests listed by diocese.

    UPDATE 4/15 4:39 pm: Victim/Survivor Advocate Karen Polesir has extensive knowledge of the clergy sex abuse crisis in Philadelphia and the movement of priests throughout the state.

    Need contact information for any of these people or information on the issues? Let me know.

     

     

    The six remaining Catholic Dioceses (and details):

    Diocese of Harrisburg

    In February, the Diocese of Harrisburg announced that they would have a “papal envoy” to help them celebrate their 150th anniversary, since Pope Francis himself could not be there. Who did the Vatican choose? None other than disgraced Los Angeles Cardinal Roger Mahony. When Harrisburg Catholics found out, they were less than pleased. The envoy was cancelled. Bad optics on the eve of a grand jury investigation.

    You will note that no announcement of Mahony’s appearance was made in Los Angeles.

    Bishop: Ronald W. Gainer

    Counties covered: Adams, Columbia, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Juniata, Lancaster,
    Adams, Columbia, Cumberland, Montour, Northumberland, Perry, Snyder, Union and York.

    Diocese of Allentown

    Bishop: Alfred A. Schlert

    Counties Covered: Berks, Carbon, Lehigh, Northampton, and Schuylkill

    Diocese of Erie

    Earlier in April, the Diocese of Erie broke ranks with other dioceses in the state when it published a list of 34 priests and 17 lay people credibly accused of sexual abuse and assault. The move came in anticipation of the publication of the grand jury report and—in my opinion—was a preemptive strike.

    No other US diocese has published a list of lay people as extensive as this one accused of abuse.

    Bishop: Lawrence T. Persico

    Counties Covered: Cameron, Clarion, Clearfield, Crawford, Elk, Erie, Forest, Jefferson, McKean, Mercer, Potter, Venango, and Warren

    Diocese of Greensburg

    Bishop: Edward C. Malesic

    THE CEASE AND DESIST LETTER – The Diocese of Greensburg does not take kindly to criticism. When SNAP, the Survivors Network issued a statement asking that he turn over all of his “secret files” to law enforcement, the group was hit with an unenforceable cease and desist letter (attached here). The bully tactics didn’t work.

    Heaven forbid anyone ask the diocese to do the right thing …

    Counties Covered: Armstrong, Fayette, Indiana, and Westmoreland

    Diocese of Pittsburgh

    Bishop: David A. Zubik

    THE SALACIOUS RUMORS  Zubic himself has been accused of abuse. The accusation, which Zubic denies, became public in 2011. There are rumors—which cannot be confirmed—that the grand jury report will include details of a non-disclosure agreement.

    This week, one of Zubik’s deacons was arrested on charges of child pornography as a part of an online sting operation. The deacon, who also worked as a prison chaplain, was a retired lawyer. Deacons go through the same “rigorous vetting” that priests do, according to the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, including a five-year training process.

    Counties Covered: Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Greene, Lawrence, Washington

    Diocese of Scranton

    Bishop: Joseph C. Bambera

    Counties Covered: Bradford, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Lycoming, Monroe, Pike, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga, Wayne and Wyoming

    The report will not include Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia or the Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh.

    Keep checking back here for updates. They will be marked and dated.

  • #MeToo: Making a Movement

    #MeToo: Making a Movement

    Yesterday, I was a featured speaker at UCI Law School’s series on the #MeToo movement.

    Our discussion: Victims of child sexual abuse and sexual assault have been empowered to speak out about what happened to us. But what do we do to change the systemic problem in our institutions that made this abuse and cover-up happen in the first place—and turn MeToo into a movement?

    I shared the podium with Esther Hatfield Miller, fellow survivor, trauma recovery coach, and a long-time friend who is a profound champion for change.

    With Esther Hatfield Miller

    With Professors Jane Stoever, Kaaryn Gustasfson, and Michele Goodwin, the team responsible for the speakers series.

    It was a great discussion. I was honored to be a part of it.

     

  • The Devil is in the Details

    The Devil is in the Details

    Yesterday, NY Cardinal Timothy Dolan announced the The Independent Reconciliation and Compensation Program, a plan to compensate victims of child sexual abuse in the Archdiocese of New York.

    There are great articles discussing the neutral and negative aspects of the plan, but before any survivor begins the process of working with the committee, there are a few details that I want to point out.

    Many Archdiocese victims excluded

    According to the FAQ:

    A claim may be made only against a priest or deacon of the Archdiocese of New York and no other diocese or religious order.

    So, if you were sexually abused by a teacher in the employ of the Archdiocese of NY  – like the teacher at Loyola School who molested seven girls – you’re out of luck.

    If you were abused by a member of a religious order (like the Christian Brothers) who are only allowed to work in the Archdiocese if they have the explicit permission of the Archbishop – you’re out of luck, too.

