Pa. Diocese Abuse Investigations "Historic," Advocates Say

By Brandie Kessler
York Daily Record
October 1, 2016

http://www.ydr.com/story/news/2016/10/01/diocese-investigations-historic-advocates-say/91326460/

Mark Totaro, victim assistance coordinator for the Diocese of Harrisburg, says the Catholic Church will do its best to take care of clergy abuse victims, though "they might never have closure." Chris Dunn, York Daily Record

The Harrisburg diocese, which in the summer had responded to York Daily Record requests for information on specific priests accused of child sexual abuse, now says it will no longer answer questions about the diocese's clergy abuse history.

“Because of the secret and confidential nature of grand jury investigations, the Diocese can't discuss any specifics about the investigation except to say that the Diocese is cooperating fully with the Office of Attorney General,” Matt Haverstick, the attorney representing the Harrisburg diocese, said in an email.

The Harrisburg diocese had answered some questions regarding allegations of clergy abuse against priests who had at some point worked in the diocese. In August, the York Daily Record published the names of 15 priests who had worked in the diocese at some time and who had, at some time in their careers, been accused of child sexual abuse.

About three weeks later, the Daily Record reported that three more priests with ties to the Harrisburg diocese had been accused of sexual abuse of children at some time in their career. One allegation was new, the diocese said, and it was investigating whether it was credible. An update wasn't available Thursday because of Haverstick's statement that the diocese can’t discuss specifics of cases.

The grand jury investigation into Harrisburg and five other dioceses -- Allentown, Erie, Greensburg, Pittsburgh and Scranton -- which was confirmed by state Rep. Mark Rozzi, marks the first time all the dioceses in a single state will have been investigated, advocate and former priest Patrick Wall said Friday. He called it "historic."

"We have never seen, at any point in time, where all the dioceses in any particular state have been served in the past or are currently under criminal investigation," said Wall, who is an advocate and adviser with the law firm Jeff Anderson & Associates, which specializes in child sexual abuse cases and has offices around the country.

The Rev. Thomas Doyle, who has worked with clergy abuse survivors for more than 30 years, said he knows of about about 12 or 13 grand jury investigations that have been done nationwide.

He called the investigation in Pennsylvania "super momentous" and said it could "end up being the most extensive investigation yet" because of its scope.

In March of this year, the results of a grand jury investigation into the Altoona-Johnstown diocese were released by the Pennsylvania Attorney General's office. In 2005 and 2011, the Philadelphia Archdiocese was investigated by a grand jury.

Wall said he wants to see information about abuse revealed through the investigations, and that information will hopefully help in healing.

"I hope that all the kids and now adults who are suffering in silence, thinking they were the only one sexually abused by a particular perpetrator, knows it wasn't just them, that it wasn't their fault," Wall said. "This is about righting the wrong of the betrayal of the church."

Judy Deaven, of Harrisburg, who said her son Joey Behe was sexually abused as a boy by a priest in the Allentown Diocese, said she testified before the grand jury in Pittsburgh in August.

Deaven's son, who at one time had lived in Dillsburg, died in April 2015 at age 45. He had elevated pain medication in his system, but his death was not ruled a suicide, Deaven said. She said her son had suffered physical injury when he was raped by the priest, and he had health complications for which he took several medications.

"I'm Joey's only voice now," she said. She said her son wanted to speak out about clergy sexual abuse, in an effort to help other survivors. But he never truly felt like people were listening. She didn't feel like she'd been heard either, until she testified before the grand jury.

She plans to keep talking about her son in an effort to reform the statute of limitations law in Pennsylvania to allow past victims of abuse to try to hold their perpetrators accountable, she said.

"I'd love to shut it off," Deaven said. "But it's in the back of my mind all the time."

How a grand jury investigation is done

Chris Carusone, an attorney and partner at Cohen Seglias Pallas Greenhall & Furman PC in Harrisburg, is a former deputy attorney general who was in charge of the statewide investigating grand jury unit. In that role, he made sure that grand juries were following proper procedures, he said.

A grand jury meets one week a month, Carusone said. It's for that reason that grand jury investigations "are notoriously slow."

Judy Deaven said when her son, Joey Behe, was a boy, he was sexually abuse by a priest from the Allentown Diocese. Deaven said her son died in 2015, and she recently testified before a grand jury that is investigating several dioceses, including the Harrisburg and Allentown dioceses. (Photo: Submitted)

The attorney general petitions the state Supreme Court for a statewide investigating grand jury, and the court designates from which counties members of the jury must be picked.

"What you end up with is just common folks, like any other jury, who dedicate 18 to 24 months to help law enforcement do investigations," Carusone said.

The grand jury will hear a variety of cases during each week that it is meeting, Carusone. Several witnesses who have testified before the grand jury investigating the dioceses said they testified in Pittsburgh.

Typically a grand jury issues subpoenas for people early in the investigation, to talk with witnesses, Carusone said. Non-professional witnesses are "free to disclose their testimony to whomever they choose, when they choose," unless the supervising judge issues an order that tells them they can't, he said. Jurors, professional witnesses, law enforcement and prosecutors are sworn to secrecy.

If the grand jury finds cause to recommend charges, those charges must be brought within the statute of limitations.

A grand jury cannot meet for more than 24 months. A typical investigation lasts up to 18 months, with the option to extend the investigation. If the investigation isn't complete within 24 months, a new grand jury must be impaneled, Carusone said.

How to report alleged abuse

To reach the Pennsylvania Attorney General's office to report alleged abuse, call 888-538-8541.

Victims can call 888-772-7227 to find a local rape crisis center, and victims of all abuse in York County may call York County's Victim Assistance Center, which provides free, confidential counseling, at 1-800-422-3204.

If you were abused by clergy or know someone who was, the Diocese of Harrisburg wants you to report the abuse to law enforcement, to the ChildLine by calling 1-800-932-0313, and by calling the Harrisburg diocese's victim assistance line at 1-800-626-1608.