Jean-Paul Gagnon

June 3, 2004

Priest agrees to settle abuse suit

By Sara Withee / News Staff Writer

MILLVILLE -- The Rev. Jean-Paul Gagnon, now on administrative leave from St. Augustine Parish, has agreed to settle a civil lawsuit alleging he sexually abused a Worcester teenager in the 1980s, attorneys involved in the case said yesterday.

Gagnon and the Rev. Raymond Tremblay, another defendant in the case, reached an agreement last Thursday with the plaintiffs, Timothy Staney of Worcester and his parents, Joseph C. and Corinne L. Staney, attorneys said.

Judge Jeffrey A. Locke still must accept the deal, which was filed in Worcester Superior Court last Friday and seeks to dismiss the case against Gagnon and Tremblay, but not the Roman Catholic bishop of Worcester.

The deal calls for the case against Gagnon and Tremblay to be dismissed with prejudice, meaning it cannot be refiled, and for the priests to pay Staney an undisclosed "nominal" sum, the attorneys said.

 The agreement was reached Thursday at the Stoneham law office of Joanne Goulka, counsel for the Roman Catholic bishop, as Gagnon and Tremblay's attorneys were to start deposing Staney. Goulka completed her deposition of Staney earlier that day, according to the attorneys.

 Attorney Edward P. Ryan Jr. of Fitchburg, Gagnon's counsel, proposed the settlement before the deposition, both sides said. But Ryan and Staney's attorney, Daniel Shea of Houston, Texas, disagree about who initially raised a possible deal several months ago, each saying it was the other.

 Shea said his client was pleased to avoid several hours of questioning.

 "He felt greatly relieved," Shea said. "The depositions in these cases are extremely difficult for the victim."

Shea and Ryan both refused to say how much Gagnon and Tremblay will pay Staney. Shea, however, said his client settled because they believe Gagnon and Tremblay do not have much more money to contribute to a settlement offer and because the Worcester Diocese should bear more of the blame. Some of the priests accused of sexual abuse displayed signs early in their training they were not suited to the lifestyle, Shea said.

 "We've learned a whole lot in the last year-and-a-half, since September 2002," Shea said. "There's a certain sense that Gagnon and Tremblay are victims of this church, certainly to a lesser degree, but also victims of the same institution's abuse and negligence."

Ryan said his client is innocent and settled mostly because he would have paid more in attorney fees if the deposition went forward.

Father Gagnon has maintained his innocence since the beginning of the lawsuit and continues to do so and is most certainly not a victim of anything other than a false allegation," Ryan said.

The Staneys filed their lawsuit in September 2002, alleging the two priests abused him while they were assigned to the Holy Name of Jesus Church in Worcester. Staney's complaint accused Gagnon of molesting him at the church, at Staney's family home in Worcester and Gagnon's summer camp in Brimfield.

Gagnon took a personal leave from Millville's St. Augustine's Parish after Staney filed the lawsuit. The Worcester Diocese changed his absence to an administrative leave in the summer of 2003 following an internal investigation.

  Last month, District Attorney John Conte charged him with indecent assault and battery on a person over 14 and assault and battery.

 Gagnon pleaded not guilty to both charges, which involve two separate victims, including one adult male parishioner from St. Augustine's. He is due back in Uxbridge District Court June 30.

June 3, 2004

Lawsuit settled involving priest

Kathleen A. Shaw, T&G STAFF

WORCESTER- Timothy P. Staney, formerly of Worcester and now of Wesley Chapel, Fla., has partially settled his lawsuit alleging sexual abuse by the Rev. Jean-Paul Gagnon and Raymond Tremblay, a former religious education teacher.

Mention of the settlement was recorded Friday in Worcester Superior Court, but the actual settlement papers are not filed with the court.

The lawyers involved would not discuss terms of settlement, but no paperwork filed with the court shows there was admission of guilt by Rev. Gagnon or Mr. Tremblay, or if any payment had been made.

The Diocese of Worcester, also named in the suit, was not dismissed and litigation will proceed against the diocese.

Mr. Staney and his parents, Joseph C. and Corinne Staney of Spencer, were represented by Daniel J. Shea of Houston. Mr. Tremblay was represented by James J. Gribouski of Worcester. Rev. Gagnon was represented by Edward P. Ryan Jr. of Fitchburg.

Agreement was made to dismiss the suit with prejudice, meaning Mr. Staney and his parents cannot bring further action against Rev. Gagnon and Mr. Tremblay, but the settlement does not dismiss that part of the suit that names the Worcester Diocese. Mr. Tremblay agreed to dismiss his counterclaim against the Staneys.

Mr. Ryan said his client has repeatedly said he was innocent and never caused harm to Mr. Staney.

"Father Gagnon is pleased with the outcome of this case and looks forward to complete vindication in any other matters," he said.

Mr. Shea said his clients, the Staneys, were willing to settle because they came to believe that Rev. Gagnon and Mr. Tremblay "are to a lesser extent victims of an abusive and arrogant church structure."

"The suit against the diocese will go forward," he said. Mr. Shea said civil lawsuits generally are settled with no admission of guilt or innocence.

Mr. Gribouski said the court actions "speak for themselves."

Rev. Gagnon will be back in Uxbridge District Court June 30 for a pretrial conference on one charge of indecent assault and battery on a person older than 14 that was brought by District Attorney John J. Conte. This criminal charge has no connection to Mr. Staney.

The motion for entry of separate and final judgment entered with the court and signed by the lawyers states the Staneys had "settled their claims" with Rev. Gagnon and Mr. Tremblay and the settlement ends all claims the Staneys have against the defendants. Court records show that Mr. Staney, Mr. Tremblay and Rev. Gagnon agreed to the settlement. Records also show that Mr. Tremblay and Rev. Gagnon have been dismissed from the suit.

According to court records, Mr. Staney said he was sexually abused by Mr. Tremblay, a former religious education teacher at Holy Name of Jesus parish, starting in 1980 when he was 10. His suit also said he revealed the abuse in 1984 during a private sacramental confession to Rev. Gagnon, who then abused Mr. Staney from age 14 to 17.

Gagnon taken out of Parish

Joseph Fitzgerald

MILLVILLE -- In a move he says was made to remove the "spiritual burden" on the St. Augustine Parish community, Bishop Daniel P. Reilly Thursday announced that the Rev. Jean-Paul Gagnon has been placed on administrative leave and will no longer minister in the Diocese of Worcester.

"Father Gagnon will not be engaging in any public ministry in this diocese or elsewhere," Reilly said in a statement issued Thursday. "In keeping with our policy, we have cooperated fully with the district attorney’s office in its investigation of the allegations made against him (Gagnon) dating to the mid 1980s."

Gagnon, St. Augustine’s parish priest for seven years, was on a personal leave since last fall in the wake of a lawsuit filed by a Worcester man who accused Gagnon of sexual abuse.

Timothy Staney’s civil suit against Gagnon also names the Diocese of Worcester and religious educator Richard Tremblay as defendants. Staney alleges that the abuse began at Worcester’s Holy Name of Jesus parish in 1980, when he was 10, and lasted until he was 17. The abuse began with Tremblay and later continued with Gagnon, who were both working at the Holy Name of Jesus parish at the time, according to the suit.

Gagnon, Tremblay and the diocese have all denied Staney’s allegations.

Last month, Gagnon lost a court battle when Worcester Superior Court Justice Jeffrey A. Locke ordered that parts of a 10-page psychological evaluation of the priest be made part of the case file in Staney’s civil suit.

Diocese spokesman Ray Delisle said by having Gagnon placed on administrative leave he is effectively "out of the parish."

"By Canon law he’s still the pastor of the parish, but he will have no responsibilities or faculties to be acting as a priest there or anywhere else in the diocese," he said.

The decision to place Gagnon on administrative leave was made by Reilly based on a recommendation by the Diocesan Review Committee, formerly called the Pastoral Care Committee, which is investigating the Gagnon case.

