Tran: Father Peter Hung Cong Tran OP

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Father Peter Hung Cong Tran. 2010. Roman Catholic Diocese of Calgary Alberta photo

Peter Hung Cong Tran

Father Peter Hung Cong Tran  O.P.

Father Peter Hung Tran O.P.

Father Peter Tran (this is NOT the Father Peter Tran who is Chancellor of Diocese of St. Paul, Alberta)

Priest with the Vietnamese Dominican Vicariate of St. Vincent Liem.  Date of ordination unknown.

Allegations of sex abuse of two sisters, a minor and adult.  The allegations date to between 1998 and 2003 when Father Tran was serving in Vancouver, British Columbia.  Suspended following allegations.

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06 October 2018:   Official statement of the  Calgary Diocese re Father Peter Hung Cong Tran 2018

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2016 – October 2018:  Pastor,  St. Francis of Assisi Roman Catholic Church, Calgary, Alberta (M)

2017:  listed as Pastor St. Francis of Assisi Roman Catholic Church, Calgary but not listed in directory index (CCCD)

2016:  “Joseph Duc Hau Tran”  – listed as Pastor,  St. Francis of Assisi Roman Catholic Church, Calgary but not listed in directory index, either as Joseph Duc Hau Tran or as Peter Hung Cong Tran and Peter Hung Tran listed as Pastor at Queen of Martyrs Roman Catholic Church, Edmonton, Alberta.  (It look as as through there is a Father Joseph Duc Hau Tran and a Father Peter Hung Tran – the entries in the CCCD must have been made prior to the transfer of Father Peter Hung Tran to Calgary?)

2007-2016:  Pastor, Queen of Martyrs Roman Catholic Church, Edmonton, Alberta (M)

2013:  listed as “Peter Hung Tran” – Pastor Queen of Martyrs Roman Catholic Church, Edmonton, Alberta, but not listed in directory index (CCCD)

2012, 2010:  listed as Peter Tran, Pastor, Queen of Martyrs Roman Catholic Church, Edmonton, Alberta, but not listed in directory index  (CCCD)

2003-2007:  Assisting, St. Vincent Liem Roman Catholic Church, Calgary, Alberta (M)

1998-2003:  Assisting, St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church, Vancouver, British Columbia (M)

2002:  Not listed in directory index.  Pastor at St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church listed as Father Father Nghi Dinh O.P. (CCCD)

1996-1998:  assisting at Ascension Roman Catholic Church, Calgary (M)

1997:  Not listed in directory index.  Pastor at Ascension Roman Catholic Church, Calgary listed as Father Dominic Pham Van Boa O.P. (CCCD)

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Calgary priest faces allegations of sexual misconduct; bishop outlines new abuse protocol

The Calgary Herald

Catholic bishop of Calgary, William McGrattan, speaks during a press conference on Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2018. Darren Makowichuk/Postmedia

As Calgary’s Catholic bishop outlined steps being taken to prevent sexual abuse Wednesday, officials said the diocese is facing allegations of sexual misconduct involving a Calgary priest.

According to the diocese, the allegations involving a minor and an adult stem from the priest’s time at a Vancouver parish. The priest has been suspended in Calgary as the investigation in Vancouver takes place.

Bishop William McGrattan said the allegations were announced in parishes in Vancouver, Edmonton and three in Calgary over the weekend.

The comments came during a news conference to discuss measures the diocese is taking to prevent sexual abuse, following up with a document released last week by the Conference of Canadian Catholic Bishops.

McGrattan said the diocese wants to embrace the new protocols in that document.

“The message that I want to say is what we, the Canadian bishops, have stated in this document: that this should never have occurred, and that we are profoundly sorry and apologize to the victims and the families who have experienced such trauma,” he said.

“I want to state categorically that I am committed to making sure that every child and every vulnerable adult is safe in our diocese.”

McGrattan said that commitment will call for a greater accountability and transparency.

“We need to move away from a culture of silence,” he said.

The bishop said the Calgary diocese will update its policies and make sure that the protection of minors and vulnerable adults is a priority.

