Sylvia's Site

A few bits and pieces… 

(1)  Father Fernand Crouteau

On 26 August 2010 convicted clerical molester Father Fernand Crouteau concelebrated Mass and distributed Holy Communion at the Cathedral in St. Paul Alberta. 

Where and when does the sacrilege end? 

(2)  Father Paul Egan

I am taking advantage of the quiet to add some information to Sylvia’s Site.  I have added a page for Father Paul Egan.  

As you can see, the 1995 charges against Father Egan were withdrawn “due to a change in circumstances involving pertinent evidence of witnesses.”   The RCMP officer would not elaborate in case the investigation was reopened. 

I wonder what in the name of goodness that was all about?  Father Egan is currently very much a pastor so I gather the investigation was not reopened?

(3)  Minutiae of change

01 September 2010:  German Church Sets Rules on Abuse 

It takes a lot of kicking and screaming and outright embarrassment to come up with one teeny weeny minutiae of ‘change.’   I fear that’s the way it will be until we are blessed with bishops who are outraged both by the very thought of a priest laying a wayward hand on a child or vulnerable adult and the prevailing notion that that it is fair game to allow children to be put or left at risk. 

(4) Father O’Keefe

01 September 2010:  Priest case back in court September  29 

It seems there was nothing to the scheduled court date of Basilian Father Kenneth O’Keefe in Ottawa yesterday.  An adjournment.  The next court date is set for 29 September 2010. 

Enough for now,

Sylvia

(cornwall@theinquiry.ca)

A few comments:

(1) Court:

Basilian priest Father Kenneth O’Keefe had a court date in Ottawa this morning. As soon as I get news of what happened I will post. 

(2) Father Michael Walsh

I have added a page for Father Michael Walsh.  He was already on the list on the Accused page – I had time to put together a page with more information.

 Here’s yet another case of the all too common recycling of clerical molesters.  I will make a few comments….

Formerly of the Diocese of Grand Falls Newfoundland and now serving in the Archdiocese of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Father Michael J Walsh plead guilty in 1991 to six charges related to sexual abuse of teenage boys in Newfoundland.  

I don’t know what the sentence was, but I do know that he spent some time in jail.

By 1997 Walsh was in Halifax – his address and phone number that of St. Mary’s Basilica.  

I am told that for some of his years in Halifax Walsh was serving as a hospital chaplain.  Which years I am uncertain, but he was definitely functioning in that capacity in 2004. 

I have also been told that Father Walsh was saying Mass publicly in a Halifax church, and in particular I have been told that a group of visiting Newfoundlanders hoping to attend Mass walked out when Walsh showed up in the sanctuary. I am getting more information on this.  I think it was probably St.Mary’s Basilica but am not certain. 

Sometime in the 2000s Walsh earned a licentiate in Canon Law.  He is now Associate Judicial Vicar of the Halifax archdiocese’s Marriage Tribunal.   

A note of interest.  The Monsignor Martin Currie who was Rector of St. Mary’s Basilica for several of the years in which Walsh was there was installed as Bishop of Grand Falls, Newfoundland in January 2001.  He is now Archbishop of St. John’s Newfoundland. 

Did Currie know of Walsh’s past?  That I don’t know with certainty.  I am aware that many diocesan clergy are often kept in the dark when their bishop recycles a convicted clerical molester into their diocese.  However, Currie was not only Rector of the Basilica, he was also Vicar General and Chancellor of the archdiocese.  How could he not have known? 

Some questions on the recylcing of Father Michael J Walsh: 

(i) Which Church officials were party to the decision that it would be right and proper to recycle Walsh into the Archdiocese of Halifax?

(ii)  Were the Roman Catholic faithful in the Halifax archdiocese ever advised that Father Walsh is a convicted child molester?  If not, why not?

(iii) Over his years in Halifax which Church officials knew that Walsh was a convicted molester and chose to keep the secret from the trusting flock?

 (iv) Why did Archbishop Terrence Prendergast, Archbishop of Halifax 1998-2007, allow Walsh to function as a priest in the diocese for all those years?