"The bishop is the only one who has the canonical authority to make the decision. The committee and bishop both agreed this makes sense," Delisle said.

In his statement, Reilly said the decision to change the status from personal leave to administrative leave came during the course of the ongoing investigation by the Diocesan Review Committee.

"It’s part of the natural course of the investigation," Gagnon said. "The personal leave was a joint decision, but with the administrative leave this makes it a more definitive break. He (Gagnon) has to deal with defending himself and until that is resolved he is on administrative leave. This decision also leaves the way clear for the parishioners of St. Augustine to go on."

At present, the parish is being administered to by Deacon William Lucier and Rev. Robert Loftus is providing ministry to the parish community.

Delisle said Reilly will be sharing Thursday’s statement regarding Gagnon’s administrative leave with the parish this weekend.

Reilly has been meeting with the parish leadership and the staff of the Office for Healing and Prevention and has also met with parishioners to offer assistance and support.

In his statement, Reilly asked for "prayers and support for all involved in this matter and their families."

"In charity, I also ask for your prayers for Father Gagnon and his family during this time," Gagnon said. "My prayers and encouragement are with all members of our diocesan family during these difficult times. We will continue our pledge of commitment to work towards the protection and wellbeing of children in our care."

Parishioners Margaret M. Carroll and Lois Salome, who have mobilized parishioners during the crisis an effort to focus on St. Augustine’s future, reserved comment on the news until the parish is officially notified by the diocese.

May 18, 2004

Former Millville pastor is arraigned

Kathleen A. Shaw, T&G STAFF

UXBRIDGE- The Rev. Jean-Paul Gagnon, former pastor of St. Augustine parish in Millville, was arraigned yesterday in District Court on one charge of indecent assault and battery on a person over 14.

Rev. Gagnon pleaded not guilty and Judge Austin T. Philbin continued his case until June 30, releasing him on personal recognizance.

According to District Attorney John J. Conte, the alleged incident occurred Oct. 11, 2002, in Sutton. The victim, who is an adult, has not been named, but the district attorney said he was active in St. Augustine parish. The incident on which the charge is based occurred while Rev. Gagnon was assigned to that parish.

The allegation was investigated by state police attached to Mr. Conte's office and they brought the charge.

Rev. Gagnon has been placed on administrative leave by the Diocese of Worcester and cannot serve as a priest.

A number of people from the parish, some praying with rosary beads, packed the courtroom for the arraignment. Some said they were there to support the priest while others were there as interested observers from the parish.

Rev. Gagnon was represented by Edward P. Ryan Jr. of Fitchburg. Mr. Ryan is also representing Rev. Gagnon in a civil suit pending in Worcester Superior Court alleging he sexually abused Timothy P. Staney, formerly of Worcester and now a Florida resident, when Mr. Staney was a minor.

May 18, 2004

Priest pleads not guilty to sex assault

By Sara Withee / News Staff Writer

UXBRIDGE -- Flanked by supporters holding rosary beads, a Millville priest yesterday answered an allegation he sexually assaulted a male parishioner and a new charge of assaulting a second person.

The Rev. Jean-Paul Gagnon, on leave from St. Augustine's Parish, gripped a Bible in Uxbridge District Court yesterday as he pleaded not guilty to indecent assault and battery on a person over 14 and assault and battery.

Worcester County District Attorney John Conte last month announced that Gagnon would be charged with sexually assaulting a male St. Augustine's parishioner in Sutton on or about Oct. 11, 2002.

In early April, Conte told the Daily News his office had closed its investigation of Gagnon after filing the indecent assault charge.

The straight assault and battery charge that emerged during yesterday's arraignment involved a second victim, Conte spokesman Elizabeth Stammo said in an interview. She said the victim came forward in April, but could not provide any additional details.

 The Worcester Diocese placed Gagnon on leave from St. Augustine's Parish last July after an investigation. The Rev. Maurice Gilbert was brought in December, ending months of uncertainty at the parish.

 Gagnon had been on personal leave since October 2002, a month after Worcester resident Timothy Staney filed a civil lawsuit alleging the priest abused him at Worcester's Holy Name of Jesus Parish in the 1980s from the time he was 10 to 17.

In April, Conte told the Daily News his office did not plan to charge Gagnon in connection with Staney's allegations.

Gagnon, who is staying in Webster, was released on personal recognizance yesterday by Judge Austin T. Philbin. He was ordered to avoid contact with the alleged victims and return to court June 30.

He and his attorney Edward P. Ryan Jr. left the courthouse quickly after his arraignment and his supporters declined comment.

Friday, April 2, 2004

Ex-Millville pastor faces assault charge

Allegation follows abuse civil suit

Kathleen A. Shaw,T&G STAFF

WORCESTER- The Rev. Jean-Paul Gagnon has been charged with indecent assault and battery on a person over age 14 at a time when he was pastor of St. Augustine parish in Millville.

According to a statement from the office of District Attorney John J. Conte, the offense occurred in Sutton on Oct. 11, 2002. The accuser, who has not been named publicly, was described as a man who was active in the Millville parish.

The criminal charge was issued through Uxbridge District Court. Rev. Gagnon is scheduled to be arraigned there on May 17.

Mr. Conte said the allegation against Rev. Gagnon was investigated by the state police detectives unit assigned to his office.

Rev. Gagnon took personal leave in October 2002 after Timothy P. Staney of Worcester, and his parents, Corrine and Joseph Staney of Spencer, filed a civil suit against him.

The suit alleges that Rev. Gagnon sexually abused Timothy Staney while he was serving at Holy Name of Jesus parish in Worcester. Rev. Gagnon has denied all the allegations.

He remained pastor in Millville until last July, when Bishop Daniel P. Reilly put him on administrative leave so he could appoint a permanent pastor there to serve the parishioners. The bishop's action came after an investigation by the diocesan review board.

In another development, Brother Louis Laperle, 76, of Pascoag, R.I., was acquitted last week in Fitchburg District Court of charges that he assaulted a student when he was principal of Notre Dame High School in 1968. He is now retired.

Brother Laperle was charged with three misdemeanor charges of assault and battery and was found not guilty on all charges, according to Elizabeth Stammo, spokeswoman for Mr. Conte.

Mr. Conte said at the time Brother Laperle was charged the accusation involved indecent assault and battery, but that charge did not exist in 1968 when the alleged incidents happened, so he could only be charged with assault and battery. The accuser, who has not been named publicly, is a 52-year-old Lunenburg resident.

April 2, 2004

Former Notre Dame principal cleared

Kathleen A. Shaw, T&G STAFF,

FITCHBURG- A former principal of Notre Dame High School has been acquitted of charges that he assaulted a student in 1968.

Brother Louis Laperle, 76, of Pascoag, R.I., was cleared last week in Fitchburg District Court of charges that he assaulted a student between Jan. 1 and June 30, 1968, when he was principal. He is now retired.

Brother Laperle was charged with three misdemeanor charges of assault and battery and was found not guilty on all charges, according to Elizabeth Stammo, spokeswoman for Mr. Conte.

Mr. Conte said last year, at the time Brother Laperle was charged, that the accusation involved indecent assault and battery, but that charge did not exist in 1968 when the alleged incidents happened, so he could only be charged with assault and battery.

The accuser, who has not been named publicly, is a 52-year-old Lunenburg resident. State police reports said the man left the school because of the alleged abuse.

In another development, the Rev. Jean-Paul Gagnon has been charged with indecent assault and battery on a person over age 14 at a time when he was pastor of St. Augustine parish in Millville.

According to a statement from the office of District Attorney John J. Conte, the offense occurred in Sutton on Oct. 11, 2002. The accuser, who has not been named publicly, was described as a man who was active in the Millville parish.

The criminal charge was issued through Uxbridge District Court. Rev. Gagnon is scheduled to be arraigned there on May 17.

Mr. Conte said the allegation against Rev. Gagnon was investigated by the state police detectives unit assigned to his office.

