BishopAccountability.org
	Archdiocese Sued over Alleged Sex Solicitation By Jan Danelski Kodiak Daily Mirror [Alaska] May 11, 2005 Once they receive formal notice, the Anchorage Archdiocese will have 20 days to respond to charges it failed to "supervise and monitor" Father Robert Bester, priest of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Anchorage and a former priest St. Mary's Parish in Kodiak, who allegedly solicited sex from Fredrick May in exchange for a job on a church construction project. The formal complaint was mailed from the offices of Josephson and Associates on May 9. Church officials have not received notice of the lawsuit, Sister Charlotte Davenport, from the Archdiocese, said early this morning. May, through his attorney Joe Josephson, alleges the Archdiocese knew, or should have known, that Bester "was a troubled individual with a proclivity for sexual misconduct." May's complaint alleges Bester's conduct caused him "emotional pain and suffering and distress," and May is asking the court to award him the cost of therapeutic services, attorney fees and any other compensation the court may see fit. May was motivated to document Bester's conduct by carrying a concealed video camera provided by KTVB Channel 11 News in Anchorage because he wanted to expose Bester's wrongdoing, Josephson said. "He (Bester) frightened May. He startled and shocked him, and May thought he had to assist in getting to the bottom of this," Josephson said. "May is not a Catholic, but he is a religious man." Charges against the Archdiocese stem from conversations between Bester and May that began in July or August of 2004. According to May's formal complaint, Bester befriended him when he was unemployed and invited him to his office in the church to discuss employment. May says Bester gave him approximately $500 as a draw against future wages. Soon after, May alleges, Bester gave him a ring and several days later, requested sexual favors. May subsequently recorded more than 30 minutes of conversations between himself and the priest on two occasions. KTVA News broadcast selections from those tapes on May 5 and 6. In the broadcasts, Bester characterized himself as a vampire who needs body fluids to survive. The Archdiocese placed Bester on immediate administrative leave when Bester told church officials the broadcast was imminent. Bester served as pastor at St. Mary's Church in Kodiak during 2003 and 2004. "He always said he was here for a short time," Sister Barbara Harrington, parish administrator at St. Mary's, said. "He was not well and did not intend to stay long." Bester had arthritis and sometimes walked with a cane; he also had frequent colds, Harrington said. "But he showed up for work every morning and made the rounds," she said. Despite his age — he was in his 70s — he had great enthusiasm, was friendly and had a strong sense of humor, Harrington said. But, Bester also made people uncomfortable: He was unconventional, dressed differently and used strong humor that some found inappropriate, she said. "It seemed to be Bester's way of loosening up the situation," Harrington recalled. A few parishioners complained, but for the most part Bester left friends behind when he moved to Anchorage, she said. "I think he had a positive experience here," Harrington said. "He said more than once it was one of his best experiences." Sister Diane Bardol, principal of St. Mary's School, sent a letter to parents May 6 to address worries that Bester may have spent time with children at the school or church. "I can assure you that he had very little contact and (was) never alone," Bardol wrote. "Occasionally he would walk through school, coming in one door and leaving through another, simply calling out, 'Hello everyone.' He was never in any classroom alone with the children. "Since he didn't train altar servers, neither did he have any unsupervised contact with children in church. "We are deeply grieved and embarrassed by these allegations," Bardol wrote to parents. According to information posted on the Anchorage Archdiocese Web site, the Archdiocesan Review Board is currently investigating the accusations involving the conduct of Bester. When its investigation is complete, it will give a recommendation to Archbishop Schwietz. The review board did not indicate how long the investigation will take. The Archdiocese also posts a code of conduct for church representatives on the Web site with guidelines for appropriate behavior in situations of pastoral counseling. The 21-page document specifically addresses sexual misconduct. "Pastoral counselors and spiritual directors must never engage in sexual intimacies with persons they council," it says. "This includes … inappropriate sexual comments." The document also addresses the importance of using church facilities because it assures people seeking guidance that the church sanctions and supports the counselor. May's attorney believes Bester has approached more people for sexual favors. "My assumption is we may get more complainants coming forward as time goes on," Josephson said. "I can't believe this is the first time," he said, adding that in the taped conversations with May, Bester talked about his needs, implying they have existed over time.