Friday, July 22, 2016

HOW TO MISHANDLE SEX ABUSE ALLEGATIONS

Posted by Webster

It is unforgivable that the Church has to be shamed and legally forced into admitting wrongdoing. This was the fate that befell the Archdiocese of St. Paul/Minneapolis, and at the rate things are going in Guam, the Archdiocese of Agana is next. Archbishop Hon can avoid the same fate by doing the right thing. He has not. Read below:

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The Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis publicly admitted wrongdoing Wednesday for the way it handled sexual abuse allegations against a former priest, while prosecutors dropped criminal charges that alleged the archdiocese turned a blind eye to repeated misconduct by the defrocked cleric.

"I stand before you to say we have failed," said Archbishop Bernard Hebda.


"We pledge to move forward openly, collaboratively and humbly... always mindful of our past.  We will never forget," he said.

   
The admission was part of an agreement in a lawsuit that calls for Archbishop Bernard Hebda to personally participate in at least three and likely more restorative justice sessions with abuse victims. The archbishop took the unusual step of attending the Wednesday hearing where the agreement was announced.



Ramsey County prosecutors filed civil and criminal charges against the archdiocese last year. The six gross misdemeanor child endangerment charges against the archdiocese involved Curtis Wehmeyer, who is serving prison time for molesting two boys in Minnesota and a third in Wisconsin.

   
The civil case was settled in December under a plan that allowed for more oversight of the church. But attorneys for both sides used Wednesday's hearing on progress in the civil case to announce new steps aimed at reinforcing that agreement.
   
"The Archdiocese admits that it failed to adequately respond and prevent the sexual abuse" of the three victims, the archdiocese said in papers filed Wednesday. "The Archdiocese failed to keep the safety and wellbeing of these three children ahead of protecting the interests of Curtis Wehmeyer and the Archdiocese. The actions and omissions of the Archdiocese failed to prevent the abuse that resulted in the need for protection and services for these three children."



Then-Archbishop John Nienstedt resigned from his post 10 days after the criminal charges were filed in June 2015. Hebda, who took over an archdiocese in turmoil about a year ago, apologized for its failures at a news conference later Wednesday.

   
"Those children, their parents, their family, their parish and others were harmed. We are sorry. I am sorry," Hebda said.
   
Ramsey County Attorney John Choi said the victims' family appreciated the admission of wrongdoing. He said they supported the measures to strengthen the settlement and his decision to drop the criminal charges.
   
"They were moved and satisfied that justice had been done," the prosecutor said.
   
Choi also defended his decision not to file criminal charges against Nienstedt or other senior church officials for their handling of the Wehmeyer case. He said there wasn't enough evidence against any individual to get a conviction, though there was against the archdiocese. He said the protections under the settlement are stronger than anything the court could have ordered.


An attorney for victims of clergy abuse is accusing the Vatican of interfering in the investigation of a Minnesota archbishop.

Jeffrey Anderson made the claim in a case involving former archbishop John Nienstedt whose personal conduct was being examined in 2014 as the archdiocese was criticized for its handling of abuse allegations.           

Anderson cited a newly released 2014 memo from the Rev. Daniel Griffith, an archdiocese leader for ensuring a safe environment for children.           

In it, Griffith accused the Vatican's delegate in Washington, D.C., of ordering church leaders to wrap up the Nienstedt investigation without pursuing all leads. Griffith also accused the then-delegate, Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, of ordering leaders to destroy a letter in which they disagreed with him.

Attempts for comment from the office of the Vatican's delegate were not immediately successful. Griffith didn't immediately return messages.

Earlier Wednesday, prosecutors said they'll drop child endangerment charges against the archdiocese and the archdiocese said it'll admit it mishandled allegations.

The Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis response to release of documents:

The Ramsey County Attorney's Office and the St. Paul Police Department have fully and thoroughly investigated the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis and its leaders for 3 years.   They have reviewed each of the documents made public today and investigated the allegations raised in those documents.  

Today, Ramsey County Attorney John Choi told the public there is no basis to bring a criminal charge against any of those leaders.  He also dismissed all of the criminal charges against the Archdiocese. That dismissal is unconditional and speaks for itself.

Other changes announced Wednesday extend the court's oversight until February 2020. And the archdiocese named nationally recognized child welfare advocate Patty Wetterling to its Ministerial Review Board, which examines abuse claims involving priests.

Whistleblower Reacts

Jennifer Haselberger, who is the former top advisor to Archbishop John Nienstedt and the whistleblower on the case, released a statement Wednesday about the announcement. Read it here.


Legal Documents Released


With the closure of the criminal case, Choi's office released legal documents exchanged between the parties. See those items here.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

6 comments:

  1. Great post, Webster. Here's an interesting quote:

    "Anderson cited a newly released 2014 memo from the Rev. Daniel Griffith, an archdiocese leader for ensuring a safe environment for children.

    In it, Griffith accused the Vatican's delegate in Washington, D.C., of ordering church leaders to wrap up the Nienstedt investigation without pursuing all leads. Griffith also accused the then-delegate, Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, of ordering leaders to destroy a letter in which they disagreed with him."

    This is a good example of why we need Bill 326.

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    Replies
    1. I believe that Anthony Apuron was not only covering up his crimes, but covering up anything else bad that had happened in the archdiocese, before and during when he was the bishop.

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    2. I believe that Anthony Apuron was not only covering up his crimes, but covering up anything else bad that had happened in the archdiocese, before and during when he was the bishop.

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  2. Although Apuron "might" have been a victim himself when he was younger, does not give him a free pass to do what he had done to those children. Apuron needs to fess up, admit what he did, apologize to his victims and the People of Guam and then pray hard for forgiveness from God. This bill needs to be Law. If AB Salvio won't be the first to admit the archdiocese wrong doing, then this Law will compel him. Your choice AB Savio. The easy way out, or a more arduous way.

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  3. RK, this is a continuing example when evil men of the cloth, continue to use their position to cover up continued abuses. It is a sad state when priests are required to blindly follow orders even if it civilly and morally wrong. No transparency and accountability. I doubt even if they ask themselves "what would have Jesus done?" Victims first then justice and not doing damage control.

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  4. u.s. apostolic nuncio, vigano's, involvement is a big deal, because it shows that a high level vatican official had a hand in the cover-up. was he acting on orders from rome? it shows that the bishops all the way up the hierarchy still don't get it. and sadly for guam, it confirms again that we can't fully trust rome.

    pass the bill. bring on the lawsuits. prepare to hear the ugly truth that is Church corruption.

    ReplyDelete