Tim Boyle, the bishop’s delegate, said in addition to the current case, Calgary has seen one conviction of a priest in the diocese and is currently dealing with three historic cases involving priests who have died.

Boyle said the diocese has asked any members of the parishes where the suspended Calgary priest served who had any inappropriate encounters with him to come forward.

“Should anyone come forward, we have a very robust procedure of investigation and reporting,” Boyle said.

Bishopís Delegate Father. Timothy Boyle speaks during a press conference with panellists on Protecting Minors from Sexual Abuse at the Catholic Pastoral Centre in Calgary on Wednesday October 10, 2018. Darren Makowichuk/Postmedia

The alleged Vancouver incidents took place between 1998 and 2003.

“He asked one of the victims to sit on his lap,” said Chancellor Reverend Joseph Thoai Le of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vancouver on Wednesday.

“Because someone was sitting on your lap, maybe there was some holding or touching involved. That was the nature of the allegation on the part of the victim. She said it involved some kissing too.”

The second allegation came from a woman who said “he was holding onto her hand, and kissed her hand.”

He says the two women made the allegations individually.

“The second one actually didn’t come forward,” said Le. “I heard about her from the first one, and I contacted the second one and asked whether the allegation was true or not, and she told me it happened.”

The initial complaint came from a woman who thinks she was a minor.

“According to the victim she was a minor at that moment, but according to the priest maybe she was already 19 years old,” said Le. “So we are not able to find out yet whether the date was correct or not. This happened many years ago, so the recollection was a little bit vague.”

In spite of the allegations, Le said the police have not been contacted, so no charges have been filed.

“The victim is now an adult,” said Le. “She doesn’t want to pursue it. She had been advised of the right to go to the police, but she refused. Both of them (refused).”
Le said the women were offered counselling, but declined.

Postmedia Calgary has chosen not to identify the priest because he has not been criminally charged.

Patricia Jones, CEO of Catholic Family Service and chair of a sexual misconduct committee formed by the diocese, said a hotline was established in August, along with a campaign encouraging people to report misconduct and sex abuse.

Through the hotline, Jones said she has received “about two to three calls a week.”

“Many of these calls are from folks with historic cases of abuse — seniors who are trying to process the experience and just have a need to be heard,” she said.

Boyle said the average age of people who report alleged abuse to the church that they experienced as children is adults in their 50s.

“Just think about how long they’ve kept this wound concealed from everyone, and the damage that that buried wound has caused to them,” he said.

CEO, Catholic Family Service, Patricia Jones speaks during a press conference with panelists on Protecting Minors from Sexual Abuse at the Catholic Pastoral Centre in Calgary on Wednesday October 10, 2018. Darren Makowichuk/Postmedia

The first recommendation outlined in the 184-page national document released last week, titled “Protecting Minors from Sexual Abuse: A Call to the Catholic Faithful in Canada for Healing, Reconciliation, and Transformation,” is to ensure that victims coming forward for the first time are received in a “non-judgmental pastoral encounter where they are welcomed and commended for their courage.”

It also calls for bishops to be well-informed on the nature and effects of sexual abuse, to implement reporting mechanisms and ensure they are easy to understand, accessible and clearly publicized, to implement a clear process for responding to allegations in a timely manner, and to ensure all pastoral staff receive safe environment training, including how to recognize the signs of abuse.

The document also calls on bishops across the country to implement safe recruiting procedures for all pastoral staff and volunteers and adequate procedures for screening candidates for ministry.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Calgary stretches across Southern Alberta and includes 68 parishes.

— With files from John Mackie

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Catholic priest in Calgary accused of sexual misconduct

Fr. Peter Hung Cong Tran has been removed from duties at St. Francis of Assisi Church in the city’s downtown

Peter Hung Cong Tran served as the pastor at the St. Francis of Assisi Chuch in downtown Calgary from 2016 until his recent dismissal on allegations of sexual misconduct. (Google Maps)

A Catholic priest in Calgary has been accused of sexual misconduct stemming from his time in Vancouver.

