Congratulations, Mater Dei alumni, students, and anyone who has any pride because of your relationship to the Catholic high school!
My open letter to current Monarchs quarterback Matt Barkley asking him to think twice about lending his prodigious arm to a school that long tolerated rapist teachers and administrators is now the second-most-commented post in Navel Gazing history ever (the record holder is R. Scott Moxley's news of former Orange County sheriff Mike Carona's indictment). Most of the commentators were MD alumni outraged that I dared put all the blame of the school's crimes on all Monarchs instead of just the few powerful bad seeds at the school. Many expressed anger at the administration, even prayed about the problems. Some even called for jail time for such crimes. And all said what a wonderful school Mater Dei is.
Okay, okay: I give in. I'll apologize to any Mater Dei alumni who I insulted in that post if they take part in my challenge after the jump!
Mater Dei fans: If you love Mater Dei, are outraged at your school for its role in the rapes of innocents and can prove you have publicly:
*Called for the resignation of basketball coach Gary McKnight for his role in allowing an admitted statutory rapist back on campus.
*Demanded that Mater Dei president Patrick Murphy get fired for not reporting sex-abuse allegations to county social services as required by law.
*Blasted Diocese of Orange Bishop Tod D. Brown for not reprimanding diocesan attorney Peter Callahan after he barked at a Mater Dei alum who was a sex-abuse victim.
*Criticized the school for not allowing alum Joelle Casteix back on campus to talk about her abuse at the hands of a former choir director.
. . .then you are a good Monarch, and the Holy Mother truly loves you.
If not? Your words are just vanities, and chasing after the wind.
February 14, 2008 13:34
Wow!
Here are addresses to help alums with the challenge:
Mater Dei High School
1202 W. Edinger
Santa Ana, CA 92707
fax: 714-754-1880
Patrick Murphy: pmurphy@materdei.org
Frances Clare: fclare@materdei.org
Gary Mcknight: gmcknight@materdei.org
Bishop Tod D. Brown
Diocese of Orange
2811 East Villa Real Drive
Orange, CA 92867-1999
fax: (714) 282-3029
Chancellor Shirl Giacomi: sgiacomi@rcbo.org
General Counsel Maria Rullo Schinderle: mschinderle@rcbo.org
February 14, 2008 14:14
Correction to one of your previous claims, Gustavo: the Pope's "word" is not infallible. That's not what the Church teaches. The short definition is he's infallible when speaking ex cathedra on matter of faith and morals. A longer, fuller explanation of what papal infallibility is and isn't can be found here.
Now I'll let you get back to arguing with the Monarchs.
February 14, 2008 14:44
Throughout history, we have witnessed the damaging impact of bystanders who remain silent in the face the evil. Bosnia, Rwanda, the Holocaust are easy ones to remember. Once cannot split moral experience without also damaging the self -- one cannot remain allied with and protective of all the good Mater Dei may have done while ignoring its (and the diocese's) institutionalized complicity with evil. One is then also complicit with evil. The advice above is good -- support the good Mater Dei has done by speaking out against its evil. Withhold your financial support until the steps outlined above are taken. Stop donating at Mass until Bishop Brown makes meaningful restorative justice gestures, first by dismissing the Callahan law firm from ever again representing the diocese. If you Mater Dei parents, students, alums are committed to the Gospels, then demand restorative justice.
--Mary Gail Frawley-O'Dea, Ph.D.--
Author: Perversion of Power: Sexual Abuse in the Catholic Church (Vanderbilt University Press, 2007)
Invited Speaker: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2002, Dallas
February 14, 2008 16:01
For the Mater Dei HS alumni who would like to send a copy of your concerns to Pope Benedict XVI.... his email address is: BenedictXVI@vatican.va . Afterall, Pope Benedict is the CEO of all the Bishops in the U.S. He should probably know what is going on here in the United States of America.
February 14, 2008 16:09
Also, you may want to email a copy of your concerns to the attorney for the Vatican Bank, Jeffrey Lena, located in Berkeley, California, at jlena@ibm.net.
February 14, 2008 16:43
"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."
February 14, 2008 17:26
Gustavo Arellano says:
February 14, 2008 11:32
Former fan: Your rationale is embarrassing. How do you keep religion out of a story involving the CATHOLIC CHURCH sex abuse scandal?! I hope any current fans of mine show a bit more logic than that.
Gustavo,
My point exactly !! It is the CATHOLIC CHURCH sex abuse scandel.
It is NOT the CATHOLIC RELIGION scandal - unless you have a pipeline to heaven, keep Jesus and the Virgin Mary OUT if the discussion.
Former GA fan
February 14, 2008 18:24
Annoyed,
It should be annoying! Of course your not going to do anything. Just another catholic who will continue to obey. They taught you well at MD.
February 14, 2008 18:43
Isn't that pray, pay, obey?
