Some Pedophile Priests beyond Diocese's Reach

The Advertiser
August 15, 2014

http://www.theadvertiser.com/story/news/local/acadiana/2014/08/15/jarrell-pedophile-priests-beyond-dioceses-reach/14117773/

Bishop Michael Jarrell

Lafayette Bishop Michael Jarrell confirmed today that at least some of the 15 diocesan priests who were credibly accused in child molestation incidents that led to diocesan payout settlements are beyond the point where the diocese knows what they are doing.

Seven of the 15 have died, the bishop said. Of the remaining eight, none are involved in ministry and five have moved away, he said. But in some cases, the bishop concedes, "Monitoring their activities is practically impossible."

The bishop's disclosures and comments came in response to a series of written questions submitted to Jarrell by The Daily Advertiser through the Rev. Richard Greene, media liaison for the diocese.

"When these men move out of the diocese, we sometimes know where they are moving. If so, we inform that Diocese," the bishop said in one written response to a question. The bishop also said that when prospective employers seek information about the former priests, "We respond truthfully."

Read more: Priest abuse victims demand Jarrell, Harson release names

Read more: Alleged abusive priest serving in Lafayette

The bishop said in his written responses that three offenders live in the diocese, retired. Two receive monthly pension payments.

Of the 15 priests confirmed as pedophiles, Jarrell said, not all of their victims requested settlements.

"Some of the 15 were self-confessed, i.e., not reported by victims," he said.

The bishop insists that no credible child molester complaints have been made since 1984, and he has declined to release the names of offenders. In response to a Daily Advertiser question, the bishop said, "it is correct that reports of abuse of minors have been received in the years since 1984, but all involved alleged acts that occurred before 1984, if they occurred at all."

"Bishop Jarrell's action in shielding and protecting the identify of 15 men known to him to have sexually abused children or minors cannot be reconciled with the church charter on child protection or any moral or ethical standard I'm aware of," said Ray Mouton, co-author of the Doyle Peterson Mouton document, now 29 years old, that was the first public call for all bishops to practice transparency publicly on matters related to clergy sex abuse. "Catholics and the public at large rightfully expect a Catholic bishop will not shield and protect the identity of men who have committed sex abuse crimes.

"While Bishop Jarrell's refusal may serve the interest of 15 men who have committed sex crimes against children, keeping their names and the fact that they have committed heinous crimes a secret, the bishop's action does in fact expose children to the risk of being abused by these men who the diocese never reported to police, which means that today they are not obligated to register as sex offenders wherever they reside."

The identity of the priests has been of issue because of recently released news stories by Minnesota Public Radio, which reviewed the tenure of Bishop Harry Flynn in Minnesota. Flynn, who was assigned as bishop to Lafayette in 1986, at the apparent height of the pedophile-priest problem, gained a national reputation for dealing successfully with dioceses beset with problems related to pedophile priests. MPR's review of court-related materials held in Texas suggested that Flynn's reputation outpaced his performance, and that Flynn continued, like his predecessors in Lafayette, to cover up pedophile cases.

The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests — SNAP — has demanded that Jarrell release the identitiesof the offending priests and that District Attorney Mike Harson investigate the situation. Both have declined those requests.

"The bishop's continued refusal to divulge these names is a disservice to children who reside in communities where these sex offenders live today, and it is a disservice to his church, the faithful who do not expect their bishop to shield the identity of criminals," Mouton said. "The bishop's own reputation is not being well served either, for a bishop is supposed to be the shepherd of his flock, especially the young ones."