Father Peter Hung Cong Tran served as pastor of St. Francis of Assisi church in downtown Calgary from 2016 until his recent dismissal. He was previously stationed as an associate pastor of the St. Vincent Liem Parish in Calgary from 2003 to 2007 and in the Ascension Parish in Calgary from 1996 to 1998.

Tran also served as pastor of Edmonton’s Queen of Martyrs Parish from 2007 to 2016 and associate pastor at St. Joseph’s Parish in Vancouver from 1998 to 2003.

Details on the allegations are not known at this time, but the Calgary diocese says there are allegations of misconduct toward a minor and an adult.

“This has come to us from Vancouver, where the alleged abuse took place; however, the priest was working in Calgary,” said Father Tim Boyle, the delegate to Calgary’s Bishop William McGrattan.

“He has been suspended from his work and that investigation is ongoing.”

McGrattan said parishes where Tran worked were informed of the allegations this past weekend.

“We were trying to be forthright and transparent to say these allegations were substantial and credible, but there’s still an investigation going on and we need to respect the victims who come forward, but also the due process is there so we don’t judge someone prematurely to be guilty,” he said.

Sexual abuse scandal

The revelation came as the Calgary diocese announced its commitment to a recent Canadian Bishops report on abuse in the midst of a global sexual abuse scandal that has shaken the Catholic Church.

“I want to state categorically that I am committed to making sure that every child and every vulnerable adult is safe in our diocese,” said McGrattan.

The bishop said the alleged victim has not contacted police, and neither the Calgary police nor the Vancouver police said they were investigating at this time.

Boyle said there has been one conviction of a priest in Calgary and that the diocese is dealing with three historic cases, all involving priests who have since died.

He said the church is eager to talk to anyone with information about inappropriate conduct on the part of Tran.

“Recently, we did extend an invitation to the parishes where he was serving to ask for anyone who had any encounters with him that were inappropriate or boundary violations, anything like that, to come forward,” he said.

“Should anyone come forward, we have a very robust procedure of investigation and reporting.”

Anyone with information regarding sexual misconduct on the part of Tran is urged to contact either the police, the chair of the sexual abuse and misconduct committee in Calgary at 1-833-547-8360, or Boyle at 403-330-5923.

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Former Vancouver pastor named in sexual misconduct case

CTV Vancouver
Published Wednesday, October 10, 2018 6:10PM PDT

Father Peter Hung Cong TranFather Peter Hung Cong Tran is shown in an undated image.

A man who spent five years as an associate pastor of a local Roman Catholic church has been named in a sexual misconduct case.

The allegations against Father Peter Hung Cong Tran, who worked at St. Joseph’s Parish in Vancouver from 1998 to 2003, involve two sisters from the city.

They say the abuse occurred when one of them was still a minor.

Speaking at a news conference Wednesday, the Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton said it had been informed of the allegations by the Archdiocese of Vancouver.

Tran has not been charged and the allegations have not been proven in court.

While Tran spent part of his career in Vancouver, he’s also worked as an associate pastor at Ascension and St. Vincent Liem parishes in Calgary, and at Edmonton’s Queen of Martyrs Parish.

He became the pastor at Calgary’s St. Francis of Assisi Parish in 2016, where he remained until recently. He’s since been suspended from his duties while the church investigates.

Officials say the information was announced during all weekend masses to parishioners at all his former churches.

The news comes a week after Canada’s Catholic bishops released new regulations they hope will prevent further sexual abuse within the Church.

A document titled “Protecting Minors from Sexual Abuse” outlines a new process to help clergy be more proactive.

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A Catholic priest who has worked in both Edmonton and Calgary has been removed from his duties in the wake of sexual misconduct claims against him by two individuals in Vancouver.

The allegations against Father Peter Hung Cong Tran stem from his time as associate pastor at St. Joseph Parish in Vancouver between 1998 and 2003, Edmonton Archbishop Richard Smith said Wednesday at a news conference.

Tran has not been charged with any crime and the allegations against him have not been proven in court.

“He asked one of the victims to sit on his lap,” said Chancellor Reverend Joseph Thoai Le of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vancouver on Wednesday. “Because someone was sitting on your lap, maybe there was some holding or touching involved. That was the nature of the allegation on the part of the victim. She said it involved some kissing too.”