Rev. Gagnon took personal leave in October 2002 after Timothy P. Staney of Worcester, and his parents, Corrine and Joseph Staney of Spencer, filed a civil suit against him.

The suit alleges that Rev. Gagnon sexually abused Timothy Staney while he was serving at Holy Name of Jesus parish in Worcester. Rev. Gagnon has denied all the allegations.

He remained pastor in Millville until last July, when Bishop Daniel P. Reilly put him on administrative leave so he could appoint a permanent pastor there to serve the parishioners. The bishop's action came after an investigation by the diocesan review board.

January 15, 2003

Lawyer must pay defendants' legal cost

By Gary V. Murray,

WORCESTER - The lawyer for a Worcester man who alleges he was sexually abused by a religious education teacher and a Roman Catholic priest has been ordered to pay more than $2,000 in legal fees and costs to the lawyers for two of the defendants in the civil lawsuit.

Superior Court Judge John P. Connor Jr. issued a judgment last week in Worcester Superior Court requiring lawyer Daniel J. Shea of Houston to pay $1,054 within 60 days to lawyer Edward P. Ryan Jr., who represents the Rev. Jean Paul Gagnon in the case. Judge Connor issued a similar judgment last month ordering Mr. Shea to pay $1,050 within the same period of time to lawyer Joanne L. Goulka, who represents the Worcester Diocese.

The payments were ordered to reimburse the two lawyers for fees and costs incurred as a result of a scheduled deposition in the case that Mr. Shea's client, Timothy P. Staney, failed to attend.

Mr. Staney alleged in a lawsuit filed in 2002 in Worcester Superior Court that he was sexually abused as a child and teenager by Raymond Tremblay, a religious education teacher at Holy Name of Jesus parish, and later by Rev. Gagnon, who was associate pastor of the church.

Mr. Tremblay and Rev. Gagnon have denied the allegations and Mr. Tremblay has filed a counterclaim for defamation.

Mr. Shea had filed a motion asking that Mr. Ryan be prohibited from taking part in depositions in connection with the lawsuit. He alleged that Mr. Ryan's behavior at a Sept. 11 deposition of Mr. Staney's father, Joseph C. Staney, was "unprofessional."

In her written response to the motion, Ms. Goulka said Mr. Ryan's questioning of the elder Staney was "no more than skilled and incisive cross-examination." Mr. Ryan and Ms. Goulka opposed the motion and asked that they be reimbursed for costs and fees incurred as a result of Mr. Shea's decision not to have Timothy Staney attend a scheduled Sept. 15 deposition.

The lawyers submitted affidavits outlining fees and costs incurred, including travel, time spent in preparation for the canceled deposition and the cost of a court reporter.

On Sept. 18, Superior Court Judge Leila R. Kern denied Mr. Shea's motion and ordered that unspecified costs and legal fees be paid to Mr. Ryan and Ms. Goulka.

Judge Connor then entered judgments detailing the specific amounts to be paid by Mr. Shea.

September 26, 2003

Judge denies request

Plaintiff to pay in abuse case Sex abuse plaintiff must pay defendants' lawyers

Gary V. Murray, TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

WORCESTER- A judge has denied a Houston lawyer's request that a lawyer for a priest accused in a civil lawsuit of sexual abuse be prohibited from taking part in depositions in the case.

Superior Court Judge Leila R. Kern has also ordered the plaintiff in the case, Timothy P. Staney, to pay costs and legal fees related to his failure to appear at a scheduled deposition last week and his lawyer's request for a protective order.

Mr. Staney, a Worcester resident, alleges in a lawsuit filed last year in Worcester Superior Court that he was sexually abused as a child and teenager by Raymond Tremblay, a religious education teacher at Holy Name of Jesus parish, and later by the Rev. Jean Paul Gagnon, who was associate pastor there.

Mr. Tremblay and Rev. Gagnon have denied the allegations.

Mr. Staney's lawyer, Daniel J. Shea of Houston, filed an emergency motion for a protective order on Sept. 12 asking that lawyer Edward P. Ryan Jr., who represents Rev. Gagnon, be barred from participating in depositions in the case or that depositions involving Mr. Ryan be conducted under direct court supervision.

Mr. Shea alleged that Mr. Ryan's conduct at a Sept. 11 deposition of Mr. Staney's father, Joseph C. Staney, was "outrageous" and "unprofessional." He also noted that Timothy Staney is under the care of a psychologist and psychiatrist.

In their written opposition to Mr. Shea's motion, Mr. Ryan and Joanne L. Goulka, the lawyer for the Worcester Diocese, asked that they be reimbursed for costs and fees incurred as a result of Mr. Shea's decision not to have Timothy Staney appear at a scheduled Sept. 15 deposition and the lawyer's motion for a protective order.

Ms. Goulka requested $750, and Mr. Ryan sought the sum of $620.

In her written opposition, Ms. Goulka said Mr. Ryan's questioning of Joseph Staney was "not abusive or unwarranted" and was "no more than skilled and incisive cross-examination... ."

In denying Mr. Shea's motion on Sept. 18, Judge Kern ordered the payment of unspecified "costs and fees to each counsel for defendants."

Speaking from his office yesterday, Mr. Ryan said, "It's quite clear from the judge's ruling that Mr. Shea acted improperly when he refused to attend and present Mr. Timothy Staney for his deposition. It's also quite clear from the judge's denial of his motion for a protective order that he failed to establish credible and factual support for the allegations that he made in the context of his motion and otherwise in various public comments.

"I just want to make note of the fact that the court took the further step of sanctioning him by requiring him to pay legal fees both to Attorney Goulka and myself.

"I feel badly for Father Gagnon, who has denied these accusations from the beginning and who has steadfastly maintained they are frivolous and false, and I just note in passing that Mr. Tremblay has filed a counterclaim for defamation, and a separate lawsuit by Father Gagnon against Mr. Staney is something that's being contemplated," Mr. Ryan said.

December 5, 2003

Lawyers told to watch tone

Ryan represents accused priest

WORCESTER- Superior Court Judge John P. Connor Wednesday told all counsel involved in a contentious civil lawsuit involving allegations of sexual abuse by a priest to speak in a normal tone during depositions in the case.

Judge Connor initially directed his remarks at lawyer Edward P. Ryan, who represents the accused priest, then expanded them to include all lawyers in the case.

In September, Judge Leila R. Kern denied Houston lawyer Daniel J. Shea's request that Mr. Ryan be prohibited from taking part in depositions in the case.

Timothy P. Staney of Worcester alleges in a lawsuit filed last year in Worcester Superior Court that he was sexually abused as a child and teenager by Raymond Tremblay, a religious education teacher at Holy Name of Jesus parish, and later by the Rev. Jean Paul Gagnon, who was associate pastor there.

Mr. Tremblay and Rev. Gagnon have denied the allegations.

Mr. Shea filed an emergency motion for a protective order on Sept. 12 asking that Mr. Ryan, who represents Rev. Gagnon, be barred from participating in depositions in the case or that depositions involving Mr. Ryan be conducted under direct court supervision.

Mr. Shea alleged that Mr. Ryan's conduct at a Sept. 11 deposition of Mr. Staney's father, Joseph C. Staney, was outrageous and unprofessional. He also noted that Timothy Staney is under the care of a psychologist and psychiatrist.

Joanne L. Goulka, lawyer for the Worcester Diocese, said Mr. Ryan's questioning of Joseph Staney was "not abusive or unwarranted" and was "no more than skilled and incisive cross-examination."

In their written opposition to Mr. Shea's motion, Mr. Ryan and Ms. Goulka asked that they be reimbursed for costs and fees incurred as a result of Mr. Shea's decision not to have Timothy Staney appear at a scheduled Sept. 15 deposition and his lawyer's request for a protective order.

Judge Kern ordered Mr. Staney to pay costs and legal fees related to his failure to appear.

Mr. Tremblay has filed a counterclaim for defamation. Mr. Ryan has said a separate lawsuit by Rev. Gagnon against Mr. Staney is being contemplated.

