Victim, attorneys claim names excluded from Seattle Archdiocese abusers list

By Dave Wagner
KIRO
January 25, 2016

http://www.kirotv.com/news/news/victim-attorneys-claim-names-excluded-seattle-arch/nqCLM/

SEATTLE —

It has been 55 years since Steve O’Connor was first abused by a teacher at St. Benedict School, in Seattle.  As he talks about it, there are still tears and pain in his eyes.

"It will never go away," said O’Connor.

In 2012, a King County jury awarded O’Connor $8 million for the sexual abuse he suffered at the hands of Dan Adamson. Adamson was a teacher, who became principal at St. Benedict School. 

When the archdiocese released the names of known abusers 10 days ago, Adamson was not on the list.

"It really put me back in 1962 at St. Benedict's, in the boy's bathroom, in the stall, in the projection room, in the choir loft in the pipe room, in the attic in his house, where he lived with his mother,” said O’Connor.

Attorney Mike Pfau says he has represented more than 100 victims of abuse in the Seattle Archdiocese. He believes there are more names that have not been released.

“I know it’s not a complete list,” said Pfau.  “We know the list doesn't include archdiocese employees, like coaches, principals, vice principals, teachers, and we know that are other priests that are not on the list."

Pfau believes Father Henry Conrad, of St. Benedict, is among others who belong on the archdiocese list of abusers.

O'Connor said he was threatened by Conrad when he revealed his teacher's abuse.

"He said, this is the first time you've ever been in trouble at this school. You're a liar. You're going to hell, and I have the power to send you if you ever talk about this, and, by the way, your tuition is overdue. If you don't have a check in here by Monday, you're out of here." 

O’Connor said Conrad’s words scared him, because he was a poor kid.  For decades, O’Connor kept the horrifying years of abuse to himself.

Twelve years ago, an outside group was formed by the archbishop to look at the files of suspected sex abusers in the Seattle Archdiocese. Former U.S. Attorney Mike McKay was part of the group and believes those files should be made public.

"It contains interviews of the alleged victims and other witnesses. It includes psychological profiles of the priests who are being investigated. There is a lot of information.  A lot of it is pretty personal,” said McKay.

Other archdioceses have released their files on abusive clergy.

“They've done it in Chicago. They've done it in Los Angeles. They should do it here in Seattle. The foot dragging by the church has caused this to be a longer than necessary process,” said McKay.

In 2004, McKay and others recommended a compliance program for the Seattle Archdiocese. He believes the church needs a code of ethics and systems in place to make sure people are following the rules.

McKay is not sure if they have started a program, because “Everything is so secretive.”

In the decades after his abuse, O’Connor has been a Marine in Vietnam and a police officer. He has not forgotten what he calls, “one of the worst horror stories chronicled in the history of Catholic sexual abuse.”  

O’Connor believes the release of names is an important first step.  He would like the Archbishop of Seattle to be even more transparent. 

“The scab gets thicker when the story gets told," O'Conner said. "Come out from behind your spokesperson and tell all. This story needs to be told."