The second allegation came from a woman who said “he was holding onto her hand, and kissed her hand.”

He says the two women made the allegations individually.

“The second one actually didn’t come forward,” said Le. “I heard about her from the first one, and I contacted the second one and asked whether the allegation was true or not, and she told me it happened.”

The initial complaint came from a woman who thinks she was a minor.

“According to the victim she was a minor at that moment, but according to the priest maybe she was already 19 years old,” said Le. “So we are not able to find out yet whether the date was correct or not. This happened many years ago, so the recollection was a little bit vague.”

In spite of the allegations, Le said the police have not been contacted, so no charges have been filed.

“The victim is now an adult,” said Le. “She doesn’t want to pursue it. She had been advised of the right to go to the police, but she refused. Both of them (refused).”

Le said the women were offered counselling, but declined.

“They even advocated for the man not to be punished further. Because of the closeness of the Vietnamese (community), maybe that is what they think. They don’t want the man to be punished further, other than being removed from his post.”

The allegations come in the wake of a statement in August by Vancouver Archbishop J. Michael Miller calling on anyone who knows of abuse to contact the church or law enforcement.

Congregations in Alberta were alerted to the allegations over the weekend, Smith said.

Tran is not to be confused with another Father Peter Tran, who is chancellor of Alberta’s Catholic Diocese of St. Paul, Smith said.

According to the Edmonton Archdiocese, the Tran facing allegations served as an associate pastor at Calgary’s Ascension Parish between 1996 and 1998 before moving to Vancouver from 1998 to 2003.

He returned to Calgary as associate pastor at St. Vincent Liem Parish between 2003 and 2007. He worked as pastor at Queen of Martyrs Parish in Edmonton between 2007 to 2016. He has been the pastor at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Calgary since 2016.

He is a priest of the Vietnamese Dominican Vicariate of St. Vincent Liem, a religious order, Smith said.

Tran has been withdrawn from the Calgary parish and prohibited from “exercising any priestly ministry in the Diocese of Calgary” by Calgary Bishop William McGrattan.

Postmedia is seeking comment from Tran.

With files from Juris Graney

4 Responses to Tran: Father Peter Hung Cong Tran OP

  1. Hoang Tran says:

    My family know father Hung, and regularly in contact with Vietmanes Dominican fathers. I don’t know anything about this aligation, but I think it not a crime. Father Hung asked not ordered the lady to sit on his lap. If that is a crime, then Santa Clausee will has went to Jail for a long time. And I think it even worse to kiss the foot than on the hand, so the Pope is in a lot more trouble for kissed the prisoner’s feet.

    • Michael says:

      Its a sad time we live in. Other pedo-priest ruining it for all other priests. I keep reading and rereading this over and over and I can’t seem to understand why this case needs to be publicly announced? I mean the victims didn’t want the police involved and not even counseling. Shouldn’t a simple warning be suffice for nowadays view of such a behavior? You made me think exactly the same. I mean my friends play with my kids and they come and sit on their lap and my friends also have kissed my child’s hands. Guess the only difference is I was there. This is a sign of affection in my view so would it be criminally charged? I mean to me something is off.

  2. Nguyen says:

    The victims asked for him to be “removed” because they deemed the fact that he had overstepped his boundary as a priest/teacher/moral authority; moreover, they wanted to stop a possible re-occurence in the future. Stop defending him b/c you are so desperately believed/friended/associated with him. Wake up! he had committed a “SIN.” Get it? Hoang Tran, your friendship with him refused to unveil the fact of his sin. Do not make a mistake of polluting the fact with anecdotal evidence. Your logic betrayed the fact of your ignorance and unsympathetic attitude toward victims of Catholicism and its hypocrisy.

    • Hoang Tran says:

      Thanks Nguyen for your insite and respond my comment. Your definition of sexual harassment is broader than mine, which narrow to unwanted body fluid exchange or groping of private parts. As I’m OK with butt slapping among friends. The Church teach us only God is good, and we’re all sinners whom need to repent, so calling Catholicism hypocrisy is incorrect.

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