    Archdiocese allowed to hide “proof” that victims need for healing

    The FAQ goes on to state

    [Y]ou will be required to submit documentation to show evidence of the nature, frequency, location and time of the alleged sexual abuse.

    Why do you think that victims use civil law to seek justice? Because the proof LIVES IN THE SECRET FILES.

    For example, in my own case, I received more than 200 pages of secret personnel files—including the signed confession of my abuser. The Diocese of Orange (where my abuse occurred) had the proof all along.

    Most children who are sexually abused don’t have the wherewithal to collect signed affidavits to prove their abuse. That’s why they use the courts later on—to find out what the church knew and when they knew it.

    The Archdiocese has decades of proof and evidence of abuse. And church officials don’t have to reveal any of it.

    Victims must have come forward previously

    The FAQ states:

    In this initial phase, you must have previously notified the Archdiocese of an allegation of such abuse.

    So even if the Archdiocese knows full well that you are a victim, they can shut you out because you did not follow their exact protocol before yesterday.

    There is no guarantee that abusers will be exposed or removed

    This is the kicker. We will never get to know who the predators are and/or if they are still working with children and communities inside or outside the Archdiocese.

    What happens to the victim who gets compensation, only to learn that the man who abused him or her is hiding in plain site with access to children?

    There is no healing in that.

     

  • Shattuck-St. Mary’s Part 2: The choice

    *** This post is updated with a statement by Shattuck-St. Mary’s.***

    SSM Headmaster Nick Stoneman
    SSM Headmaster Nick Stoneman

    In 2003, Headmaster Nick Stoneman had a choice.

    His drama teacher had been found with child pornography on a school computer. This same teacher—Lynn Seibel—had admitted to being complicit in “Naked Dance Parties” with male students in school bathrooms. Seibel was also rumored to have conducted a special AP (Advanced Placement) class in penis enlargement.

    What is the headmaster of one of the nation’s most elite boarding/day schools to do?

    Shattuck-St. Mary’s (SSM) in Faribault, Minnesota is considered a “feeder school” for the National Hockey league. Their alumni list is a “who’s who” of the professional sport. Tuition is $29,000 a year for the day students and $43,000 for students who live at the school. There’s a lot at stake.

    Plus, Stoneman had no idea how many students had been “peeked at,” groomed, or molested by Seibel. He also had no idea if Seibel had created pornographic images of any of SSM’s students.

    It gets worse. There were other teachers at the school who had molested students. While we don’t know how much Stoneman knew in 2003, but by 2012, Seibel and another teacher, Joseph Machlitt, would be criminally charged for molesting SSM students. In 2008, a third, Leonard Jones, would kill himself after one of his victims confronted Jones about the sexual abuse.

    But I digress. Let’s get back to Stoneman’s 2003 dilemma.

    He had two options:

    The first would be to call the police, cooperate with any and all investigations, reach out to alumni who may have been abused, and ask for help from the community to make sure that predators like Seibel never have access to students again. Sure, he would take a PR hit and parents would be upset. But if he dealt with the issue head on, he could easily win the support of parents, especially if he took charge to ensure that the school was a safer place.

    The second option would be to keep things hush-hush and pay off Seibel to make him go away.

    I’ll give you one guess what he did.

    (Seibel went on to teach in Rhode Island and act in small roles in Hollywood before he was arrested and convicted of molesting SSM students in 2013.)

    So, why would a headmaster—whose personal mission should have been the education, emotional encouragement, and safety of the children in his care—make this kind of decision?

    It’s simple. He loved and feared the institution more than he cared about the children in it.

    He took the dangerous “long view” and thought, “Gee, most of the kids who knew Seibel will graduate in a couple of years. But the school will be around for a lot longer. This is a small problem that the school will live through. The kids come and go, but the school’s legacy is eternal.”

    In his heart of hearts, I bet he actually thought he was doing the right thing. He was so indoctrinated into the “institution,” he completely forgot what the institution was supposed to do.

    Sounds a bit harsh and over-simplified, but that’s basically what happened.

    Stoneman is not an outlier. We saw this behavior at Penn State and continue to see it in Catholic dioceses and other hierarchical and secretive religious groups across the country. In fact, even in my own case, the then-principal of Mater Dei High School Fr. John Weling let the man who abused me and other girls quietly resign. Years after the cover-up was exposed, Mater Dei gave Weling its “Ring of Honor” award (And when you think about it – it makes sense. He did protect the school from scandal, which seems to be their mission). Later administrators at the school covered up for abusers such as Larry Stukenholtz and Jeff Andrade – even letting Andrade back on campus after admitting to molesting at least one girl for more than a year.

    And like Mr. Stoneman, the principal and president of Mater Dei who covered up for Stukenholtz and Andrade still work at the school.

