Clergy Sex Abuse: the Hope Haven Connection

By Rob Masson
WVUE TV
November 5, 2018

http://www.fox8live.com/2018/11/05/clergy-sex-abuse-hope-haven-connection/

The Archdiocese of New Orleans list of clergy credibly accused of sexual abuse highlighted one particularly dark time at a Marrero orphanage.

One local attorney said more victims may come forward in the weeks and months ahead.

For 86 years, Hope Haven-Madonna Manor has served as a gateway to the west bank, but behind the orphanage’s ornate facade existed one of the Catholic church’s darkest secrets.

“Some of the abusers weren’t employed by the church. They were volunteers who were allowed to roam at will on the campus,” said attorney Roger Stetter, who sued the Archdiocese of New Orleans on behalf of sex abuse victims.

On the list of 57 abusive clergy members released by the archdiocese last week, eight - nearly one in seven - were credibly accused of abuse, and at one point spent time at Hope Haven.

“We’re telling the truth, and the truth will set you free,” Archbishop Gregory Aymond said Friday.

The list includes priests and clergy, many from the Salesian order, who served at Hope Haven, with one case dating back to the 1940s. The list includes Patrick Brady, Stanislaus Ceglar, Paul Csik, Anthony Esposito, Joseph Pankowski, Ernest Fagione and August Kita, who, the church said, were all credibly accused of abusing dozens of teens.

“In 2008 we filed a massive lawsuit with 59 named plaintiffs,” said Stetter.

Stetter would ultimately collect more than $5 million on behalf of those 59 plaintiffs, who began coming forward with their tales of abuse in 2005.

“Insurance companies picked up 50 percent of the tab to pay off these cases. ...None of them went to trial,” said Stetter.

And not all of the abusers were religious leaders.

“There was a milk truck driver who the nuns allowed to take one of the orphans on his milk route, and he took him and abused him in the back of his milk truck,” said Stetter.

Now that the abusive priest list has been made public, some believe other alleged victims will come forward.

“Repressed memory is always something that will be litigated for each individual,” said FOX 8 legal analyst Joe Raspanti.

“In 2008 we filed a massive lawsuit with 59 named plaintiffs,” said Stetter.

Stetter would ultimately collect more than $5 million on behalf of those 59 plaintiffs, who began coming forward with their tales of abuse in 2005.

“Insurance companies picked up 50 percent of the tab to pay off these cases. ...None of them went to trial,” said Stetter.

And not all of the abusers were religious leaders.

“There was a milk truck driver who the nuns allowed to take one of the orphans on his milk route, and he took him and abused him in the back of his milk truck,” said Stetter.

Now that the abusive priest list has been made public, some believe other alleged victims will come forward.

“Repressed memory is always something that will be litigated for each individual,” said FOX 8 legal analyst Joe Raspanti.