February 14, 1993

Hot line available for abuse victims

People who believe they were sexually molested by priest can call the Worcester Diocese hot-line and talk directly to Bishop timothy J. Harrington or other diocesan officials.

The numbers are Bishop Harrington 751-6710: Auxiliary Bishop George Rueguer, 751-6712: Monsignor Lawrence A. Deery: Sister Paula Kelleher, 751-6752 751-6752: the Rev Rocco M. Piccolomini 796-5697: Monsignor Edmond T. Tinsley 751-6724 (days) or 802-4886 (nights and weekends) 

September 3, 1993

by Kathleen Shaw, Telegram and Gazette

A number of are priest have been questioned recently abut their sexual habits by representatives of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Worcester, according to tow layer representing some to the priest.

The Rev. Henry G. Bowen, a cannon lawyer and the pastor of St Charles Borromeo Church, said he has been contacted by several priest and has sent a letter to Bishop Timothy J. Harrington advising him of priests' rights under church law. The church gives priest the right to due process, Bowen said, and his intent was to remind he bishop of this right rather than to accuse the diocese of violating it.

John F. Murphy, a Worcester lawyer who represents one of the priest, said his client was questioned by James G. Reardon, a lawyer of the diocese, and at least one diocesan official. Murphy said his client told him h believed that 20 priest had been questioned in a similar fashion.

Reardon said yesterday he could neither deny nor confirm that such question took place. Diocesan official, including spokesperson John W. Barrett and Monsignor Edmond T. Tinsley. vicar general, did not immediately return telephone messages left for them last night.

NONE NAMED

Both Bowen and Murphy declined to name the priest they represented, but said no accusations of wrongdoing had been made. Murphy said he understood that at least three other priest had retained lawyer as a result to the questioning, which he describe as "open-ended".

Bowen confirmed that the questioning concerned sexual matters, bout could no be more specific. he practices law in the church courts, which are separate from the state or federal courts.

The questioning occurs at a time when the Worcester diocese and Harrington face several civil lawsuits by lay people who allege they were sexually abused by priest of the diocese, , none of whom is now in active ministry. Some of the allegations date back to the 1960's and 1970's. Reardon represents the dioceses in some of those lawsuits.

WEREN'T TOLD WHY

Murphy called the questioning an "inquisition "that has "taken on aspects of a witch hunt" He said the priests were told by Harrington to appear, but were not told why they were to be questioned.
"It amazes me and it shock me," he said.

The priests were asked a serious of personal questions that were impossible to answerer without knowledge of why they were being asked. Murphy said. He said the implications in some questions cornered whether there is" some type of loose association or network" involving sexual activity.
"My client doesn't have a clue why his name was included." Murphy said "if this is just a fishing expedition, it is the most awful abuse of have hears of."

October 16, 1992

Bishop pledges to protect children
Action vowed on abuse complaints

By Kathleen Shaw, Staff Reporter

Worcester-Bishop Timothy J. Harrington, whose diocese has had vow recent public scandals involving priest accused of sexually abusing children, said yesterday no “Priest child-abuser will be assigned to ministry in the Worcester Dioceses

He urged children who are victims of inappropriate behavior by a priest to tell their parents, relatives or an adult friend. Parents should bring the information to him or someone else at the administrative lever of the dioceses, he said.

“I assure all that we shall listen and act upon what we are told” he said. Each report of sexual abuse will be treated individually. “Our procedure will be personal and pastoral.,’ Harrington said. He pledged the diocese will do what it can “ona case-by-case basis.’

PROTECTOVE EVERY CHILD”

Harrington said that n cases where he has t choose between placing another child at risk and assigning a molester to priestly ministry “my choice shall be to protect every child.”

A Worcester County grand jury recently indicted the Rev. Joseph A. Fredette, 58, former director of the Come Alive Program, on charges that he sexually abused a boy in his care 19 years ago. Fredette, then a member of the Augustinians of the Assumption order, fled to Canada when Worcester police brought the charges. He eventually settled in New Brusnswick, where he founded a hermitage. Three other men, who also were a t Come Alive at the time, have said recently they were molested by Fredette

 The Rev. Ronald D. Provist, 53, recently pleaded not guilty in Superior Court to charges of soliciting a child to pose nude. He was pastor of St Joseph Church, Barre, but has been on leave fro several months at a psychological hospital for religious in Maryland.

 “Embarrassment has shrouded with silence the abuse of children by priest,” the bishop said. “Unfortunately, children remained silent for understandable reasons. They could not speak to their parent or family members about what had happened to them. Their fears immobilized them,” Harrington said.

DENIAL, SECRECY

“When a child may have spleen out, shame engendered denial or secrecy. Neither response can be defended. The harsh reality of the past can only be acknowledged,” he said

Harrington said he dies not know where there are more priests than other professional people involved in sexual misconduct with children. “ I am concerned if one priest abuses a child,” he said.

NO EXCUSE

“There is no excuse,” Harrington said. A culture that is open to this kind of abuse many be one possible explanation, But he added, “Abuse of children is a crime that must be condemned. The children who have been violated cry out for held. I cannot be denied to them.”

The bishop said children who are abused “stumble because of broken stairways. It is my obligation as bishop to repair those broken stairways.’

He pledged to work with a priest who abuses a child to “recognize his own brokenness, acknowledge his responsibilities for what has happened and seek the professional help he needs to turn his life around.” He will give such a priest support and hoe thought the pursuit of his recovery.”

Guideline issued by the national Counsel of Catholic Bishops is that church official should act even whether there is only a “hint” of sexual misconduct by a clergymen Church official are to follow” reporting obligation of the church law,” provide and extend pastor care to the victims and families and get offender into treatment.

Jason Berry, who won a Catholic Press Association award for earlier coverage of a Louisiana scandal involving a priest who molested children, said in his me book “lead us not into Temptation,” that at least 400 priest and religious brothers have been accused of abusing children in this country since 1982.