There are currently eleven accused child abuser priests who still work for Bishop Richard Malone. These priests have either been sentenced to a "life of prayer and penance," restricted from public ministry, or both. Some cases are still pending in the Vatican.
All of these priests continue to be supported by the diocese. They are entitled to health care and pension benefits. They are provided with a housing allowance.
Bishop Malone does not require that these priests live together in a supervised group home where their comings and goings would be monitored. Instead, the bishop allows them to reside wherever they want - for instance, right next to a school.
We discovered that Rev. John Audibert is living in Foreside Estates in Falmouth. Foreside Estates is full of children. The bishop never even warned the local police about Audibert's past or informed them that Audibert is a safety risk to the community.
We want Bishop Malone to require that child molester priests whom he refuses to dismiss from the priesthood be assigned to a single residence with independent, outside monitoring and supervision.
We also want Bishop Malone to publish a database of child abuser priests and church workers on the diocese web site.
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Bishop Richard Malone refuses to bear witness to the pain of a mother seeking justice for the unspeakable crimes committed against her son
Letter to the Editor - Portland Press Herald
Wednesday, January 28th, 2009
I’m saddened by the recent events in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland, especially the inaction of Bishop Richard Malone.
As a spiritual leader, he should be an example of the virtues that brought him to his present position. His refusal to bear personal witness to the pain of a mother seeking justice for the unspeakable crimes committed against her son has caused more pain.
What is being asked is simple. I know this because I see it done on a daily basis. Sexual assault center advocates bring solace to people every day just by listening and validating.
In the 16 years of advocacy that I have provided, I have learned that those in leadership have the power to either contribute to healing or create more trauma for victims.
I have seen many leaders in this state be accountable by meeting with victims to answer questions and yes, provide the simple act of listening. It doesn’t mean that these leaders can always deliver on what is asked of them, in fact that rarely is the case.
What it does is much more powerful – it acknowledges and validates that the pain and suffering victims experience means something and is unjust.
Please, Bishop Malone, join the ranks of other leaders – DAs, attorneys general, police chiefs and school principals – and meet with Marie Tupper to bear witness to the pain and suffering of her family.
You can be a role model and rise upon your own discomfort to do what is right.
I know you can.
Cyndi Amato
Executive DirectorSexual Assault Response Services of Southern Maine
Portland
Wednesday, January 28th, 2009
I’m saddened by the recent events in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland, especially the inaction of Bishop Richard Malone.
As a spiritual leader, he should be an example of the virtues that brought him to his present position. His refusal to bear personal witness to the pain of a mother seeking justice for the unspeakable crimes committed against her son has caused more pain.
What is being asked is simple. I know this because I see it done on a daily basis. Sexual assault center advocates bring solace to people every day just by listening and validating.
In the 16 years of advocacy that I have provided, I have learned that those in leadership have the power to either contribute to healing or create more trauma for victims.
I have seen many leaders in this state be accountable by meeting with victims to answer questions and yes, provide the simple act of listening. It doesn’t mean that these leaders can always deliver on what is asked of them, in fact that rarely is the case.
What it does is much more powerful – it acknowledges and validates that the pain and suffering victims experience means something and is unjust.
Please, Bishop Malone, join the ranks of other leaders – DAs, attorneys general, police chiefs and school principals – and meet with Marie Tupper to bear witness to the pain and suffering of her family.
You can be a role model and rise upon your own discomfort to do what is right.
I know you can.
Cyndi Amato
Executive DirectorSexual Assault Response Services of Southern Maine
Portland
Will Bishop Richard Malone refuse entry at Christmas Eve mass to the mother of a clergy sex abuse victim?
It's the same letter that was sent to Bishop Malone one year ago by an advocate for abuse victims.
Now it's signed by Marie Tupper.
Here's a copy of the letter sent today.
December 16, 2009
Most Rev. Bishop Richard Malone
Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland
Portland, Maine
Dear Bishop Malone,
I hope to be able to attend the Midnight Mass at the Cathedral next week. It is my understanding that you will deliver the homily.
I look upon my participation in this Mass as an “immersion experience.” I cannot resist having a front row seat to be able to listen to you preach about the unconditional love and compassion of Jesus Christ, yet, at the very moment you are speaking these words, you and I will both know that you have rejected me, the mother of a sex abuse victim, as unworthy of your time.
The Compassion of Christ calls us to be in communion with those who suffer, Bishop Malone. I will come in peace. But, if you happen to look my way from time to time, you may see me shaking my head ever so slightly (in disbelief), or my head may be in my hands as I pray for the tolerance to remain seated in spite of your hypocrisy.
