Fox 19 [Cincinnati OH]
May 24, 2006
http://www.fox19.com/Global/story.asp?S=4937632&nav=0zHF
Cincinnati's Archbishop has offered an apology to his priests saying that the hiring of Alex Henties was "a serious lapse in judgement".
The Archbishop's letter is in response to the recent allegations that Henties, who is serving time in prison for theft, was hired to perform background checks on perspective church employees who worked with children.
In the letter, Pilarczyk writes that employee Vince Frasher, who was responsible for hiring Henties, has been placed on administrative leave because of allegations that Frasher was sexually involved with Henties when he was a youth.
 |
Pilarczyk says that he has turned over the investigation to police and has pleged full cooperation with authorities.
The archbishop writes that the church intendeds to hire an outside, independent expert to examine the church's practices into checking the backgrounds of future volunteers and employees who are working with children.
Dear Father or Deacon,
I am well aware of the hurt, embarrassment, and anger once again being felt by Catholics of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati in the wake of recent events pertaining to Vince Frasher and Alex Henties. I deeply regret the serious lapse in judgment in having a felon involved with our background
check program designed to protect children.
We have taken a series of substantive actions, some of which you may not be familiar with. I thought it might be helpful for you to have an account of the situation as we now have it. This is what has happened in recent days:
* I have put personnel director Vince Frasher on administrative leave until further notice. Personnel issues may be directed to either Mr. Howard Pecquet or Fr. Joe Binzer. Questions dealing with fingerprinting and criminal background checks should be directed to Fr. Joe Binzer.
* The investigation into the allegations by Alex Henties that he and Vince Frasher had a sexual relationship is underway. I want it to be done quickly but also thoroughly. I do not know how long that will take.
* I have pledged complete cooperation with any investigation by secular legal authorities. The Archdiocese sent a television station's report of Henties' accusations to the Hamilton County Prosecutor's Office the day after it was broadcast.
* We have begun the process of trying to identify an outside, independent, expert to evaluate identity security in the background check program for volunteers and employees who work with children.
This information may be shared with your parishioners if you wish.
Please continue to pray for the Archdiocese and its shepherds during these difficult times.
Archbishop Pilarczyk
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.