July 18, 2003

Priest removed from duties

Kathleen A. Shaw, TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

WORCESTER- Bishop Daniel P. Reilly has removed the Rev. Jean-Paul Gagnon from his pastorate at St. Augustine parish in Millville and placed him on administrative leave.

This is the eighth priest Bishop Reilly has removed and placed on leave since allegations of sexual abuse involving priests in the Worcester Diocese began surfacing last year. Five of those pastors recently tendered their resignations so the bishop could appoint permanent replacements.

Rev. Gagnon had been on personal leave since October when a civil suit was filed against him alleging that he sexually abused Timothy P. Staney of Worcester. Rev. Gagnon has denied the allegations in court documents filed with Worcester Superior Court.

Rev. Gagnon's status was changed by the bishop Wednesday. He said he did not want the parish to be ""spiritually burdened." He recently assigned the Rev. Robert A. Loftus to give priestly assistance to the parish and Deacon William J. Lucier was appointed temporary parish administrator.

The bishop said the change in status "came in the course of the ongoing investigation" by the Diocesan Review Committee and the bishop's office.

"Father Gagnon will not be engaging in any public ministry in this diocese or elsewhere. In keeping with our policy, we have cooperated fully with the district attorney's office in their investigation of the allegation made against him dating to the mid-1980s," the bishop said.

Bishop Reilly said he has been meeting with parish leadership and staff of the Office for Healing and Prevention and has met with parishioners to offer assistance and support. He officiated at a Holy Thursday service there in April.

"I ask for your prayers and support for all involved in this matter and their families. Please pray for the parishioners of St. Augustine parish, whom Father Gagnon has served since 1996. In charity, I also ask for your prayers for Father Gagnon and his family during this time," the bishop said.

"It's way overdue," Mr. Staney said yesterday. Mr. Staney said he believes placing Rev. Gagnon on leave "speaks to my credibility.

"Even before my case came on the horizon, there was ample information dating back many, many years which should have justified this action," he said. Mr. Staney alleged in his lawsuit that he was first sexually abused by Raymond Tremblay, a religious education teacher at Holy Name of Jesus parish, Worcester, starting at age 9 and then was abused by Rev. Gagnon after he revealed the abuse to him during confession, which is a sacrament of the Catholic Church.

Bishop Reilly beginning last year placed on leave the Rev. John J. Bagley of St. Mary, North Grafton; the Rev. Raymond P. Messier of St. Francis of Assisi, Athol, and St. Peter, Petersham; the Rev. Chester J. Devlin of St. Bernadette, Northboro; the Rev. Gerald P. Walsh of St. Roch, Oxford; the Rev. Joseph A. Coonan of St. John Worcester; the Rev. Peter J. Inzerillo of St. Leo, Leominster; and the Rev. Lee F. Bartlett of Sacred Heart, Worcester. All but Rev. Inzerillo and Rev. Coonan have resigned their pastorates.

Rev. Inzerillo, who was an associate pastor, had already resigned as pastor and Rev. Coonan's alleged offenses occurred before he was ordained and, while he is still on leave, he has not resigned.

June 13, 2003

Release of priest's records ordered

Accuser can see parts of evaluation Judge allows records release

Kathleen A. Shaw,TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

WORCESTER- Worcester Superior Court Judge Jeffrey A. Locke has ordered that at least a portion of the psychological records of the Rev. Jean-Paul Gagnon be opened to the man who is suing him for alleged sexual abuse when the man was a teenager.

An assessment done at the now-defunct House of Affirmation in Whitinsville will be turned over to Timothy P. Staney of Worcester and his lawyer.

Judge Locke ruled last week that Rev. Gagnon forfeited his right to privacy when he signed a release authorizing that the assessment be given to the Worcester Catholic Diocese and placed in his personnel file. The judge ruled Mr. Staney can have material that is relevant to his case, but is not entitled to the whole report.

Mr. Staney alleges in his lawsuit that he was sexually abused by Rev. Gagnon from 1984 to 1987, beginning when he was 14 years old at Holy Name of Jesus parish. Rev. Gagnon is now on personal leave from his pastorate at St. Augustine parish, Millville.

Edward P. Ryan Jr. of Fitchburg, lawyer for Rev. Gagnon, said that Rev. Gagnon maintains he is innocent of all the charges brought in the suit and that the events described by Mr. Staney never occurred.

The assessment has several references to Rev. Gagnon's psychosexual development that are relevant to the suit because they were noted in 1981, "four years before the sexual activities began as alleged in the complaint and resulted in a recommendation for further counseling," the judge said. The record also contained no indication that such counseling occurred between 1981 and 1984.

Judge Locke also said Rev. Gagnon had reasonable expectation that contents of that assessment would remain confidential.

Mr. Ryan sought to have all treatment records shielded from review by Mr. Staney.

Judge Locke said the issue arose when Mr. Staney sought Rev. Gagnon's personnel records from the Worcester Catholic Diocese. "In response, the bishop agreed to produce Gagnon's personnel file, including any psychological or treatment records (subject to a confidentiality agreement between the parties)," the judge said.

Mr. Ryan filed an instant motion on April 25 for a protective order on the records, asserting that the treatment records of Rev. Gagnon were protected by patient-psychotherapist privilege "and therefore nondiscoverable." A hearing was held in Worcester Superior Court and the judge ordered that the records in question be produced for his inspection.

Rev. Gagnon on May 19 submitted a 10-page report called "Psychotheological Candidate Testing Report" done Aug. 20, 1981, and prepared by the House of Affirmation. The judge said the reason for the evaluation in Whitinsville was to assess him for diocesan priesthood.

Mr. Staney said he was pleased with the judge's decision and called it a victory for himself and other victims of clergy sexual abuse.

June 12, 2003

Priest loses court battle

Jeff Haynes

MILLVILLE -- The St. Augustine parish priest accused of sexually abusing a boy lost a court battle last week when a judge ordered the release of parts of a psychological evaluation of the priest.
Worcester Superior Court Justice Jeffrey A. Locke ordered that parts of a 10-page evaluation -- the parts Locke deemed relevant -- be made part of the case file in Worcester resident Timothy Staney’s civil suit against the Rev. Jean-Paul Gagnon. Staney also has named the Diocese of Worcester and religious educator Richard Tremblay as defendants.

Staney alleges that the abuse began at Worcester’s Holy Name of Jesus parish in 1980, when he was 10, and lasted until he was 17. The abuse began with Tremblay and later continued with Gagnon, who were both working at the Holy Name of Jesus parish at the time, according to the suit.

Gagnon, Tremblay and the diocese have all denied Staney’s allegations.

In his order to release the evaluation of Gagnon dated August 1981, Locke wrote that there are "several references to the defendant’s psycho-sexual development that are arguably relevant to the case insofar as they were noted in 1981, four years before the sexual activities (involving Gagnon) began as alleged in the complaint, and resulted in a recommendation for further counseling."

Locke also noted: "there is no indication that such counseling occurred between 1981 and 1984."

The psychological evaluation was initially used for assessing Gagnon as a candidate for priesthood. It was conducted at the Whitinsville House of Affirmation, which Locke describes as "an apparent mental health facility serving Catholic religious personnel."

The report, signed by psychologist Vincent M. Bilotta, states Gagnon "gives evidence of an extremely passive and submissive orientation with feelings of weakness and inferiority as well as marked conflict in the area of sexual identity."

"There is evidence of feelings of inadequacy and emptiness together with a great deal of sexual anxiety and preoccupation," the report continues. "A marked immaturity in the area of sexuality and feelings of masculine inadequacy are present."

The report also states Gagnon "would do well to seek professional counseling in order to gain better insight into his feelings and emotions, to gain a greater sense of personal adequacy and self-confidence, and to develop a more positive and mature sexual identity."

