Episcopal bishop calls for 'disciplinary proceedings' in St. George's School sex abuse case

By Karen Lee Ziner
Providence Journal
January 05, 2016

http://www.providencejournal.com/article/20160105/NEWS/160109647

Knisely

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — The Episcopal bishop of Rhode Island is calling for "appropriate disciplinary proceedings" against three people named in recent reports of sexual abuse at St. George's School in Middletown in the 1970s and 1980s.

The Rt. Rev. W. Nicholas Knisely said in a statement Tuesday that he is in contact with Rhode Island State Police, "and I am following their direction as the investigation is being carried out" into the episodes discussed in a report issued by the school in December and in media coverage.

"As of this morning, two Episcopal priests and a third person who has worked in Episcopal congregations have been named in the report or ensuing media coverage," Bishop Knisely wrote in a letter to clergy released shortly after a Boston news conference about sexual abuse at the elite private school.

"One of the priests allegedly committed abuse and the other allegedly failed to report allegations of abuse made against a St. George's employee as mandated by state law," Bishop Knisely wrote. "The third individual is alleged to have committed abuse."

"I have been in touch with bishops in whose dioceses the three men reside, and am currently working with other church leaders to make sure that appropriate disciplinary proceedings are initiated in this case," Knisely wrote.

At the news conference, Anne Scott (Class of 1980) and Katie Wales Lovkay ('80) and their lawyers issued a 36-page rebuttal to the school's recent report of an "independent" investigation into the abuse. A third graduate whose name appears on the rebuttal document, Joan Reynolds ('79), did not attend. The school has acknowledged that all three were sexually assaulted by the former athletic trainer.

The bishop did not identify anyone in his letter.

However, the rebuttal identifies, by name, two of the employee perpetrators referenced in the school's report: a former choir director who was fired from the school for sexual misconduct in 1988; and a former assistant chaplain fired in 1974 after admitting sexual misconduct with two boys. (The Providence Journal has not published their names because they have not been charged with or convicted of a crime).

Eric MacLeish, legal co-counsel for victims, identified the third person as former headmaster the Rev. George Andrews, who he said did not report suspected abuse in 1988.

"I applaud what the bishop has said and it's about time somebody stepped up to the plate and urged discipline for those who violated children, and those who did not fulfill mandatory child abuse reporting," said MacLeish. "There should be discipline. And if there's not discipline, what does it say about the school community? Why is this coming from the Episcopal bishop and not the board of trustees at St. George's."