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  Chapter 12 Fr Calder74

Cloyne Report
July 18, 2011

http://www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Cloyne_Rpt.pdf/Files/Cloyne_Rpt.pdf

[excerpt]

Introduction

12.1 Fr Calder was born in the 1960s and was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Cloyne in the 1980s. Initially he was an assistant priest and then a curate in parish A in north Cork. He served as a curate in parish B in east Cork from 1992 to September 1997. He was then transferred to Parish C

which adjoins parish A. He was suspended from ministry in October 1997. Since then, he has remained out of public ministry and has been paid an allowance from the general diocesan operating account (see Chapter 7).

Psychological assessment

12.2 In November 1978, Calder was psychologically assessed as to his suitability for entering the priesthood. The psychological assessment found that he "seems motivated towards the priesthood for the wrong reasons". His personality test results "were characterised by a high degree of defensiveness and very limited ability for self-criticism. The most significant feature of his results was a very high score on the psychosis scale (97th percentile) and a 'highish' score on a scale of general maladjustment (70th percentile)". There were also clear indications of "deep sexual repression and a rigid, inflexible quality to his personality which is likely to make it very difficult to get through to him". The psychologist concluded that Calder's interest and motivation towards the priesthood appeared to be essentially "escapist and inspired to some extent by prestige or status". He was of the view that there were some aspects to Calder's personality profile that might make it inadvisable for him to continue. He stated that if Calder were to be retained the personality dimension aspect should be kept under review.

12.3 There is nothing in the diocesan files to indicate what view the diocesan authorities took of this psychological report. Despite its content, Fr Calder was ordained a priest in June 1984.

History of concerns and allegations

12.4 The history of concerns and complaints about Fr Calder is very confusing. It is difficult to establish with any degree of certainty what precisely was known, when it was known and by whom it was known. No formal direct complaint of child sexual abuse against Fr Calder has been made to the Diocese of Cloyne. There were no formal complaints of child sexual abuse made to the Gardaí. In spite of the absence of formal complaints, it is clear that there were concerns expressed about Fr Calder's behaviour by his fellow priests, teachers, doctors, gardaí and parishioners almost from the time of his ordination.

Concerns/complaints of young adults

12.5 During Fr Calder's time in parish A, from the mid 1980s to 1992, there were concerns that he was supplying alcoholic drinks, which appeared to be spiked, to young adults. In 1988, a young man told his doctor and solicitor that he had been sexually assaulted by Fr Calder after being supplied with some alcoholic drink. This allegation became known to the Gardaí at the time but the young man did not make a formal complaint. Ten years later, in January 1998, this man and five other men made statements to the Gardaí alleging that Fr Calder had given them drink when they were young adults and the drink had caused them to become weak and/or fall asleep. Three of the six also alleged that they had been sexually assaulted by Fr Calder while they were affected by the drink. Two others said they had fallen asleep in his house and could not remember what had happened; another said he had difficulty getting home as he was so weakened by the drink provided. The

Gardaí took statements from all the men who complained and a statement from Fr Calder. Fr Calder accepted that he had provided them with alcohol and that two of them had stayed in his house; he denied that he had sexually assaulted anyone. One file relating to the alleged sexual assault on the

young man who had complained to his doctor and solicitor in 1988 was forwarded to the DPP who declined to prosecute because of the delay in making the complaint.

 
 

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