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	St. Martha's Needs More Answers Sun Chronicle January 23, 2010 http://www.thesunchronicle.com/articles/2010/01/23/opinion/6819380.txt MASSACHUSETTS -- While many of their neighbors were bubbling with enthusiasm, first for the U.S. Senate campaign of native son Scott Brown, R-Wrentham, then with his historic election, the mood this week was somber for parishioners of St. Martha's Church in Plainville. Their pastor, the Rev. Garret Thomson, regarded by some members of the church as a saint, had died on Jan. 6. Parishioners later learned that two days earlier he had been placed on administrative leave after a 15-year-old sexual abuse allegation had arisen. The events brought a crowd to a meeting at the church Wednesday night. Among other things, the meeting brought to light divisions within the church - one parishioner had complained to the archdiocese about language Father Thomson had used at a pre-confirmation meeting and others had made undisclosed complaints against him - along with unhappiness about how the archdiocese had handled the complaints and the notification that he had been placed on administrative leave. And fears of an eventual closing of the small church resurfaced. Auxiliary Bishop John Dooher gave assurance that Father Thomson will be replaced and the parish will continue. Still, follow-up meetings appear warranted. The archdiocese can't please everybody. Some are displeased they weren't notified earlier about the priest's alleged abuse. Others are upset the archdiocese isn't doing enough to clear the priest's name. Interest extends far beyond Plainville. Advocacy groups formed after sex abuse scandals in the Fall River, Boston and several other dioceses are watching the case closely. Reaching a full understanding with the St. Martha's parishioners - and Wednesday's meeting fell short of that - would be the archdiocese's most effective first line of defense. Ready to vote again... and again? The dominoes haven't fallen yet, but after state Sen. Scott Brown has resigned and become U.S. Sen. Scott Brown, state Senate President Therese Murray will within 14 days announce a date for a special election to choose Brown's replacement. Rep. Richard Ross, R-Wrentham, and Rep. Lida Harkins, D-Needham, have expressed interest in running for the seat. Rep. Betty Poirier, R-North Attleboro, said she is being urged to run. Sherborn Selectman Paul DeRensis, D, is mulling an entry. That could put the special state Senate election close to the spring town elections. If that is the case, we urge Murray to make the Senate election simultaneous with as many town elections in the district as possible. Asking the voters to trudge out for one state race and then come back to the ballot box to choose town officers will not encourage them to do their civic duty with good cheer - and if a rep wins the replacement race, there may be yet another special election. Admittedly, there's a reluctance to put state and local elections on the same ballot, but Norfolk put a local override on the special Senate primary ballot, so it can be done. ...of the week The we'll-believe-it-when-we-see-it story of the week was the announcement Tuesday that North Attleboro selectmen and the school board plan to meet to try to work out an agreement that will return the Afghans painting to the town from Sotheby's auction gallery, where it was held for safe-keeping after the painting's value was estimated at more than $1 million. Kudos to: *Mark Sturdy, on his nomination to serve as the next clerk magistrate of Attleboro District Court. We'll say more about the Sturdy nomination in Monday's editorial. *Chase, 8-year-old Billy LaCasse's Maine cooncat (inset), on his injury-free escape from a fire at the LaCasse home in Norton, and to the neighbors who helped in the search for him. *Nancy and Ed Lawton, for introducing a locally produced cheese to the market shelves - Fromage Blanc, made at their dairy in Foxboro. *The Foxboro special education department and the New England Patriots, on working toward a pilot work program at Gillette Stadium for high school students with disabilities. *The Norton School Department and Wheaton College, who are discussing the creation of a work site in the schools for Wheaton students as tutors. *Foxboro High School trumpeter Matt Muirhead (inset), who will be a member of the Grammy Jazz Ensembles performing Jan. 27 and 28 in Santa Monica, Calif. *New Attleboro Veterans Agent Carl Bradshaw, who presented his own French Fourragere decoration to David White, who earned the award in World War II but lost it. *Brown University graduate student Ulyana Horodyskyj, on completing a trek to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa, where she planted a flag signed by Norton sixth grade students.
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