In the original complaint filed by Staney in September 2002, Staney argued that the Worcester Diocese "engaged in a civil conspiracy" with Gagnon and Tremblay, and this conspiracy "was entered into with the express intent to violate civil or criminal law, including but not limited to sexual assault and battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, fraud, breach of fiduciary duty and accessory to felony both before and after the fact."

In line with that argument, Staney and his attorney Daniel Shea have requested from the diocese any documents referencing accusations of sexual abuse by Gagnon, as well as copies of correspondence between the diocese and Gagnon regarding Staney’s allegations.

Responding for the diocese, Stoneham-based attorney Joanne L. Goulka rejected the request, stating that it "calls for documents which are irrelevant, not reasonably calculated to lead to admissible evidence, is over broad, unduly burdensome, is intended to be oppressive, embarrassing or annoying."

Goulka did say, however, that the diocese would consider releasing documents regarding an allegation that Gagnon had "sexual contact" with a man in his 20s while Gagnon was at St. Augustine Parish.

March 22, 2003

Local priest ‘hostile’ and ‘confused’

JEFF HAYNES, Staff Writer, WoonsocketeCall.com

MILLVILLE -- The case is still in the discovery phase, but some of the court documents gathered so far paint a harsh picture of Rev. Jean-Paul Gagnon.
Gagnon, who had been the St. Augustine parish priest for about six years, has been on administrative leave since a civil lawsuit filed last September accused Gagnon of sexually abusing a boy. In his lawsuit, Worcester resident Timothy Staney alleges that Gagnon sexually abused him nearly 20 years ago, when Staney was 14.

At the time, Gagnon was a priest at Worcester’s Holy Name of Jesus Church, where Staney attended services.

Staney has provided some of the deposition statements and letters submitted for the discovery phase of the case, and those documents portray Gagnon as hostile, and confused about his sexual orientation.

A psychological evaluation conducted in 1977, when Gagnon was 21, describes him as "effeminate," and states that Gagnon "openly reported some concerns about homosexuality." The evaluation, conducted as an assessment for ministry, goes on to state "the possibility of some sex role identification difficulty."

More recently, letters from members of the St. Augustine parish that were mailed to Bishop Daniel Reilly of the Catholic Diocese of Worcester have depicted Gagnon as belligerent.

One letter quotes Gagnon, as he addressed the parish, speaking about the strain parishioners were putting on him. Gagnon said the parish "had already buried one priest, and asked if they are trying to do it again," according the letter. Gagnon complained about having to "deal with the problems of 450 families," the letter says.

Another member of the parish wrote to Reilly that when Gagnon first addressed the parish after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, his message was "you got what you deserved." Gagnon blamed the parish for their sins, such as abortion and living together out of wedlock, the letter says.

Gagnon’s attorney, Edward P. Ryan, could not be reached for comment. James G. Reardon Jr., who represents the Worcester Diocese -- also a defendant in Staney’s lawsuit -- said cases that go back 20 years are difficult to try.

But "the diocese tries to take each allegation on a case by case basis," he said.

Each one is forwarded to the district attorney’s office, he added, in case that office wants to pursue any action.

A deposition from another priest at the Holy Name of Jesus Church, Rev. Michael LaBaire, states that Staney had told LaBaire of the abuse. And when LaBaire reported it to the church’s pastor, Rev. Roland Hebert, LaBaire described Hebert’s response as, "I’m not surprised."

Reardon counters that LaBaire, in an effort to protect Staney’s privacy, never revealed the source of the allegations to the diocese, and that omission hindered the diocese’s efforts to investigate.

"We never had Mr. Staney’s name," Reardon said. "We never had any real details about it."

March 10. 2003

Gagnon residing in area parish

Kathleen A. Shaw,TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

The Rev. Jean-Paul Gagnon, who has been named in a civil suit alleging sexual abuse of Timothy P. Staney, is living with the Rev. Dennis J. Rocheford in Blackstone, according to Raymond L. Delisle, spokesman for the Worcester Diocese.

Rev. Rocheford, pastor of St. Therese's Parish in Blackstone, is a priest assigned to assist clergy of the Catholic Diocese of Worcester charged with sexual misconduct.

Unlike the seven priests who were removed from active ministry last year by Bishop Daniel P. Reilly, Rev. Gagnon is only on personal leave and has not been removed. "The investigation is continuing and has not reached the stage where there would be a removal,' Mr. Delisle said.

The diocese is following the norms adopted by the American bishops last June for handling allegations of sexual abuse and these regulations call for a full investigation, he said. "This allegation came to us via a suit.'

Rev. Gagnon previously lived in the rectory of St. Augustine Parish, Millville, where he was pastor for several years, Mr. Delisle said.

Rev. Gagnon is still a member of the Presbyteral Council of priests because he has not been removed from ministry by Bishop Reilly. He is also the official dean of his deanery. The diocesan directory lists Rev. Gagnon as being treasurer for the 2002-03 year.

Mr. Delisle said Rev. Gagnon is the elected Deanery VIII representative to the council.

The Presbyteral Council functions like a priest's senate. Priests elect representatives from their deaneries, which are clusters of several nearby parishes, to serve on the council. They discuss issues of mutual concern. The next meeting is scheduled for 1 p.m. tomorrow at the Chancery, 49 Elm St.

Besides 13 elected priests, the council includes Bishop Reilly, Auxiliary Bishop George E. Rueger, Monsignor F. Stephen Pedone, judicial vicar, Monsignor Thomas J. Sullivan, chancellor, and five priests chosen by the bishop.

Bishop Reilly in the past year removed the seven priests after allegations of sexual misconduct were made. Monsignor Pedone announced last week that six of those priests will be tried before a church tribunal on the allegations.

They are the Rev. John J. Bagley, former pastor of St. Mary's in North Grafton; the Rev. Peter J. Inzerillo, who was last assigned to St. Leo's in Leominster; the Rev. Gerard P. Walsh, pastor of St. Roch's, Oxford; the Rev. Lee F. Bartlett, pastor of Sacred Heart of Jesus, Worcester; the Rev. Chester J. Devlin of St. Bernadette in Northboro; and the Rev. Raymond P. Messier, pastor of St. Francis of Assisi, Athol, and St. Peter's in Petersham.

The Rev. Joseph A. Coonan is exempt from the church trial because the alleged offenses happened before he was ordained.

Millville priest faces new charges

UXBRIDGE(AP) -- A priest on leave from a Millville church has been charged with one count of indecent assault and battery.

Worcester District Attorney John Conte filed the criminal charge against the Rev. Jean-Paul Gagnon, who has been on leave from St. Augustine’s Parish since October 2002.

Gagnon will be arraigned May 17 in Uxbridge District Court, according to Conte’s office.

Gagnon allegedly assaulted the victim in Sutton in October 2002. Conte’s office did not identify Gagnon’s accuser, but described him as a man who was active in the Millville parish.

A phone number for Gagnon could not immediately be found Saturday, and he could not be reached for comment.

Gagnon, who came to St. Augustine’s in 1995, went on personal leave shortly after another man filed a lawsuit against him in September 2002, alleging that Gagnon abused him at Worcester’s Holy Name of Jesus parish in the 1980s when he was between the ages of 10 and 17.

The Diocese of Worcester placed Gagnon on administrative leave last July following its own investigation.

October 5, 2002

Complaint against local priest under review

Joseph Fitzgerald staff writer                                               

MILLVILLE -- The Diocese of Worcester's Pastoral Care Committee has begun reviewing a complaint against a Millville priest accused of molesting a 14-year-old boy 18 years ago and will forward a recommendation to Bishop Daniel Patrick Reilly when that process is completed, a spokesman for the diocese said yesterday.

Rev. Jean-Paul Gagnon, a priest at St. Augustine's Catholic Church in Millville for the past six years, is accused of molesting a 14-year-old boy while serving as a parish priest in Worcester in the early 1980s. The accusations come from a civil lawsuit filed this week in Worcester Superior Court by Timothy P. Staney and his parents, Joseph and Corinne Staney.

