JOHN BRENNAN, FORMER CITY OF PORTLAND DEPUTY CHIEF OF POLICE, IS OBSTRUCTING JUSTICE FOR CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE VICTIM.

DEACON JOHN BRENNAN OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF PORTLAND IS BEING CRUEL AND MANIPULATIVE TO THE NEEDS OF A CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE VICTIM.

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February 24, 2012

Deacon John Brennan
Office of Professional Responsibility
Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland
Portland, Maine

Dear Deacon Brennan,

I have noted in your correspondence to Marie Tupper and Mike Sweatt that you appear unable to comprehend the fact that the child sexual abuse victim Marie is in contact with does not want anything to do with you or any other person at the chancery.

Please...listen closely. The victim does not want to speak with you by telephone, does not want to write a letter to you, nor does the victim want to meet with you in person.

Instead, Marie Tupper is trying to assist the victim by obtaining the names and service dates of all Catholic priests who worked as chaplains at Mercy Hospital between the years 1970 to 1980.

It's just that simple.

Last week, Marie asked that she be permitted to come to the Portland chancery to research the names which are available in the encyclopedia type volumes of the Official Catholic Directories, of which annual copies are kept at the chancery.

www.officialcatholicdirectory.com

In fact, the Diocese of Portland web site includes instructions on how to make an appointment to come in and use the Catholic directories.

Archives and Records
www.portlanddiocese.net/info.php?info_id=59

Marie followed these instructions, yet she is still being told by you that she cannot come to the chancery to look up the information.

Your prohibition doesn't make sense. The very same Catholic directories are available at the Boston Public Library, meaning a four hour round trip.

The information contained in these directories is not confidential by any means. However, the availability of complete sets of the directories is the issue at hand.

So, at this point, and even though Marie Tupper is a Catholic parishioner and member of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland, you are refusing to allow her to come to the chancery and research the names she is looking for.

For the record, you are also refusing to walk from your office, go down the hall, look up the information and forward the names to Marie.

This would take no more than twenty minutes of your time.

Instead, and let's be clear about this, you are forcing Marie to drive two hours to Boston, locate the Boston Public Library, pay for gas, tolls and parking, research the directories and then drive another two hours back to Maine.

This is cruel and vindictive on your part.

But, because Marie wants to do all she can to help the man who was sexually abused by a Catholic priest chaplain when he was a child and patient at Mercy Hospital, Marie will make the trip to Boston.

But, please, Deacon Brennan, what possible motive do you, Bishop Richard Malone and other chancery officials have that causes you to mistreat Marie Tupper and the victim she is helping in such a harsh manner.

You, Deacon Brennan, are the former Deputy Chief of Police for the City of Portland. During the time you were Deputy Chief, would you have made it as difficult for a citizen to assist in the investigation of a crime as you are now making it difficult for Marie Tupper to help a child sexual abuse victim to pursue justice for a crime committed against him?

Sincerely,
Paul Kendrick