Each time you see my face during the Mass, Bishop Malone, I want you to remember me, my 84 year-old mother, Claire Tupper, and my 35 year-old son. My son was sexually abused by Rev. Thomas Lee when he was a toddler. Have you ever wondered how my son and the rest of our family are holding up?
What a Christmas story you have to tell. At the same time that your houseguest, Rev. Paul Miceli, is warm and cozy inside your mansion on the Promenade, I will be standing on the sidewalk outside your home, shivering from the cold as I wait to meet with you.
Let’s not forget that while working as Secretary of Ministerial Personnel for Cardinal Law, your friend, Miceli, aided and abetted the sexual abuse of children by assisting in the transfer of abuser priests into unsuspecting parishes and schools.
On the other hand, my son was raped by our family’s parish priest during the time that my mother worked in the rectory as the housekeeper.
How ironic it is that you choose to invite Miceli, the very person who facilitated the sexual abuse of children, into your home yet, at the very same time, you slam the door on a mother whose only child was wrecked forever because of the harms and injuries inflicted upon him as a result of his child sexual abuse.
It will be a trying experience for me to hear you preach on Christmas Eve, Bishop Malone. Knowing what we both know, how will you ever be able to preach the gospel with passion and integrity?
Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam.
Sincerely,
Marie Tupper
Boothbay Harbor, Maine
Now it's signed by Marie Tupper.
Here's a copy of the letter sent today.
December 16, 2009
Most Rev. Bishop Richard Malone
Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland
Portland, Maine
Dear Bishop Malone,
I hope to be able to attend the Midnight Mass at the Cathedral next week. It is my understanding that you will deliver the homily.
I look upon my participation in this Mass as an “immersion experience.” I cannot resist having a front row seat to be able to listen to you preach about the unconditional love and compassion of Jesus Christ, yet, at the very moment you are speaking these words, you and I will both know that you have rejected me, the mother of a sex abuse victim, as unworthy of your time.
The Compassion of Christ calls us to be in communion with those who suffer, Bishop Malone. I will come in peace. But, if you happen to look my way from time to time, you may see me shaking my head ever so slightly (in disbelief), or my head may be in my hands as I pray for the tolerance to remain seated in spite of your hypocrisy.
Each time you see my face during the Mass, Bishop Malone, I want you to remember me, my 84 year-old mother, Claire Tupper, and my 35 year-old son. My son was sexually abused by Rev. Thomas Lee when he was a toddler. Have you ever wondered how my son and the rest of our family are holding up?
What a Christmas story you have to tell. At the same time that your houseguest, Rev. Paul Miceli, is warm and cozy inside your mansion on the Promenade, I will be standing on the sidewalk outside your home, shivering from the cold as I wait to meet with you.
Let’s not forget that while working as Secretary of Ministerial Personnel for Cardinal Law, your friend, Miceli, aided and abetted the sexual abuse of children by assisting in the transfer of abuser priests into unsuspecting parishes and schools.
On the other hand, my son was raped by our family’s parish priest during the time that my mother worked in the rectory as the housekeeper.
How ironic it is that you choose to invite Miceli, the very person who facilitated the sexual abuse of children, into your home yet, at the very same time, you slam the door on a mother whose only child was wrecked forever because of the harms and injuries inflicted upon him as a result of his child sexual abuse.
It will be a trying experience for me to hear you preach on Christmas Eve, Bishop Malone. Knowing what we both know, how will you ever be able to preach the gospel with passion and integrity?
Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam.
Sincerely,
Marie Tupper
Boothbay Harbor, Maine
Monday, December 14, 2009
Bishop Richard Malone is more educated than Jesus
Where can Bishop Malone get a degree in compassion and understanding?
Third Sunday of Advent
Unlike Bishop Richard J. Malone, Jesus didn't have a B.A. in Philosophy, a Bachelors degree in Divinity, a Masters degree and Doctorate in Theology or a Licentiate in Sacred Theology (S.T.L.) see below.
Instead, Jesus devoted his ministry to feeding the poor, giving drink to the thirsty, welcoming the stranger, caring for the sick and visiting the imprisoned.
Jesus stood in communion with the voiceless and the vulnerable among us. Jesus engaged the pain and suffering of the poor, those who have been rejected and disenfranchised.
Millions of Catholics have added additional insult to victims of priest abuse by their failure to stand up and demand redress for the sexual molestation of their children and the cover up of these crimes by bishops, priests and church officials.
