NEW MEXICO
The New Mexican
1947: Servants of the Paraclete is unofficially founded in Jemez Springs under the “patronage” of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe. Its mission is to provide assistance to priests with substance abuse and psychosexual problems.
1952: Servants of the Paraclete is officially recognized as a “diocesan community,” which means it is under the authority and control of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe.
The Rev. Gerald Fitzgerald, a founder of the Servants of the Paraclete, writes to the bishop of Reno about priests in the program, stating: “Many bishops believe that men are never free from the approximate danger once they have begun. Hence, leaving them on duty or wandering from diocese to diocese is contributing to scandal or at least to the proximate danger of scandal.”
1957: Fitzgerald writes to Archbishop Edwin Byrne of Santa Fe, addressing him as “co-founder” of the Servants of the Paraclete, concerning pedophiles in their midst: “It is for this class of rattlesnake I have always wished an island retreat. But even an island is too good for these vipers, of whom the gentle master said ‘it were better they had not been born.’ ”
Fitzgerald also requests permission to not offer hospitality to men who have seduced or attempted to seduce boys or girls, stating: “Experience has taught us these men are too dangerous to the children of the parish and neighborhood.”
1960: Servants of the Paraclete makes a down payment for purchase of an island to house men who abuse children.
1962: Fitzgerald writes a report for the Prefect of the Holy Office (Vatican) dealing with the issue of priests who abuse minors. He recommends such priests “be given the alternative of retired life within the protection of monastery walls or complete laicization. We have the former in most cases, for laicization is at best the less of two evils.”
Also, the Archdiocese of Santa Fe asks the Servants of the Paraclete to provide it with detailed information on each resident priest, including offenses, status of treatment, etc.
1963: Fitzgerald has an audience with Pope Paul VI on Aug. 26, 1963, at which he discusses the problem of priest sexual abusers. Describing the meeting in a letter dated Sept. 16, 1964, Fitzgerald writes, “I myself in an audience I was privileged to have with His Holiness Pope Paul, and spoke of this matter which undoubtedly has been one of the deep concerns of his fatherly soul.”
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