kmox.com
1/12/2011
5:05 pm
ST. LOUIS–(KMOX)–A Marianist priest who once taught at Chaminade – Father William Christensen — is accused of molesting boys connected to a charity where he worked in Bangladesh.
The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests today picketed outside the Central West End headquarters of the Marianists. SNAP is upset that a Vatican decision to defrock Christensen was not announced locally.
“Not once have Catholic officials anywhere in this country told people that he’s accused of molesting thirty kids in Bangladesh, and that he’s been formally defrocked by the Vatican,” Clohessy said.
SNAP wants local Catholic officials to apologize for their silence on the scandal.
“And they need to aggressively reach out to former students at McBride and Chaminade, any place where Father Christensen was, and get those people to come forward, if they were hurt and get help,” Clohessy said.
The Marianist released a statement confirming Christensen was defrocked by the Vatican in October of 2010, following “several accusations of sexual abuse” from Bangladesh.
Responding to allegations that it failed to alert the public, the Marianist statement says:
“When the accusations were deemed credible, the Papal Nuncio in Bangladesh informed all the dioceses in Bangladesh of this information. Because Christensen’s appeal of the laicization is under appeal by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, and he is living in Bangladesh, there is no final resolution to be reported.”
The statement goes on to say that “until the appeal is settled, he remains a priest and a member of the Society of Mary.”
In 2002, a former Chaminade student, Michael Powel, sued Christensen, alleging he molested him as a child. In 2007, Powell died of a brain tumor before the suit could be resolved.
Copyright KMOX
Comments
Helen McGonigle
January 12, 2011 11:36 pm
Michael Powel contacted the church officials in 2001 and early 2002 to inform them that Fr. William Christiansen had sexually abused him as a minor. He informed priests on the local level at his parish in St. Petersburgh Florida all the way to the top, by speaking with then Bishop Dolan who is now Cardinal Dolan of New York. Ironically Dolan has been choosen as member of the Apostolic Delegation to be a “fixer” of the horrendous problem of clergy abuse in Ireland. Michael Powel informed Wilton Gregory, who was then head of the US Catholic Conference of Bishops in 2002 as well. Meanwhile Christiansen was left to roam the world and re-offend in places like Bangladesh with the church heirarchy ignored the pleas of Michael Powel to have him removed from Bangladesh, defrocked and prosecuted. When will he be deported and sent here to face charges of traveling abroad for purposes of abusing children. Homeland Security, please investigate.
Judy Jones
January 13, 2011 12:58 am
Hopefully anyone who saw, suspected, or suffered crimes by William A. Christensen will come forward, get help, contact police, expose wrong-doers, protect kids and start to heal.
Keep in mind, your silence only hurts, but by speaking up there is a chance for healing, exposing the truth, and therefore protecting other kids.
We urge anyone who was injured by clergy to call police officials, not church officials. Child sex crimes, however old, should be investigated by the independent professionals in law enforcement, not the biased amateurs in church offices
Judy Jones, SNAP Midwest Associate Director, 636-433-2511
snapjudy@gmail.com
“Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests”
http://www.snapnetwork.org/
Rosaline Costa
January 13, 2011 12:59 am
William A. Christensen has sexually victimized more than 30 young men in Bangladesh since he came to Bangladesh in 1987. Now I am his victim for social cause and he wants to put a full stop in my life. Is it a Christian obligation to work for justice, peace and human rights or is it to support the injustice committed by some hierarchies such as William Christensen? Will he be released also this time from his criminal activities by using his financial influence and taking the advantage of the poor people of rural Bangladesh? Do we really love our Church and do we like to have a clean Church? If yes, then let us work together and support each other. Thanks SNAP and other medias which are playing a very courageous role.