"We were served the official compaint late Thursday afternoon so this is only our first chance seeing it," Ray Delisle, spokesman for the Diocese of Worcester, said yesterday. "This is all new to us and the Pastoral Care Committee is just beginning to review the details. We're not entirely sure if even Father Gagnon has been served."

Houston-based attorney Daniel J. Shea is representing the Staney family. The lawsuit also names as defendants the Diocese of Worcester and Raymond Tremblay, who was a religious education teacher at the Holy Name of Jesus parish.

The lawsuit alleges that Gagnon used information obtained in a confessional with Staney to set Staney up as Gagnon's sex partner. The alleged incidents took place when Gagnon was a priest at the Holy Name of Jesus Parish in Worcester 18 years ago.

The abuse began in 1980, when Staney was 10, and lasted five years, according to the lawsuit. Tremblay allegedly molested and sexually abused Staney at the church, Tremblay's house and other locations. When Staney confessed the details to Gagnon at age 14, Gagnon used that information "to take over for himself," Shea said.

Gagnon allegedly molested and sexually abused Staney at the church, at Staney's home and at Gagnon's summer home in Brimfield.

Both Tremblay and Gagnon threatened to discredit both the boy and his parents, as well as hurt his parents' teaching careers, if Staney reported the abuse, according to the lawsuit.

Delisle said the diocese has reserved comment on the allegations until the 18-member Pastoral Care Committee has fully reviewed the complaint and forwards its recommendation in response to the allegations, a process that could take days. After the panel has completed its review and made a recommendation, an official public statement from the diocese will be issued.

Half of the Pastoral Care Committee is made up of laypersons and the other half comprises clerics and employees of the diocese.

As for Gagnon, the diocese has made no administrative decision regarding his duties and he remains free to say Mass and carry on his other priestly responsibilities at the church.

Some members of the St. Augustine parish had surmised that Gagnon left town Wednesday afternoon, but Delisle said there has been contact between Gagnon and the diocese.

"There have been conversations between the diocese and Father Gagnon and certainly the bishop or his representative will be meeting with him," he said. "There will be no decision on an administrative leave until the review is completed. Whether Father Gagnon will continue to perform his duties in the meantime all depends on how comfortable he is until this is resolved. He may choose to continue to say Mass or have an associate do that."

A parishioner of St. Augustine yesterday said Gagnon's absence the past couple of days was because he was off duty.

"His days off are Thursday and Friday and he always leaves on Wednesday afternoon," said Chuck Singleton of 164 Main St.

Singleton, a parishioner with his family since January, said he did not want anyone to construe Gagnon's unavailability as indicating the priest had fled the area.

While he did not purport to know any of the circumstances, Singleton also offered a strong public defense of Gagnon's character.

"I firmly believe these accusations are false, and I am behind him 100 percent," he said. "In my life, I have only met two priests who have the compassion and love that this man has."

After his family bought a home in Millville in January, moving from Bellingham, Singleton said he's gotten to know Gagnon well through the parish and Knights of Columbus.

When it was suggested that he had not known the priest for a long duration, Singleton, a father of two children, ages 8 and 16, said, "I wouldn't even think twice about allowing my 8-year-old son to go on any trip with Father Gagnon."

(Staff Writer Michael Holtzman contributed to this report)

October 4, 2002

Millville priest accused of abuse

Jeff Haynes staff writer

MILLVILLE -- The Diocese of Worcester will likely announce today what will happen with St. Augustine Catholic Church, following allegations that Rev. Jean-Paul Gagnon molested a 14-year-old boy 18 years ago in Worcester.

The accusations come from a civil lawsuit filed this week in Worcester Superior Court by Timothy P. Staney and his parents, Joseph and Corinne Staney.

The lawsuit states that Gagnon used information obtained in a confessional with Staney to set Staney up as Gagnon's sex partner. The alleged incidents took place when Gagnon was a priest at the Holy Name of Jesus parish in Worcester.

Members of the St. Augustine parish -- where Gagnon has served for about six years -- have privately expressed shock over the matter. Some believe Gagnon left town Wednesday afternoon.

The Pastoral Care Committee is scheduled to meet this morning, said Ray Delisle, spokesman for the Diocese of Worcester. The committee will then forward its recommendations on what steps to take with the St. Augustine parish to Bishop Daniel Patrick Reilly, he said.

A statement from the diocese is expected later today.

As for the church's response to the allegations, "they have 20 days in which to file an answer," said Houston-based attorney Daniel J. Shea, who is representing the Staney family.

Within 10 days of receiving that answer, Shea added, he will start taking depositions.

"They (church) could decide to settle this case or it could drag on for years," he said.

The lawsuit also names as defendants both the Diocese of Worcester and Raymond Tremblay, who was a religious education teacher at the Holy Name of Jesus parish.

The abuse began in 1980, when Staney was 10, and lasted five years, according to the lawsuit. Tremblay allegedly molested and sexually abused Staney at the church, Tremblay's house and other locations.

When Staney confessed the details to Gagnon at age 14, Gagnon used that information "to take over for himself," Shea said.

Gagnon allegedly molested and sexually abused Staney at the church, at Staney's home and at Gagnon's summer home in Brimfield.

Both Tremblay and Gagnon threatened to discredit both the boy and his parents, as well as hurt his parents' teaching careers, if Staney reported the abuse, according to the lawsuit.

Noting that Staney's parents signed on as plaintiffs in the lawsuit, Shea said, this type of crime "victimizes the whole family."

Man claims priest misused Confession to get sex partner

Wednesday, October 2, 2002

By Kathleen A. Shaw, Telegram & Gazette Staff

WORCESTER-- The Rev. Jean-Paul Gagnon, a priest in Millville; Raymond Tremblay of Worcester, a religious education teacher; and the Rev. Henry S. Banach, a retired diocesan priest, have been named in civil suits filed this week in Worcester Superior Court alleging they abused children in their parishes.

Raymond L. Delisle, spokesman for the Catholic Worcester Diocese, which is also named in the suits, said the diocese does not comment on pending lawsuits.

Timothy P. Staney and his parents, Joseph C. and Corinne L. Staney, both teachers in the Worcester public schools, allege in their suit that Rev. Gagnon violated the Confession, also known to Catholics as the Sacrament of Reconciliation, by using information obtained in the Confessional to set Timothy Staney up as a sex partner for Rev. Gagnon.

Timothy Staney moved to file a suit on his own behalf, but his parents decided to join the suit to set an example that parents must stand with their children against clergy sexual abuse if it is ever to be stopped, according to their lawyer, .............

This is the second client Mr. ......has represented where allegations were made of violation of the Confessional. Karen A. Pedersen of Fitchburg alleges in her suit that the Rev. Robert E. Kelley also used information obtained in the Confessional as a means of sexually abusing her.

“The Catholic church has obviously known that violation of the Confessional is a major problem because Cardinal Ratzinger included this in his secret memo, Crimen Solicitationes, which went out to all the bishops in May 2001,” Mr. ..... said. This information also appeared in a 1962 memo to the bishops but was not shared with priests and laity, he said. The Catholic Church considers violation of the Confessional to be a grave issue that can bring sanctions under canon law.

According to the suit, Mr. Tremblay began using his role as religious educator to sexually molest and abuse Mr. Staney in several incidents, beginning in 1980 when he was 10 and a member of Holy Name of Jesus parish. The sexual abuse continued until he was 15.

Mr. Staney, who is now 32, said that the incidents, which included oral and anal penetration and other kinds of “forcible, lewd and lascivious acts,” happened at Mr. Tremblay's residence in Worcester and at Holy Name of Jesus Church and school, 51-55 Illinois St., and at other locations. Mr. Tremblay is alleged to have used pornography in the abuse, according to the suit.

Mr. Tremblay also is alleged to have threatened to discredit and intimidate not only Mr. Staney, but his family within the parish community if any of the alleged incidents were revealed, according to the suit. He also threatened to upset and discredit the reputation of the alleged victim and his parents “in the way of careers and social status.”