Jesus entered this world in a most radical way. He came to us, not as the heir to a wealthy and powerful fortune, but as the son of a poor, gossiped about and often ridiculed unwed mother. As a child, Jesus was tormented by the other kids in town because his parentage was in doubt. He was forced to play by himself, wandering the foothills, speaking only to the much older shepherds who were tending their flocks.
From a very young age, Jesus knew what it was like to be lonely, despised and unwanted. His sad and unfortunate childhood experience became the foundation for his ministry.
The Compassion of Christ was born.
Once again, as yet another Christmas approaches, Bishop Richard Malone continues to refuse to sit in the same room with Marie Tupper, whose only child was sexually abused by her family's parish priest. Marie wants to work with the bishop to help protect children and reach out to those in her Boothbay Harbor community who were sexually abused.
We should all listen carefully to Bishop Malone's Christmas homily, just as Marie Tupper will.
She'll be sitting in the first pew.
_____________________________________________________________
Bishop Richard Malone, Th.D.
Bishop Richard Joseph Malone is the 11th Bishop of Portland. He was installed as Bishop of Portland on March 31, 2004 after serving as auxiliary bishop in the Archdiocese of Boston, South Region.
Bishop Richard Joseph Malone was born in Salem, MA on March 19th, 1946 and was raised in Hamilton and Beverly, MA. He graduated in 1964 from St. John’s Prep, Danvers and began his seminary college years at Cardinal O’Connell Seminary in Jamaica Plain. He graduated from St. John Seminary, Boston with a B.A. in Philosophy, a Bachelors degree in Divinity and a Masters degree in Theology. In 1981, Bishop Malone earned a Doctorate in Theology (Th.D.) at Boston University and a Licentiate in Sacred Theology (S.T.L.) at Weston Jesuit School of Theology, Cambridge in 1990.
Bishop Malone was ordained a priest at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross on May 20th, 1972 by then-Archbishop Humberto Medeiros and was assigned to St. Patrick Parish, Stoneham as Associate Pastor. In 1974, he was named to the faculty of St. Clement High School, Somerville; two years later he joined the faculty and served as chaplain at Xaverian High School, Westwood. He was appointed to the faculty of his alma mater, St. John Seminary College in 1979 where he taught religious and theological studies. He also served as registrar and academic dean during his tenure. During those same years, he was a part-time chaplain at Wellesley (Wellesley, MA) and Regis (Weston, MA) Colleges and taught at Emmanuel College, Boston. In 1990, the Bishop was assigned to the Harvard-Radcliffe Catholic Student Center as chaplain at St. Paul Parish. He accepted the position of Director of the Office of Religious Education for the Archdiocese in 1993; two years later he was named Secretary for Education, the cabinet position which oversees all the educational activities of the Archdiocese. In March of 2000, he was ordained Titular Bishop of Aptuca and appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Boston, South Region.
The 11th Bishop of Portland has produced and hosted television programs for Boston Catholic Television; has been the archdiocesan liaison with the local Jewish community; and has lectured nationally on Catholic education.
Bishop Malone has one sister, Harriet Malone, who teaches art at St. John’s Prep., Danvers, MA.
Third Sunday of Advent
Unlike Bishop Richard J. Malone, Jesus didn't have a B.A. in Philosophy, a Bachelors degree in Divinity, a Masters degree and Doctorate in Theology or a Licentiate in Sacred Theology (S.T.L.) see below.
Instead, Jesus devoted his ministry to feeding the poor, giving drink to the thirsty, welcoming the stranger, caring for the sick and visiting the imprisoned.
Jesus stood in communion with the voiceless and the vulnerable among us. Jesus engaged the pain and suffering of the poor, those who have been rejected and disenfranchised.
Millions of Catholics have added additional insult to victims of priest abuse by their failure to stand up and demand redress for the sexual molestation of their children and the cover up of these crimes by bishops, priests and church officials.
Jesus entered this world in a most radical way. He came to us, not as the heir to a wealthy and powerful fortune, but as the son of a poor, gossiped about and often ridiculed unwed mother. As a child, Jesus was tormented by the other kids in town because his parentage was in doubt. He was forced to play by himself, wandering the foothills, speaking only to the much older shepherds who were tending their flocks.
From a very young age, Jesus knew what it was like to be lonely, despised and unwanted. His sad and unfortunate childhood experience became the foundation for his ministry.
The Compassion of Christ was born.
Once again, as yet another Christmas approaches, Bishop Richard Malone continues to refuse to sit in the same room with Marie Tupper, whose only child was sexually abused by her family's parish priest. Marie wants to work with the bishop to help protect children and reach out to those in her Boothbay Harbor community who were sexually abused.