February 14, 2008 19:08
Gustavo and the OC Weekly: BRAVO!!
It is about time someone in this County challenges the hypocrisy and mixed messages that our children have to deal with on a daily basis while being forced to defend their Church and faith. In the event anyone needs more research before accepting Gustavo's challenge, I highly recommend the following article written by Father Landry back in 2002: http://www.catholiceducation.org/articles/religion/re0526.html
Wouldn't it be great if the Superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Diocese of Orange and Bishop Brown took note to your challenge and required high school students to write an essay on "Answering the Scandals With Personal Holiness" before they graduated with a Catholic high school diploma? WOW... what could possibly happen if open, honest and truthful dialog was suddenly supported in the Diocese? God bless all who answer the scandals with personal courage on a daily basis.... especially the survivors of the heinous sex crimes that continue to fight for the safety of others. You are a gift to the world!!!!
February 14, 2008 19:49
Dear Annoyed -
You are in luck. You don't have to ask for a public, third party investigation of Mater Dei.
Much of the documentation already exists - and is ready for your hot little hands.
First, I invite you to review the thousands of pages of documents that were publicly released as a part of the 2005 settlement. While most of these were not recent, you should ask why John Merino and Bernie Balsis filed court orders to have their files kept secret - in recent cases. (post 1996)
Gustavo has them and can point you in the right direction.
You can also read my documents at www.protectkids.wordpress.com.
BTW - these documents were released by the Superior Court of California. Third party enough for you?
Then ... I invite you to contact the office of John Manly. He will be MORE than happy to show you the sworn depositions (also public) of Gary McKnight, Patrick Murphy, Tod Brown (you know, the one where he talks about his abuse allegation?), Jeff Andrade, Greg Dhuyvetter, et al. Those depositions - at the request of the diocese - were all moderated by a discovery judge (a third party court officer).
They are also all on video.
Before then, you can get a good start at bishop-accountability.org and search "mater dei" they list thousands of press articles, documents and other information.
Also - as a survivor and an advocate, I don't do investigations. I only publicize documents released by the courts. I am used to people calling me names and criticizing my parents, but you will notice, I have never been sued. Could it be because I only work with third-party, court-vetted documents?
Don't worry if you call John and ask to see the court materials, he won't out you. In fact, he's been trying to get Matt Cunningham in his office to look at the docs for years.
Manly's office - 949-252-9990
February 14, 2008 20:17
Annoyed -
And your public trial?
There were just two cases recently slated to go to trial - Andrade and Stukenholtz. But those settled ... after years of litigation.
Most civil cases do not go to trial, and I believe that these two didn't because Bishop Brown, Murphy, Andrade and the rest of the gang were going to be put on the stand. The diocese was going to have NOTHING to do with that.
The only reason why there were no criminal trials was because people like Murphy did not report (or the DA - in the case of Harris - didn't prosecute). How do we know about Murphy? His sworn deposition - you know, the one you can read at Manly's office.
One more comment about my education - I did receive a very good education at Mater Dei. I have become quite successful professionally because of the skills I learned in the classroom.
But was it really worth being molested?
February 14, 2008 20:26
Former fan: When mortals proclaim themselves the interpreters of God and put themselves in a slot over the faithful as is the Catholic Church's structure, then they're very much introducing God into the conversation with their actions. So, sorry: no go. Make sure to send that yellow blazer you promised!
Annoyed: I'll assume you haven't read my articles, where the "public trial[s]" you seek have already been waged. Seriously: click on the articles I linked. The "allegations" I made for McKnight are attested to in sworn depositions by Andrade and Murphy; the non-reporting was confirmed by social services. But if you do send in letters expressing your outrage, then you're a mensch for doing it and you'll earn the respect of survivors. And what's your beef with SNAP? Methinks there's something there...
February 14, 2008 20:37
With them indeed is fulfilled the prophesy of Isiah which says " You shall indeed hear but never understand, you shall indeed see but never perceive. For this people's heart has grown dull, and their ears are heavy from hearing,and their eyes are closed, lest they should perceive with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and turn for me to heal them."
February 14, 2008 22:25
Jubal, as usual gets it wrong. The Pope is only infallible under Catholic teaching when he meets certain conditions.(this is called speaking ex-cathedra). The faith and morals infallibility belief includes the Pope but also also applies to the larger Magesterium or "teaching body" of the Church. This includes Bishops and other church personnel and documents.
For example if you masturbate, use contraceptive devices of any type or sort, knowingly miss mass on Sunday, have intercourse with your girlfriend or boyfriend, engage in any sexual activity outside of marriage, think about engaging in sex outside of marriage, hit a priest or file a lawsuit without getting permission from your local bishop (and no I'm not kidding) you (according to the magisterium) are guilty of a mortal sin (meaning equivalent to taking a life) and are condemned to hell for all eternity unless you happen to get to confession before you croak. Alternatively if you are a priest and you sodomize a child or more importantly protect your brother priests who sodomize children you are made a bishop or possibly even Vicar General of your diocese and then you get schlubs like Jubal to give you money and defend your crimes.