According to the suit, Rev. Gagnon learned of the abuse by Mr. Tremblay when Mr. Staney told him about it during Confession. The priest “armed with that information, in effect, 'took over' from Tremblay as the molester,” according to the suit.

Rev. Gagnon then molested and sexually abused Mr. Staney in “multiple incidents” inside the rectory at 51 Illinois St., at the Staney family home in Spencer, and in two incidents at Rev. Gagnon's summer home at Quinebaug Cove Campground, Brimfield, according to the suit. The sexual acts included oral and anal penetration and involved use of alcohol and pornography.

Rev. Gagnon also threatened to discredit Mr. Staney within the parish, starting when Mr. Staney was 14 and into his adult life, if he revealed any of the alleged incidents, according to the suit. He also threatened to discredit and intimidate Mr. Staney's family within the parish and to adversely affect the teaching careers and social status of the parents if he revealed the abuse, according to the suit. It is also alleged that he threatened “the familial accord” of the family if Mr. Staney revealed the abuse.

The suit involving Rev. Banach was filed by lawyer Carmen Durso of Boston using the names John Doe and Robert Doe. Mr. Durso said the men are brothers.

According to the suit, Rev. Banach was assigned to St. Hedwig's parish, Southbridge, when he sexually assaulted and abused the brothers from 1982 to 1988 in the church sacristy and rectory. John Doe was a 12-year-old altar boy at St. Hedwig's when Rev. Banach allegedly began sexually assaulting him in a variety of ways, including genital fondling “and numerous other attempted and threatened acts of assault.” The assaults happened in the sacristy, usually before Mass, and at the rectory, according to the suit.

Robert Doe was about 10 and an altar boy in the parish when Rev. Banach began sexually assaulting him, according to the suit. These included repeated acts of genital fondling and other attempted and threatened acts, the suit said. The assaults continued until 1988, according to the suit.

"During those times, when both John and Robert were altar boys together at St. Hedwig's, defendant Banach would attempt to assault the first altar boy whom he could reach. On many occasions, John would put himself in between his brother Robert and defendant Banach in order to protect his younger brother from being assaulted by Banach,” the suit said.

November 29, 2002

Priest remains on leave

By Kathleen A. Shaw, Telegram & Gazette Staff

WORCESTER-- The Rev. Jean-Paul Gagnon, who is alleged to have sexually abused a boy when he was assigned to Holy Name of Jesus parish during the 1980s, remains on personal leave as the diocesan Pastoral Care Committee considers allegations made against him last month.

“They have not reached a recommendation,” said Raymond L. Delisle, diocesan spokesman.

Rev. Gagnon was serving at St. Augustine parish in Millville before taking leave.

Timothy P. Staney and his parents, Corinne and Joseph C. Staney, filed a civil suit in Worcester Superior Court alleging that Rev. Gagnon violated the Confessional, which for Catholics is a sacrament, by using information obtained from Timothy Staney to sexually abuse him.

The lawsuit also names Raymond Tremblay, who at the time was a religious education teacher in the parish.

The suit alleges that Mr. Staney had first been abused by Mr. Tremblay and revealed the abuse to Rev. Gagnon in the Confessional.

Rev. Gagnon then used that information in the sexual abuse of Mr. Staney, according to the suit.

The diocese placed seven other priests on administrative leave and removed them from their parishes during the past year after allegations of sexual misconduct were made.

Diocese ignored priest's report
Gagnon cited in 1987 claim Gagnon claim muted

Richard Nangle can be reached by e-mail at rnangletelegram.com.

A Westboro priest says he reported a parishioner's sexual abuse claim against Rev. Jean-Paul Gagnon to his superiors 16 years ago and never heard another word about it until the alleged victim filed a lawsuit over the matter late last year.

Despite the lawsuit, Bishop Daniel P. Reilly has not removed Rev. Gagnon from his post at St. Augustine Church in Millville. Instead, Rev. Gagnon remains on personal leave.

In a January lawsuit deposition, Rev. Steven M. LaBaire also said he rebuffed an attempt by a diocesan lawyer to arrange an informal meeting with alleged victim Timothy P. Staney, who had confided in Rev. LaBaire on the condition of anonymity.

Mr. Staney later cast aside anonymity to file the lawsuit against Rev. Gagnon.

"During the summer of 1987, in the late summer, in a conversation that I had with Mr. Staney, he shared with me in very general terms inappropriate interaction of a physical sexual nature that went on between him and Rev. Gagnon,' said Rev. LaBaire, who was assigned to Holy Name of Jesus Church in Worcester at the time. His predecessor there was Rev. Gagnon.

Rev. LaBaire said he immediately reported the allegation to his pastor, Rev. Roland G. Hebert, who he said directed him to report the matter to Rev. Raymond Page, whom he described as vicar of priests.

Testimony from another Staney lawsuit deposition showed that former preseminarian Chad Boisvert said Bishop Reilly removed him from consideration for the priesthood in 1998 after learning that a series of homosexual encounters occurred between Mr. Boisvert and Rev. Gagnon at St. Augustine's in Millville.

Mr. Boisvert, who now works for a Braintree financial company, said he had never been told about any past allegations involving Rev. Gagnon.

Diocesan spokesman Raymond L. Delisle said he could offer no comment on the Staney lawsuit.

After disclosing the allegation of Rev. Gagnon's alleged sexual abuse both to church officials and his therapist, Rev. LaBaire said he was told that Worcester District Attorney John J. Conte was promptly notified. But Rev. LaBaire said he was never contacted by the district attorney's office or any law enforcement authorities.

Instead, he was ushered into a meeting with James G. Reardon, now deceased, who was the diocesan lawyer at the time.

In what Rev. LaBaire described as a "very confusing conversation,' Rev. LaBaire recalled Mr. Reardon saying, "Can you create a context or provide a context...where Mr. Staney might be present and where I might speak to Mr. Staney?'

"I was kind of confused by the whole thing, wondering if there's some kind of conflict of interest here between someone who represents the diocese and with someone who has a complaint against the diocese,' he said.

"This was supposed to be an informal contact,' he said. "That Mr. Staney would not be aware of Mr. Reardon's connection or his representing the diocese. And so Mr. Staney would just talk to him.'

Rev. LaBaire declined to arrange the meeting.

Shortly after reporting the abuse claim against Rev. Gagnon, Rev. LaBaire asked Auxiliary Bishop George E. Rueger for a transfer. Rev. LaBaire related an overall unhappiness with his assignment, including his working relationship with Rev. Hebert.

Bishop Rueger asked Rev. LaBaire to stay on for a few months and offered to set the priest up with a therapist so he could sort out his feelings on the matter. Rev. LaBaire said the therapist told him to leave the parish.

"He said that he had had much experience with rectories in the past, and he said - I remember his words to me, this sounded like one more sick rectory.'

Rev. LaBaire noted that during his session the therapist received a telephone call from Rev. Page.

Rev. LaBaire said Mr. Staney claimed the abuse happened when he was 16 or 17 years old at a camp somewhere outside Worcester, "and there Father Gagnon engaged in some physical touching in ways and places on Tim's body that Tim did not approve of or feel comfortable with.'

"I did not go any further with him in terms of unpacking the meaning of that,' he said.

Rev. LaBaire was questioned by James G. Reardon Jr. of Worcester and Joanne L. Goulka of Stoneham, representing the diocese; Edward P. Ryan Jr. of Fitchburg representing Rev. Gagnon; James J. Girbouski of Worcester representing Raymond Tremblay, another defendant in the suit; and Daniel J. Shea of Houston representing Mr. Staney. The deposition was taken on Jan. 13 in the Worcester offices of lawyer Roy A. Bourgeois.

Rev. Gagnon's lawyer, Edward P. Ryan Jr. of Fitchburg, posed the following question: "And you assume, based on the nature of what he said to you, that he was making reference to sexual contact?'

Rev. LaBaire: "Yes, I did.'

Mr. Ryan also asked Rev. LaBaire whether he had a confidential agreement with Mr. Staney.