We should all listen carefully to Bishop Malone's Christmas homily, just as Marie Tupper will.
She'll be sitting in the first pew.
_____________________________________________________________
Bishop Richard Malone, Th.D.
Bishop Richard Joseph Malone is the 11th Bishop of Portland. He was installed as Bishop of Portland on March 31, 2004 after serving as auxiliary bishop in the Archdiocese of Boston, South Region.
Bishop Richard Joseph Malone was born in Salem, MA on March 19th, 1946 and was raised in Hamilton and Beverly, MA. He graduated in 1964 from St. John’s Prep, Danvers and began his seminary college years at Cardinal O’Connell Seminary in Jamaica Plain. He graduated from St. John Seminary, Boston with a B.A. in Philosophy, a Bachelors degree in Divinity and a Masters degree in Theology. In 1981, Bishop Malone earned a Doctorate in Theology (Th.D.) at Boston University and a Licentiate in Sacred Theology (S.T.L.) at Weston Jesuit School of Theology, Cambridge in 1990.
Bishop Malone was ordained a priest at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross on May 20th, 1972 by then-Archbishop Humberto Medeiros and was assigned to St. Patrick Parish, Stoneham as Associate Pastor. In 1974, he was named to the faculty of St. Clement High School, Somerville; two years later he joined the faculty and served as chaplain at Xaverian High School, Westwood. He was appointed to the faculty of his alma mater, St. John Seminary College in 1979 where he taught religious and theological studies. He also served as registrar and academic dean during his tenure. During those same years, he was a part-time chaplain at Wellesley (Wellesley, MA) and Regis (Weston, MA) Colleges and taught at Emmanuel College, Boston. In 1990, the Bishop was assigned to the Harvard-Radcliffe Catholic Student Center as chaplain at St. Paul Parish. He accepted the position of Director of the Office of Religious Education for the Archdiocese in 1993; two years later he was named Secretary for Education, the cabinet position which oversees all the educational activities of the Archdiocese. In March of 2000, he was ordained Titular Bishop of Aptuca and appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Boston, South Region.
The 11th Bishop of Portland has produced and hosted television programs for Boston Catholic Television; has been the archdiocesan liaison with the local Jewish community; and has lectured nationally on Catholic education.
Bishop Malone has one sister, Harriet Malone, who teaches art at St. John’s Prep., Danvers, MA.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Gavin Group Compliance Audit in Maine is a Fraud
December 9, 2009
Commentary
by Paul Kendrick
Bishop Richard Malone is still keeping secrets.
That's why we're just finding out that, from July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2009, eleven more child sex abuse victims reported that they were molested by five living and four deceased priests.
Even as he reports the numbers, Bishop Malone won't tell us the names and whereabouts of the credibly accused priests and how many more children each priest abused.
When child abusers are identified, victims may learn for the first time that they were not the only one. Or, if it is now known that a previously accused priest abused a child in a different parish or school, this information may help other victims to feel strong enough to reach out for help.
The bishops go out of their way to advertise and promote Bill Gavin's (Gavin Group, Inc.) past experience in the FBI as if this information, in and by itself, ensures us that diocese audits will be thorough and unbiased. Yet, neither Mr. Gavin nor the bishops will admit that the financial success of Mr. Gavin's company is dependent upon the goodwill of Catholic bishops across the country. If enough bishops become dissatisfied with the results of their child protection compliance audits, then Mr. Gavin will be shown the door in the same manner as was Governor Keating, former head of the National Review Board.
The very definition of "self audit" is "conflict of interest."
As an advocate for the protection of children and those who were abused, I spoke on the phone earlier today with Mr. Gavin. I focused on a single question; "How can you issue a report that states that Bishop Malone is doing everything he can to protect children when an admitted priest child molester, one who is still in the bishop's employ and remains under the bishop's supervision, is living in a Falmouth neighborhood that's full of kids and no one in the community knows about the priest's past history of abusing children?"
Mr. Gavin had a response on the tip of his tongue. He told me he conducts compliance audits that fall within the four corners of the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, nothing more, nothing less.
In other words, if the child protection provisions of the Charter don't specifically state that a bishop must not put kids at risk by allowing an admitted priest child abuser to live anonymously in a neighborhood full of children, then Mr. Gavin and his auditors will ignore this child safety violation in their final report.
Thus, a bishop like Richard Malone gets an "A" for "ensuring the safety of children."
