Student says he revealed abuse in confessional

Another former Saskatoon high school student who has come forward with an accusation of sexual assault against a Catholic priest says he reported the abuse to another priest during confession.

Bob Kloshinsky says he was sexually assaulted by serial pedophile Father Hodgson Marshall when he was a student at St. Paul’s High School in the early 1960s.

“I was a victim. The worst thing is the other priest knew and did nothing,” said Kloshinsky in a telephone interview this week from his home in British Columbia.

Saskatoon Roman Catholic Diocese Bishop Don Bolen said he was “deeply saddened” when told about Kloshinsky’s experience.

Bolen and two other theological advisers said the confidentiality of confession must be absolute, but there are other measures the priest should have taken.

Meanwhile, the first two Saskatoon men to come forward, Tim Ryan and Gary Mulligan, say they’ve given statements to police about Marshall and an investigation is underway. Marshall, now 89 years old, declined to comment for this story, said an Ontario corrections official.

Kloshinsky and the other victims learned in late May that Marshall had pleaded guilty to abusing 17 Ontario students both before and after his time at St. Paul’s. And they want everyone to know what he did in Saskatoon. Kloshinsky’s account of the abuse is similar to the experiences of the other Saskatoon victims.

Marshall summoned him to his basement office one afternoon where Kloshinsky noticed the one-way mirror on the wall that allowed Marshall to see into the boy’s change room and shower.

“He said he wanted to examine me. He told me to pull my pants down and started feeling my legs, talking about all the muscles,” Kloshinsky said.

Seconds later, Marshall began to fondle Kloshinsky’s genitals.

“He was my basketball coach. I wondered if there was some legitimate medical reason for what he was doing.”

Kloshinsky froze, petrified and in complete disbelief.

“I eventually said ‘That’s enough’ or something and asked if I could go. He let me go,” recounted Kloshinsky.

“That man is a daemon.” Shortly after, Kloshinsky said he revealed Marshall’s abuse to a priest in confession. The StarPhoenix is not naming the priest allegedly involved because he is deceased.

Kloshinsky was confused, ashamed and looking for help. Instead, the priest told him to “smarten up,” say 10 hail Mary prayers and go back to class. Nothing more was done. Marshall went on to victimize boys across Canada for the next 30 years.

Bolen and two other prominent Catholic theologians agree there are several measures the priest should have taken without violating the absolute confidentiality of the confession booth. The priest could have told Kloshinsky he did nothing wrong, encouraged the boy to repeat the information outside the confession booth so it could be reported, or offered to accompany the boy to make a police statement.

For people to feel safe, they need to know confession will provide an environment of “utter safety, security and privacy,” said Father Stefano Penna of Newman Theological College. However, in a case of a child revealing sexual abuse, Penna said, “The priest can (I think must) speak to the child about there being people with whom it would be safe to talk about this – a teacher, another member of the clergy or parish team, etc. – and hopefully get them to articulate a concrete plan that they can follow. The priest cannot insist that they do something … but a skilled confessor can certainly move a child along the way to approaching a safe intervener.”

Bolen said last week there is no record of any complaints against Marshall. Ryan, Kloshinsky and others say at least some of his fellow priests had to know.

“There were many fine teachers there, but they had to know something was not right. You had to be stupid not to know. A one-way mirror? Come on,” Kloshinsky said.

Kloshinsky, a distributor of office supplies, said there must be other St. Paul’s students “suffering in silence.” Seeing Ryan and Mulligan speak publicly gave him the courage to come forward as well.

“I’ve got a great life, a wonderful wife, but this has always been there,” he said.

“I’m finally able to let it go.”

According to a report Thursday in the U.S.-based National Catholic Register, Ireland’s prime minister and other top officials are backing legislation that would require priests to report pedophilia revelations made during confession. France is rumoured to be considering similar legislation, stated The Irish Catholic website.

As for the statements given to police by Ryan and Mulligan, Saskatoon police say it’s never too late to come forward.

Staff Sgt. Jean-Marc Voisard of Saskatoon Police Service personal violence section, said he couldn’t talk about any specific cases. However, many sexual assault or abuse victims wait long periods before reporting the crime. The majority, unfortunately, don’t ever report their abuser, he said.

“The one message I have is that it’s never too late to file a complaint or to get help,” he said.

There is no time limit for serious offences such as sexual assault, or indecent assault on a male as the offence was known at the time of the alleged offences in the early 1960s.

Voisard said the credibility of victims and the abuser are important factors, as is the number of similar allegations which can establish a pattern. He said victims of a serial offender may be empowered after hearing someone else come forward.

“There is strength in numbers,” Voisard said.

jwarick@thestarphoenix.com