BishopAccountability.org
	Documents Detail Suspicion of Priest's Abuse The Associated Press, carried in The Paris News [Texas] June 5, 2005 FORT WORTH, Texas — Shortly after investigators linked him to two men suspected of sexually abusing of boys at least a half dozen boys, the Rev. Thomas Teczar left his parish in Ranger. The reasons behind Teczar's departure from St. Rita's Catholic Church remained sealed for more than a decade, stashed away in a secret diocese archive known as the Confidential files. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram examined the files this spring after they were opened during a lawsuit. The documents detail how Teczar _ a Catholic priest who admitted being sexually attracted to boys _ was sent to minister in four rural parishes without supervision. They also raise questions about the decisions by Fort Worth Bishop Joseph P. Delaney, Teczar's superior. In a recent interview, Delaney said he knew nothing about sexual abuse allegations against Teczar before or during the priest's time in the Fort Worth Diocese. However, his notes in the Confidential Files show he was aware of suspicions and the risk of hiring Teczar. "T admits to being attracted to adolescents in every way, including sexually," read Delaney's notes from June 12-13, 1988, shortly before he hired Teczar. Teczar had worked for the Diocese of Worcester, Mass., but an incident led to him being placed on leave in 1985. He had been convicted for providing alcohol to a 15-year-old boy who later accused the priest of sexually abusing him. Teczar received psychological treatment for his problems with anger, sexuality and alcohol use. "He was fortunately able to control himself. That may not have been the case on some other occasions," another entry by Delaney about Teczar read. Despite the implications, Teczar was hired and sent to work in Fort Worth and Bedford. He became the parish priest in Ranger, about 90 miles west of Fort Worth, in 1989. "I am willing to give Father Teczar an opportunity to get back into active ministry, fully aware of the possible risks that may be involved. ... Please pray with me that my decision will be of benefit to all concerned and for the good of souls," Delaney wrote in a July 13, 1988, letter to Bishop Timothy Harrington in Worcester, Mass. But allegations against Teczar surfaced at his new post in Ranger. By 1993, police were investigating two men who were sexually involved with the priest and were suspected of abusing up to seven boys. Investigators began suspecting Teczar also was involved and called the Fort Worth Diocese at least three times. But their messages were never returned, said former Eastland County sheriff Ronnie White. Authorities think the diocese and Delaney hampered their investigation by ignoring the sheriff's and district attorney's requests for information about Teczar's past. They say the information Delaney had gathered even before he hired Teczar in would have been crucial to the investigation. Delaney said he didn't know investigators were seeking the information. His notes following a March 18, 1993 conversation read "DA and sheriff threatening prosecution ... hinting further trouble _ ???accusing Tom of pedophilia???" Years later, one of the children from the investigation alleged he was 12 when Teczar raped and molested him between 1990 and 1992. Teczar was indicted in March 2003 on three counts of aggravated sexual assault and one count of indecency with a child after the man filed a criminal complaint with the Texas Rangers. Teczar remains free on $30,000 bond and is expected to go on trial in Eastland County next year. When asked by the Star-Telegram if he ever abused anyone, Teczar, 64, replied, "I'm not at liberty to say." He declined to elaborate. The victim later sued the Fort Worth Catholic Diocese along with another man, Wade Driskill, who alleges Teczar also sexually abused him, starting at age 14. Although Teczar denied abusing Driskill and the other plaintiff, both men received settlements from the diocese that totaled $4.1 million. Still, Driskill said the statement the diocese released in April, following the settlement angered him. "After weighing the options and considering the uncertainty of litigation and the related costs, the diocese ... settled the claims. ... At the time that Thomas Teczar came to the diocese, there were no allegations of sexual misconduct against him," the April 7, 2005, statement read. Delaney contends he has been truthful and said Teczar's accusers are liars who obtained money and now want to make trouble. But with the facts he has now, Delaney admits it was a mistake to bring Teczar to the diocese. "When I brought him here, obviously I thought it was a good thing to do," Delaney, 70, said in a May 11 interview with the Star-Telegram. "I didn't bring somebody in that I thought, let alone knew, was going to do these things."