 (iv) Which Church officials decided that the sick and dying would benefit from the spiritual counsel of a convicted clerical molester?

 (v) What and/or who prompted Walsh to pursue studies in canon law? 

I am truly beginning to wonder if there are any Canadian Bishops who are opposed to (a)  subjecting unwitting Catholics to known clerical molesters and sexual predators and (b) wilfully putting children and vulnerable Catholics at risk.

It begs the question, does it not: How many Father Walsh’s are bouncing about our dioceses these days, their abhorrent sins and perverted crimes known only to to the bishop and a select few tolerant souls and kept secret from all others?

****

A final note here on some confusion regarding Father Walsh’s incardination.  Walsh was/is a priest of the Diocese of Grand Falls, Newfoundland.  Until 2000 all Canadian Catholic Church Directories show him as incardinated in Grand Falls. 

The 2000 an 2002 church directories to which I have access indicate that in those years he is incardinated in the Archdiocese of Halifax.  Then I jump to the 2010 directory – that shows him incardinated in Grand Falls, Newfoundland. 

Rather strange.  I checked the Diocese of Grand Falls website – Walsh is listed there with the priests of the Grand Falls diocese and shown as “retired.”  He is obviously now incardinated in Grand Falls, whether that is still, or again I don’t know.

Did Walsh become incardinated in Halifax for a spell and then, for whatever reason, become re-incardinated in Grand Falls?  I don’t know.   Bottom line, he is a convicted molester from Grand Falls, Newfoundland who was recycled and has been serving for many years – and continues to serve – in the Archdiocese of Halifax. 

(3)  Acknowledgement

Yesterday at 5:25 pm I received an acknowledgement from the Chancery office of the Archdiocese of Edmonton, Alberta:    

Dear Mrs. MacEachern, 

We acknowledge receipt of your message. Thank you.

This was in reply to my email of 30 August 2010 asking for Archbishop Richard Smith’s response to the allegations of the Pembroke Priests for Justice.

That’s it to date.  No comment as yet from either Archbishop Brendan O’Brien or Archbishop Richard Smith.

(4)  Busy month

There are a series of court dates this month: 

• 01 September 2010:  Father Kenneth O’Keefe csb (Ottawa)
• 08 September 2010:  Father Hod Marshallcsb (Windsor)
• 13 September 2010: Father Robert Borne (Pembroke)
• 14 September 2010:  Father Charles Picot(Campbellton, New Brunswick)
• 20 September 2010:  Father Raymond-Marie Lavoie (Quebec)

(5)  Articles

Two media articles posted:

(i) 31 August 2010:  Vatican official seeks ‘closure’ on abuse 

I don’t understand what’s going on here.

(ii) 31 August 2010:  Under-fire Irish Cardinal vows to join Pope on visit to Britain

First word that the resignation of the two auxiliary bishops of Dublin has been reversed, and now a defiant Cardinal Sean Brady says he will accompany Pope Benedict XVI during the Pope’s visit to Scotland and England.

It all bodes for trouble.

Enough for now,

Sylvia

(cornwall@theinquiry.ca)

Well, sadly, it looks as though the Pembroke Priest for Justice, Truth & Integrity (PPJTI) have gone undercover.  I had contact from Jennifer Green (Ottawa Citizen) advising she had not heard back from them.  She wondered if anyone had heard from them.  I had. 

I just tried to send an email to PPJTI.  It bounced back.

What does this say?  Well, certainly they have gone undercover, at least for now.  And, at least for now, silence will again prevail.

I can speculate all I want as to the whys.  I have no idea.  They did not advise and I just don’t know. Perhaps they are re-assessing their tactics? Perhaps they have opted for a different approach? Perhaps they feared for their vocations?  Perhaps they got cold feet?  I just don’t know.

Will we hear from them again?  I certainly hope so. 

Meanwhile, for those who have expressed concerns regarding the PPJTI allegations, I have, as I mentioned previously, sent emails to both Archbishops Richard Smith and Brendan O’Brien asking specifically for their responses to the  allegations contained in the PPJTI letter.  To date, there has been no reply from either of the Archbishops.