    So why does Stoneman still have a job? Why do the principal and president of Mater Dei?

    Because when it comes to institutions, our society has a tragic blind spot. Donors who give these schools millions of dollars think, “These administrators have made these schools into powerhouses. They have educated thousands of children. Why let one rotten apple spoil the barrel? What about the money I donated?” Parents who send their kids to the school say, “Things have changed. Besides, who knows how ‘willing’ those victims were? My child would never go to naked dance parties or an AP class on penis enlargement.” (I will address the problem with this view in a later post)

    Stoneman and the administration at Mater Dei have jobs because we let them. And when we let them, we tell victims and predators that NOTHING has changed. Because NOTHING has.

    Institutions are only as good as the people who run them. If they are rotten, so is the institution.

    Stoneman had a choice. He made the wrong choice. Now, it’s up to SSM.

    UPDATE – 2/10/14

    Shattuck-St. Mary’s issued a statement about recent coverage of the Seibel case.

    “The crux of the matter is simple: did we do the right thing in deciding to remove Lynn Seibel from our school and did we do it the right way? Even with the benefit of 12 years of hindsight, we believe we made the right decision for the right reasons, made with the facts as we knew them.”

    We respectfully disagree. You can read the whole thing here.

  • Friday Round-up: Aldana, Adrian, Arizona, and the AG

    It’s been an interesting week:

    Ricardo “Richard” Aldana is goin’ to the pokey

    Former JSerra High School teacher Richard Aldana was convicted on three felony counts of lewd acts upon a child. The victim was a 14-year-old student. Aldana faces up to eight years in jail.

    JSerra is an independent (not owned by the Diocese of Orange) Catholic High School in San Juan Capistrano, CA.

    Aldana: Convicted of lewd acts with 14-year-old, faces up to 8 years
    Aldana: Convicted of lewd acts with 14-year-old, faces up to 8 years

    When allegations against Aldana became public in 2011, students rallied around the former Spanish teacher, wearing “Free Aldana” t-shirts, setting up a Facebook page demanding school officials reinstate him, and harassing the victim.

    They disguised themselves as supporters, but were instead uninformed, attack mobs trying to silence victims. Fortunately, the police aren’t intimidated by a bunch of affluent high school punks.

    Which leads us to our next story:

    Adrian, Michigan: Taking victim harassment to a whole new level

    My May 15 post about admitted child sex offender Thomas Hodgman went viral. The post was viewed more than 10,000 times, shared on almost 1700 Facebook pages, and generated 82 comments.

    And the comments were nasty. Fortunately, with a huge public court win, tons of public documents and the truth on my side, the commenters did little more than show the sad, reckless and dangerous state of higher education in Michigan.

    But here’s what’s telling: Aldana was convicted of lewd acts with a 14-year-old. I fought for 15 years to expose the truth about a teacher who abused me starting when I was 15—just one year older than Aldana’s victim. When I got the truth I needed, Hodgman was out of the state with little hope of extradition. There is also a big question about whether the criminal statute of limitations in my case is still valid. But according to commenters defending Hodgman, I should have known better and need to let a “good educator” get on with his life.

    Sorry folks, but “good educators” don’t commit lewd acts with students. They should go to jail, especially when they admit to the crimes.

    Arizona: Where parishioners have (rightfully!) had enough

    Parishioners at St. Thomas the Apostle Parish and School in Phoenix have had enough. Their founding pastor was credibly accused of abuse. Another former pastor is in the process of being defrocked by the Vatican. A third priest assigned there was sentenced to 10 years in jail in 1992 for abusing minors.

    Now, we learn that a group of parents has presented a list of demands to the Diocese of Phoenix. Their number-one request: the immediate removal of current pastor, Fr. John Ehrich. They say that he has sexually harassed parishioners and acted inappropriately with children. Ehrich has since quit and the diocese refuses to make a comment, saying it’s “an internal matter.”

    Internal, indeed. Good for the parishioners. They deserve far better.

    The AG: Silence can kill, and not just in the auto industry

    My friend and colleague Mark Crawford has an op-ed in the May 24 New Jersey Star Ledger. In it, he calls on AG Eric Holder to “to vigorously investigate the actions of religious and charitable institutions for their criminal attempts to conceal and minimize dangerous predators — actions that included the sexual abuse of children in this country.”

    Because, he says, if the Department of Justice can investigate the possible criminal activity by automaker GM when it comes to faulty ignition switches, they can certainly investigate religious and charitable institutions (including colleges and universities) for the cover-up of child sexual abuse.

    I agree. Investigate them, punish them, revoke federal funding, and tax the lot of them. Need a sample case so that the Catholic Church won’t say they are being “unfairly targeted?” I got one for you: Adrian College.