Florida Catholic Church Sex Abuse Investigation Shrouded in Secrecy

NBC 2 TV
June 11, 2019

https://www.nbc-2.com/story/40628798/florida-catholic-church-sex-abuse-investigation-shrouded-in-secrecy

Roman Catholic Bishops were in Baltimore on Tuesday to confront the reignited sex abuse crisis. They're looking at increasing their accountability when it comes to sex abuse cases.

Several Attorneys General, including Florida's, launched state investigations after a Pennsylvania Grand Jury report in August detailed hundreds of cases of alleged abuse.

More than half of all the dioceses around the country have released lists with the names of Catholic clergy who have been credibly accused of sexually abusing children.

Just last month, the Archdiocese of New York, the second-largest diocese in the nation, identified 120 priests and deacons accused of sexually abusing a child or having child pornography.

This all comes one year after a report released by a grand jury in Pennsylvania accused more than 300 priests of sexually abusing children.

The NBC2 Investigators asked the seven dioceses in Florida to send us a list of clergy who had been credibly accused of sexually abusing children, but only one of the seven, the Diocese of St. Petersburg, sent the NBC2 Investigators a list.

"Even if years have passed, we want to hear from you," said former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, last October.

Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi made the announcement last October, that all seven of Florida's catholic dioceses were part of a statewide investigation into clergy abuse.

When the NBC2 Investigators asked current AG Ashley Moody's office where that investigation stands, spokesperson Kylie Mason said, "As this investigation is ongoing, we cannot comment further at this time."

When the NBC2 Investigators asked the Diocese of Venice, which covers all six counties in our viewing area, for a list of clergy who had been credibly accused, spokesperson Bob Reddy said, "Out of respect for the statewide prosecutor’s declared practice of not commenting regarding ongoing investigations, the Diocese is doing the same and does not foresee making any further statements on this issue."

The NBC2 Investigators got similar responses from the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee and the Diocese of St. Augustine.

"There is currently a state-wide investigation (all dioceses in FL) by the state attorney's office on diocesan sexual abuse cases. Until the investigation is complete, we will not be releasing names. The statewide prosecutor's stated practice discourages comments while an investigation is underway. Therefore, we will not comment further while the statewide prosecutor is conducting their investigation," said Sharmane Adams, a spokesperson for Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee.

"The Diocese of St. Augustine does have credible allegations against priests in the past; however, at this time, we are doing a file review for a complete “Report to the Faithful.” That report will not be made public until the Florida Attorney General completes their investigation on all Florida dioceses. I don’t know when that will be. They have not said," said Kathleen Bagg, a spokesperson for Diocese of St. Augustine.

But when the NBC2 Investigators asked the AG's office if they were opposed to Florida dioceses releasing these names, spokesperson Kylie Mason said, "We are not prohibiting any dioceses from voluntarily releasing any lists."

And, when we asked Mason if releasing names could impede the investigation, she said, "No, it would not."

The NBC2 Investigators sent Mason's responses to the Diocese of Venice -- and again, we asked for a list of names.

Again, the spokesperson denied our request, telling us, "It is Diocesan policy to not make a statement pertaining to an ongoing review."

"I think what it is, is an official corporate line," said Eugene Rosenquest, of Sanford. "It's a legalistic answer, and it is not a spiritual answer. If you want to proclaim the gospel as you do, then live by them."

Eugene Rosenquest runs the Florida chapter of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, or SNAP, and he's been watching this investigation closely.

"My grandmother was dying, and my parents had to go to the hospital, and the priest who was a family friend said he would take me to his summer home," Rosenquest said.

Rosenquest was sexually assaulted by a Catholic priest -- who was also his teacher -- more than 40 years ago in New York.

"I had been there before with friends and classmates for barbecues and nothing ever happened, and then when I was asleep, he approached me," Rosenquest said.

While Rosenquest said he still lives with that trauma, he's found triumph in speaking up.

And that's why he's asking all seven of the dioceses in Florida to release the names of clergy with credible claims of sexual abuse.

"For those particular victims who think that they're the only ones and haven't come forward -- when they see the name of a particular priest perpetrator, they will say, 'Oh he did it to someone else, I'm not alone,'" Rosenquest said.

Just last month, Pope Francis issued a new set of rules that will require all clergy to report sexual abuse and cover-ups to church authorities.

Critics like Rosenquest say it's a step in the right direction -- but he would rather these rules require reporting to the police.

Resources:

Contact the Florida AG's Office anonymously to report allegations here.

Contact Eugene Rosenquest with SNAP here.