I find myself at an awkward juncture here.  I believe that should a similar circumstance arise in the future I would hold until I know the identity of at least one priest.  For a variety of reasons I didn’t want to and don’t want to go that route.  I believe however that hopes have been raised which, at least for the time being, are dashed.  I don’t want to be party to that again. 

Do I believe the PJTI is legit?  Yes.  I said so at the beginning, and I still do. I would not have posted the letter had I believed otherwise. 

How many in the group?  I don’t know.  I have reason to believe that perhaps it is one priest speaking for a group, witness the following email 26 August 2010:Q & A between PPJTI and me:

Q:  Can you tell me how many priests agreed that it was necessary to take this action?

 A:  Suffice it to say that there are many priests who are very upset about these matters but are afraid to have there names stand, for obvious reasons. 

Do I believe their allegations are valid?  I can say only that I believe it is possible.  It certainly wouldn’t be the first time the Catholic faithful have learned that a bishop failed to respond to allegations of clerical abuse against one of his priests.  Furthermore, in light of the information I have regarding Father Lorne Whalen, I believe it is indeed possible that the Priest’s allegations are valid.

I will add here a response I received 26 August 2010 from the person fielding the PPJTI emails. 

 “ I know priests who alerted Borne’s behaviour to both O’Brien and Smith.  Smith became bishop of Pembroke in 2002 and was appointed Archbishop of Edmonton in 2007.  I personally know priests who spoke to him and alerted him about Borne.”

I had hoped, and still hope, for particulars on this, ie., in what manner were the bishops alerted, who did the alerting, and what was the response.

For now, we will have to wait.  I am terribly disappointed.  That I suppose is easy for me to say when it’s not my neck on the chopping block.  Still, I pray PPJTI is simply regrouping, has not gone deep underground and has not lost heart and courage.

What more can I say?

My sincere apologies for this unwelcome news. 

Enough for now,

Sylvia

The day has flown.  I have been catching up on emails, resolving software issues (again!) and getting a few odds and ends done around the house.

One article of interest:

30 August 2010:  Belgian cardinal: I was ‘naive’ to meet victim 

Circle the wagons time again.  And word that Cardinal Daneels regretted the meeting was made public by the victim.

I’m sure he did!

Enough for now,

Sylvia

(cornwall@theinquiry.ca)

I was overtaken by events today - tired.  I have a few more final comments to make on the Pembroke Priest thread – will do so tomorrow. 

Meanwhile, please take the time to read this:

29 August 2010: Belgian Church Leader Urged Abuse Victim to Keep Silent 

This is extremely disturbing.  A Cardinal trying to silence a victim of long term abuse – actually warning the victim not to drag the name of his abuser through the mud!   The abuser was a Roman Catholic bishop and the victim’s uncle.

Read it.  I am sick at heart after reading it.  

Disgusting.

It’s beyond disgusting.  There are no words.

What kind of sick perverted mind would speak like that? 

A cardinal no less!

I am amazed that the victim had the foresight and presence of mind to tape the two meetings.  It’s all on tape.  Good for him.  No one can twist his words now. 

So, here’s a Belgian case where sex abuse by a bishop was reported by a priest to the Cardinal years ago.  The priest was berated.  The molesting bishop was allowed to continue shepherding his unwitting flock.

This year, when the victim tried to have the abuse by his Bishop/uncle addressed,  the same cardinal actually told him point blank not to drag the bishop’s and name through the mud. 

And, look at this.  The Cardinal pushing the victim to remain silent:

“The bishop will resign next year, so actually it would be better for you to wait…I don’t think you’d do yourself or him a favor by shouting this from the rooftops.”

” I don’t think you’d do yourself or him a favour by shouting this from the rooftops”?!!!

Meaning what?

No matter, the victim’s response, on tape:

“He has dragged my whole life through the mud, from 5 until 18 years old….Why do you feel sorry for him and not for me?”

Indeed. 

I hope the man is charged.  I don’t know what he can be charged with, but I hope there is something in the Belgian Criminal Code which warrants the laying of charges in this case.

And need I even say that I think Daneels should be laicized? Need I even say that I shudder at the thought that a man like this might vote in a conclave?

….

