Church abuse survivors sought in FSM

Guam Daily Post
February 02, 2019

https://bit.ly/2TBeGWM

Concerns of clergy sex abuse have spread to the Federated States of Micronesia, which includes the island states of Chuuk, Pohnpei, Yap and Kosrae. The recent publication of a list of Jesuits against whom "credible" allegations were filed was followed shortly by a call from a local attorney with ties to the FSM for survivors. 

Earlier this month, the Jesuits USA Northeast Province listed 50 priests, four of whom served in the FSM, who have one or more credible allegations of abuse of a minor after 1950. According to the list, “an allegation is deemed ‘credible’ if there is a "preponderance of evidence that the allegation is more likely true than not after investigation.”

• Father John Doolan: He worked at Xavier High School in Chuuk from 1957 to 1960 and served at the church in Chuuk from 1965 to 1973. He was removed from ministry in 2006 and died two years later. He admitted to “abuse of minors” in the 1960s and 1970s. Documents state that abuse was reported in 1999 but don’t specify how many allegations were lodged against him.

• Father John Garvey: He taught at an unspecified educational institution in Chuuk from 1968 to 1971, worked in Pohnpei from 1974 to 1977, and worked in Kitti Island in Pohnpei from 1977 to 1978. He died in 2011. The accusations of “abuse of minor” from 1978 to 1979 were found to be credible after investigation. The allegation was reported in 2013.

• Father John T. Ryan: He taught and lived at Xavier High School in Chuuk from 1972 to 1973. He left the Jesuits in 2002. Allegations that he abused minors in the 1980s and 1990s were found to be credible after investigation. The allegations were filed in 2003 and 2014.

• Father Thomas Denny: He worked at Xavier High School in Chuuk in the 1990s. He was removed from ministry in 2002 for allegations of abuse in the 1960s and 1970s. The allegations were reported in 2002 and 2012.

The release also notes that many of the Jesuit priests “on this list have not been found guilty of a crime or liable for any civil claim.” Additionally, many accusations were made decades after the abuse allegedly took place, and often after the accused Jesuit had died. The release also states that Jesuits with allegations currently under investigation are not included on the list.

In Chuuk, Father Dennis M. Baker, Xavier High School’s principal, in a letter to school parents, said none of the allegations noted against the Jesuits involve Xavier students. Baker also confirmed Denny’s assignment to Chuuk in the 1990s, which wasn't included in the original list published by Northeast Province. 

Seeking survivors

That list caught the attention of an attorney on Guam with ties to the FSM. 

Attorney Michael Berman posted a notice in the newspaper seeking individuals who may have been victims of clerical sex abuse while a minor and attending:

• Pohnpei Agriculture and Trade School in Pohnpei;

• Pohnpei Catholic School from the 1950s to the 1970s;

• Saint Cecelia in Weno, Chuuk;

• Xavier High School in Weno, Chuuk; and/or

• any Catholic parishes in Pohnpei and Chuuk from the 1950s to the present.

Berman has worked throughout the Micronesian region since the 1970s. He moved to Yap in 1977 and traveled to Chuuk and Pohnpei. He continued his work with the local governments and communities, working as legislative counsel and at Micronesian Legal Services.  

He has associates in Pohnpei who are running a similar notice. He said on Guam he has received a call from someone asking for more information, but nothing more.

“We’re trying to correct some wrongs,” he said, adding his belief that for those who have come forward, there are more who haven’t “because they don’t want to been as chasing money, or trying to take down the church.”

He said, compared to other jurisdictions, he believes it’s tougher for people living in the Micronesian region to speak of these issues because “they’re trusting of the church and more private about their personal life.”

Berman said locally he’s handling about 80 clerical sex abuse cases on Guam – 42 against the Catholic Church and 37 against the Boy Scouts.

There are more than 200 cases that have been filed against the Catholic Church on Guam since a local law was passed in 2016 that removed the statute of limitations for civil cases involving child sex abuse. Attorney David Lujan has the bulk of the local church cases.

Local community group Concerned Catholics of Guam has been among the loudest voices calling for justice to the victims of clerical sex abuse. The group also asked for a list, similar to what was released by the Jesuits.  

Promoting healing

Father John Cecero, in the letter, said he released the list to help promote “healing from the pain and anger caused by clergy sex abuse and the lack of accountability and transparency on the part of church leadership.”

“At the heart of this crisis is the painful, sinful and illegal harm done to children by those whom they should have been able to trust. We did not know any best practices to handle these violations many decades ago and regrettably made mistakes along the way," Cecero wrote. 

The USA Northeast Province is made up of what were separate Provinces at various periods over the past 70 years: Buffalo in the 1960s; New England and New York, separately, until 2014. According to the Jan. 15, 2019 letter, the Northeast Province has implemented new policies and, for the last 15 years, has had no new cases of abuse of minors or vulnerable adults.

According to the documents from the Northeast Province, a living Jesuit with a credible allegation of abuse is removed from ministry and assigned to a community that does not serve minors, where he lives under a closely monitored safety plan.

Mike Gabriele, communications director for Northeast Province, said he is not aware of any new allegations of misconduct by clergy in Micronesia following publication of the list.