Reminds me of a question I asked a long time high school administrator about what has changed most during his many years in education. He used the example of a student who was caught setting fire to books in the school's library. The student was immediately expelled, causing the angry parents to rush to the principal's office. "Where in the school's handbook," the parents wanted to know, "does it explicitly state that a student will be expelled for setting fire to library books?"
Commentary
by Paul Kendrick
Bishop Richard Malone is still keeping secrets.
That's why we're just finding out that, from July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2009, eleven more child sex abuse victims reported that they were molested by five living and four deceased priests.
Even as he reports the numbers, Bishop Malone won't tell us the names and whereabouts of the credibly accused priests and how many more children each priest abused.
When child abusers are identified, victims may learn for the first time that they were not the only one. Or, if it is now known that a previously accused priest abused a child in a different parish or school, this information may help other victims to feel strong enough to reach out for help.
The bishops go out of their way to advertise and promote Bill Gavin's (Gavin Group, Inc.) past experience in the FBI as if this information, in and by itself, ensures us that diocese audits will be thorough and unbiased. Yet, neither Mr. Gavin nor the bishops will admit that the financial success of Mr. Gavin's company is dependent upon the goodwill of Catholic bishops across the country. If enough bishops become dissatisfied with the results of their child protection compliance audits, then Mr. Gavin will be shown the door in the same manner as was Governor Keating, former head of the National Review Board.
The very definition of "self audit" is "conflict of interest."
As an advocate for the protection of children and those who were abused, I spoke on the phone earlier today with Mr. Gavin. I focused on a single question; "How can you issue a report that states that Bishop Malone is doing everything he can to protect children when an admitted priest child molester, one who is still in the bishop's employ and remains under the bishop's supervision, is living in a Falmouth neighborhood that's full of kids and no one in the community knows about the priest's past history of abusing children?"
Mr. Gavin had a response on the tip of his tongue. He told me he conducts compliance audits that fall within the four corners of the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, nothing more, nothing less.
In other words, if the child protection provisions of the Charter don't specifically state that a bishop must not put kids at risk by allowing an admitted priest child abuser to live anonymously in a neighborhood full of children, then Mr. Gavin and his auditors will ignore this child safety violation in their final report.
Thus, a bishop like Richard Malone gets an "A" for "ensuring the safety of children."
Reminds me of a question I asked a long time high school administrator about what has changed most during his many years in education. He used the example of a student who was caught setting fire to books in the school's library. The student was immediately expelled, causing the angry parents to rush to the principal's office. "Where in the school's handbook," the parents wanted to know, "does it explicitly state that a student will be expelled for setting fire to library books?"
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Diocese audit does not account for secrecy
Bishop Richard Malone is still keeping secrets.
That's why we're only finding out now that, from July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2009, eleven more child sex abuse victims reported that they were molested by five living and four deceased priests.
Even as he reports the numbers, Bishop Malone won't tell us the names of the nine accused priests and how many more children each priest has abused.
When child abusers are identified, victims may learn for the first time that they are not the only one. Or, if it is now known that a previously accused priest abused a child in a different parish or school, this information may help other victims to feel strong enough to reach out for help.
According to a statement issued by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland, the diocese has been found in full compliance with the articles of the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. The independent audit evaluates the effectiveness of child protection policies and practices and reviewed the period from July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2009.
The audit was conducted this fall by the Gavin Group, an independent company of investigators led by Bill Gavin, who has nearly 30 years experience with the FBI
Background
In April 2002, former Bishop Joseph Gerry turned over the names and files of all accused living and deceased priests from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland to the Maine Attorney General.
Almost two years later, the Attorney General’s Report was released to the public. See also the attorney general's investigative materials released on May 27, 2005 and July 8, 2005.
A database of accused living and deceased priests from the Diocese of Portland is posted on BishopAccountability.org.
Here's what the Audit failed to report
During the audit period, eleven individuals came forward with accusations of sexual abuse that date back from 30 to 70 years ago.
1) These claims involved nine priests of which four are dead;
--- What are the names of the deceased priests?
2) One priest was laicized (returned to the lay state) years before the complaint was received;
--- What is this priest's name? Where and when did the abuse occur?
3) Two had already been restricted from public ministry;
--- What are the priests' names? Where did the abuse occur? What years? How will additional allegations against these priests affect their cases?
4) One is unidentified (meaning the name provided could not be connected to any priest who ever served in the diocese) and;
5) One is in a religious order (this claim was referred to the religious superior for final resolution).
--- What is the priest's name? What is the religious order? Where did the abuse occur (parish, school, etc.)?
6) Nine of the complaints have been investigated and the process completed–six of the accusations have been substantiated.
--- What are the priest's names? Where did the abuse occur?
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