Is it just me, or is there something here which stirs thoughts and understanding of the  Pembroke Priests for Justice, Truth & Integrity ?

Enough for now

Sylvia

(cornwall@theinquiry.ca) 

No word on our courageous Pembroke priests.  I know some media were trying to contact them so perhaps/hopefully we will hear more over the weekend.  Meanwhile, keep them in your prayers.

****

A few days back someone asked about a priest who had been a chaplain at a hospital in Hamilton, Ontario.  I thought perhaps he was referring to Father Stamp.  I decided that as soon as I had opportunity I would updated the Father Dougals Stamp CSsR page.  I have done so.

When putting together the timelines for these clerical molesters there are almost invariably   things which raise questions.  Look through it.  I have gaps in the years because those are the directories to which I have ready access, but, still, note that Stamp was at St. Alphonsus in Peterborough from 1979 to 1983, and that he was eventually convicted for sexually abusing two boys between 1979 and 1981, and then the 1985-86 directory indicates that he is in Quebec.  Then he is in St. John’s Newfoundland, then back to the Redemptorists in Toronto, and then back to St. John’s as Chancellor!  And then, after his conviction, he winds up as head of chaplaincy services at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Hamilton! 

Quietly recycled right into a hospital!

Father Stamp tried to mitigate his sentencing by telling the court that he had been sexually assaulted in the late 6o’s by Father James Hickey in Newfoundland.  Perhaps it worked; Stamp served three months – weekends only! 

Slap on the back of the hand and ‘tut tut bad boy’ aside, it looks as though Stamp was molesting before and immediately after he was ordained. 

How could he possibly not have known that he was not priestly material?  How could he not have known that it is wrong for grown men to molest, never mind grown men who are priests?  I have trouble with that as an excuse, I really do. It’s terribly sad that he was violated by a priest, but to turn around and become a molester himself – as  a Roman Catholic priest?! That’s not only a sin, and a crime, it’s a sacrilege.  No.  I’m sorry.  He should never have been ordained.  

Anyway, he served his three months, weekends only!  And then in due course he was recycled into a hospital setting.

My question is: How many who knew of Father Stamp’s sex abuse conviction agreed that the sick and suffering would be well served spiritually by a convicted molester?  Bishop Tonnos certainly would have known, would he not?  It had been public knowledge.  Why would the Redemptorists or Father Stamp try to hide a sex abuse conviction which had been out in the public domain? 

I find these things just so hard to fathom.

One more question.  If this is the priest Bill Bourque asked about, was Stamp, a convicted clerical molester, actually hearing confessions at a local Hamilton school as well?  Does anyone know?  

Enough for now,

Sylvia

(cornwall@theinquiry.ca)

The thread from yesterday regarding Pembroke Priests for Justice, Truth & Integrity got me thinking about a legal document which I attained many years ago.  It related to a priest in the Diocese of St. Catharine’s who basically blew the whistle, and, as a consequence, was stripped of his priestly faculties. 

The timing seems apropos.  I went on a hunt to find it.

Here it is:

27 January 1994: Pedersen v. Fulton

There are many things about the above case which are of interest, not the least of which is the fact it relates to the Diocese of St. Catharine’s and raises the  question: what did Father Derek Pedersen have and about whom in that binder?  That aside, look what happened to Father Pedersen.  I don’t know the background on this, but the one for sure is that Father Pedersen was not happy that Bishop Fulton was not responding to his complaints regarding the conduct of at least one diocesan priest.  Pedersen decided to take action – he disseminated the information to various persons. 

Look at the consequence….

Bishop Fulton, then Bishop of St. Catharine’s, stripped Pedersen of his priestly faculties. 

The latter is the sole reason I am posting this right now. I think it may give a degree of understanding to the Pembroke Priests for Justice actions and current desire for anonymity. 

We would do well to meditate on the potential ramifications of being a clerical whistle-blower.   

Let’s keep these courgageous clergy in our prayers. 