"He said to me, he said - he said, "Father, I don't want my world or my life plastered or - I don't want my parents to find out about all this stuff.''

Rev. LaBaire said he never followed up with Rev. Page, who he said told him he was going to speak to Rev. Gagnon about the allegation and suggest that he stay out of the parish.

Mr. Ryan questioned the nature of the complaint, asking whether Rev. LaBaire could be sure that the allegation concerned sexual touching.

Ryan: "We just had a witness say that touching someone's chest is sexual. So you didn't explore it with him any further, did you?'

LaBaire: "No, I didn't'

Ms. Goulka, a diocesan lawyer, questioned Rev. LaBaire about his claim that Mr. Conte had been notified of the abuse claim.

Goulka: "What, if anything, transpired, as far as you understand it, when your therapist told the district attorney about what Mr. Staney had said?'

LaBaire: "The immediate repercussion was a meeting in the diocesan - I'm sorry, in attorney Reardon's office at Exchange. That's...'

Goulka: Was there anything that the DA did that you ever became aware of?'

LaBaire: "I'm not even sure what the DA did. I have no knowledge of that at all.'

Goulka: "How do you know your therapist told the DA anything about Mr. Staney?'

LaBaire: "Father Page told me so.'

Mr. Shea, who is representing Mr. Staney, followed up on that point.

Shea: "How is it, again, that you - and I apologize; I may have asked you this - how is it you got the impression that this disclosure to the psychologist was made to the district attorney, as opposed to, let's say, the police or DSS (Massachusetts Department of Social Services) or somebody else?'

LaBaire: "Monsignor Page informed me of that. He informed me that my recounting of the event to the counselor resulted in it being reported to the district attorney.'

Shea: "After the meeting with Mr. Reardon and Monsignor Page did anyone from the police department, either the Worcester Police Department or the state police, contact you on this matter?'

LaBaire: "No, not at all.'

Shea: "Did anyone from the district attorney's office contact you?'

LaBaire: "No.'

Shea: "Did anyone from the Department of Social Services contact you?'

LaBaire: "No.'

Shea: "Did anyone at all contact you?'

LaBaire: "No. Nobody.'

And Mr. Ryan questioned Rev. LaBaire about the nature of his conversation with the therapist.

Ryan: "You have no knowledge that this doctor ... viewed your description of what happened to Tim Staney as sexual, from the doctor, right?'

LaBaire: "Exactly, we did not go into him recounting to me and going into detail into what I meant, correct.'

And again:

Ryan: "He didn't ask for any details at all?'

LaBaire: "He asked me simply - he asked me to recount what the adolescent had told me, and I told him, using as close to the same words as I've used today: "Inappropriate touching in places and in ways I don't want to be touched. At a camp.''

Mr. Staney also names religious education teacher Raymond Tremblay in the lawsuit.

Now 32, Mr. Staney alleges forcible rape and other kinds of "lewd and lascivious acts' happened at Mr. Tremblay's residence in Worcester and at Holy Name of Jesus Church and school, 51-55 Illinois St., and at other locations.

According to the suit, Mr. Tremblay used pornography in the abuse. The suit also accused Mr. Tremblay of threatening to discredit and intimidate Mr. Staney and his parents "in the way of careers and social status' if the alleged incidents were made public.

Mr. Staney alleges that Mr. Tremblay began sexually abusing him in 1980 when he was 10. He alleges the abuse continued until he was 15.

The plaintiffs in the lawsuit include Mr. Staney and his parents, Joseph C. and Corinne L. Staney, both Worcester public school teachers. The three allege that Rev. Gagnon heard Mr. Staney's allegation and that "armed with that information, in effect, "took over' from Tremblay as the molester.'

According to the suit, Rev. Gagnon forcibly raped Mr. Staney on multiple occasions at the rectory and at the Staney family home in Spencer and in two incidents at Rev. Gagnon's summer home at Quinebaug Cove Campground in Brimfield.

Rev. LaBaire was assigned to Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Webster in 1988. Upon being reassigned to St. Luke the Evangelist Church in Westboro in 1992, he said he learned that Rev. Gagnon had been assigned to a residency at Sacred Heart.

"I immediately apprised the principal of the school of what I had experienced, and my reporting, so she would be aware of what - just be on the lookout.'

And the principal, Sister Constance Bayeur, cried upon hearing of the allegation, he said.

Rev. LaBaire said he had not spoken with Mr. Staney since 1987 when he decided to give him a call after reading a news account of his lawsuit late last year.

"I let him know that I would be willing to assist him, because the facts of our interaction in the summer of 1987, when I was associate pastor of Holy Name Parish, would pertain to the case,' Rev. LaBaire said.

February 27. 2003

Would-be priest removed after alleged relationship

Kathleen A. Shaw,TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

Gagnon blames 9/11 victims. Perpetrators "doing God's will"

Heres what the parishioners wrote to Bishop Reilly and Cardinal Law:

On Sunday, September 16, 2001, my son and I, like so many millions of Americans, attended church services at our parish, St. Augustine's in Milville. We needed to be near our God, to be comforted by his closeness, to be bathed in his merciful love, and to hear our pastor, Father Gagnon, explain the unexplicable.

Bishop Reilly, we were not comforted. We did not feel love. We were, instead, verbally attacked; the victims of the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and United Flight 93 were vilified as sinners; and the perpetrators were glorified for doing "God's work."

Father Gagnon began his homily by stating that after careful consideration of the events of September 11 and deep reflection on the Bible, he had been enlightened. "You" (meaning we, the parishoners), because "you" live together out of wedlock, support abortion, etc., "got what you deserved." Just as God struck down the sinners in the Tower of Babel, so did he strike down the sinners in the World Trade Towers. Was this analogy meant to be an affirmation of the deadly acts of mad men?

He went on the say that now our sons will die in war. And to further his thesis of "we got what we deserved," our daughters, too, will die because we support equal rights. Would Father Gagnon, like the Taliban, choose to relegate women to a less than human status?

Bishop Reilly, as the mother of a 24 year old son, I am very truly aware of the fact that he may have to fight a war not of his choosing. I did not need to hear Father Gagnon make a mockery out of civic duty or support of democracy. But then, a non-democratic country could give Father Gagnon a larger platform to preach his bigotry, cruelty, and hate.

Father Gagnon went on to take exception to Rev. Billy Graham's message of Friday, September 14, at the National Cathedral in Washington D.C. Rev. Graham said all those who died are in heaven. "No," says Father Gagnon, "They were sinners." Just as Father Gagnon contends that Rev. Graham is wrong in saying all of the victims are in heaven, so is he wrong to say all are not in heaven, The truth is only God knows what was in their minds, heats, and souls during those last dreadful moments. Yes, a priest is here to do God's work, but a priest is not God. Judgment belongs to God, not man.

Although, against my better judgment, I did not walk out of the service, I cannot give tacit approval to Father Gagnon's themes by my silence and acquiescence. Meekness in the face of intolerance only serves to empower it.

I look forward to your response.

Sincerely,
(names omitted)
CC: Bernard Cardinal Law

Reilly responded as follows:

Thank you very much for your letter of September 30th, in which you expressed your concerns relative to the homily that was given by Father Jean-Paul Gagnon, the pastor, at St. Augustine Parish on September 16th. Please be assured that I am grateful for your letter.

Thank God you have such wonderful faith instincts. I am sorry that your experience at the liturgy was such a difficult one and came at such a troubling time.

I want you to know that I have spoken to Father Gagnon about the homily he offered on that occasion. Father Gagnon told me that he spoke extemporaneously and that he was unaware that his points were misunderstood. It was his intention to clarify the events of those sad days through his use of the scriptural readings proscribed (sic) by the church for that particular Sunday (Exodus 32: 7-11, 13-14; and Luke 15: 1-32) which, in part, deal with the reality of sin.

With every best wish, I am
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Most Reverend Daniel P. Reilly
Bishop of Worcester