Enough for now,

Sylvia

(cornwall@theinquiry.ca)

THE COVER LETTER (email):

Pembroke Priests for Justice, Truth & Integrity

To:

Cc:

Monsignor Robert Borne – Two Former Bishops of Pembroke

The attached document represents the sentiments of many good Catholic people and priests who have been betrayed by two former bishops: Archbishop Brendan O’Brien, Archbishop of Kingston and Archbishop Richard Smith, Archbishop of Edmonton. 

Both bishops are former bishops of Pembroke, Ontario Canada and had FULL and complete knowledge of the immoral and illegal behaviour of Monsignor Robert Borne and did nothing to protect the young.  It was only with the appointment of Bishop Michael Mulhall, Bishop of Pembroke, that Monsignor Borne was removed from his parish. 

Borne now faces criminal charges, slated to begin this fall in Pembroke. 

For obvious reasons, priests of the Diocese of Pembroke must remain anonymous in this communication in order to protect them in their present assignments and from the vindictive nature of those in episcopal authority. 

Future questions can be relayed to this email address.

___________________________

THE EMAIL LETTER TO THE ARCHBISHOPS:

A journey back in time. The following info re Father Leo Campbellcsb is taken verbatim fromImmaculate Conception Parish, Bridgeport, Nova Scotia, 1885-1985 (1985)

1974 

June 15

REV. LEO CAMPBELL, son of LEO CAMPBELL and CHRISTINA McLEOD, was ordained to the priesthood in our parish church by BISHOP WILLIAM E. POWER for the Congregation of St. Basil.

June 16

FATHER LEO CAMPBELL, C.S.B., celebrated his first Mass,  assisted by FATHER GEORGE MacLEAN, FATHER PAUL RYBICKI, C.S.B., FATHER PAUL BURNS, C.S.B. , FATHER ROBERT HOLMES, C.S.B., FATHER JAMES HANRAHAN, C.S.B., and FATHER RAYMOND KING. The. homily was delivered by Father Burns, and the Mass was sung by the senior choir, directed by STEVE McGILLIVARY. Acolytes were KEVIN WILLIAM’S, CHARLES WILLIAM CHRIS SMITH, and STEVE MURPHY. A testimonial dinner followed in the beautifully decorated auditorium. Father Leo has studied extensively in Canada and the U.S. with special interest in theology and philosophy. On February 1985, he was appointed Principal of St. Mary’s College, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, where he had been a member of the staff for four years, associated with the Department English and Theology.

I will incorporate this into the Father Leo Campbell csb page this evening.

****

I spent the bulk of the day today getting phone and software problems resolved.  The phone issues are partially resolved – a technician will come to the house tomorrow so that should take care of that.  The software problem is in limbo – I am awaiting a follow-up call (this relates to pdf software I purchased a month ago which I really need- it refuses to install – the technician couldn’t solve the problem either so he’s consulting with others.  Headaches (:)

Enough for now

Sylvia

(cornwall@theinquiry.ca)

A few new articles posted with quick comment on each:

(1) 24 August 2010: Catholicism’s culture of secrecy 

A good article by a parishioner at the Cathedral in St. Catharine’s – without doubt it’s difficult to a be a parishioner at the Cathedral, still wondering after all of these months why Bishop James Wingle just disappeared. And, as Prof. Sainsbury candidly observes, few at the Cathedral “could look forward to a sabbatical for personal renewal of the sort that their former bishop has granted himself.” 

(1) 23 August 2010:  Bishops ’should do time’ for sex abuse cover-ups 

Addressing the sex abuse scandal in Ireland a former Roman Catholic priest and canon lawyer says that nothing will change within the Church “until a bishop does jail time.”  I know nothing about Patrick J Wall, but I agree with him wholeheartedly.  I don’t believe we have “misprision of felony” in Canada, but I am sure we have something similar.

(3) 19 August 2010: 7 sue California diocese over alleged sex abuse 

It took six years to have this clerical predator laicized (defrocked).  And yet again the busy Jeff Anderson has files linking then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI, to the case.

(4) 24 August 2010:  Rival Catholic group launched ahead of UK papal visit

What can I say?  It’s going to be an absolute circus in the U.K. during the Holy Father’s visit.

Enough for now,

Sylvia

(cornwall@theinquiry.ca)