Keep up the good work Gustavo. See you at mass.
John Manly
MDHS 82'
February 14, 2008 23:20
Joelle - as a victim yourself you are hardly third party. I'm not doubting your accusations, but considering that the office of John Manly profits from the prosecution of such cases, I can hardly consider his stance totally unbiased as well.
Gustavo, I did see your links - I saw an article where Patrick Murphy issued a letter. It would be great if the OC weekly could host the complete transcripts of the investigation. I haven't been able to download it freely on the web or read it myself. I will totally raise my hands and join the club if I was able to get my hands on them and read them for myself.
I want Patrick Murphy to show proof of his position that he did file something with the police - are we on opposing sides here? I'm just saying, I want him to prove it. I don't get paid - either as a reporter, a victim's advocate, or whatever to research this stuff but from the outside the pieces don't fit perfectly.
I've visited bishop-accountability.org - much of it covers the same things Gustavo writes about. I have seen someone post on their behalf on every single one of Gustavo's blogs, but they post the same stuff every time and come across as kind of kooky. I agree with them on some points - and not on others.
I've had a personal run-in with SNAP... not a pleasant one and not one that I initiated... we'll leave it at that.
I'm sorry Joelle, but I would NEVER settle. If I was a victim, no amount of money would ever get me to be ok for even a moment. As you said, "There were just two cases recently slated to go to trial - Andrade and Stukenholtz. But those settled ... after years of litigation."
They settled - definition of settle: "decide: bring to an end; settle conclusively; "The case was decided" Parties to a lawsuit resolve their difference without having a trial. Settlements often involve the payment of compensation by one party in satisfaction of the other party's claims." - you can Google the definition yourself.
WHY DID ANYONE SETTLE??? AM I MISSING SOMETHING???? We're all fighting for the truth, right? We're all wanting justice to be served, right? GO TO TRIAL.
Ugh. In the end, the amount of frustration I experience in dealing with these posts is akin to eating 10 cheeseburgers and expecting not to have a heart attack. Like I said, I'm not paid to investigate this or participate in this. I'm frustrated and annoyed with EVERYONE...dealing with an unresponsive church hierarchy who settles at the drop of a hat, and a mix of individuals who are real victims and those looking to profit from poor judgment calls.
How can Gustavo expect 16 year old Matt Barkley to call upon justice on an entire diocese scandal but can not expect a 17 year old to be able to call upon justice for herself? Joelle you say you notified your friends, your school, your parents.. but why after 5 years were there still no criminal charges? Not to particularly pick on you - since other victims seem to follow the same pattern... but you're the only one actively responding here.
I quit. I wouldn't have posted if not for the Matt Barkley thing. I have a life to attend to.
Gustavo, I'm writing those letters and you'll get a copy, but I won't be back on these boards. Goodnight.
February 14, 2008 23:55
John - Gustavo wrote an article about you, DiMaria and Wall where he said none of you attended Mass... I think it was called "Army of God."
You might want to call him and let him know that you are now going to Mass again. Welcome back.
February 15, 2008 06:45
Gustavo Arellano says:
Former fan - Your rationale is embarrassing. How do you keep religion out of a story involving the CATHOLIC CHURCH sex abuse scandal?!
Former GA fan says:
My point exactly !! It is the CATHOLIC CHURCH sex abuse scandel. It is NOT the CATHOLIC RELIGION scandal.
Gustavo says:
When mortals proclaim themselves the interpreters of God and put themselves in a slot over the faithful as is the Catholic Church's structure, then they're very much introducing God into the conversation with their actions.
Former GA fan says:
Okay, GA you win, your convoluted "logic" has my head spinning. Your "tilt-a-whirl" reasoning has given me a headache.
February 15, 2008 06:49
As a cradle Catholic, I did not understand the indepth meaning of the "teaching body" of the Church (Magesterium), especially as it relates to filing a lawsuit against the Church, without the permission of your Bishop. Filing a lawsuit against the Church is like MURDER! WOW...
Imagine how many clergy sex abuse victims, families and employees did everything humanly possible to communicate serious failures to protect children from sex crimes and other violations of the law to Catholic Bishops and attorneys. The patterns are clear cut -- the Church denies wrongdoing and then condemns anyone who speaks out or reports a crime, to a life of hell! Now it all makes sense that Catholic Bishops throughout the U.S. are TERRORIZING Catholics from the pulpit for exercising freedoms guaranteed to Americans, and getting away with it!
I pray that Mater Dei Alumni take note of the fact that their Catholic education obviously failed them. Unless of course, you are one of the MD Alumni who crossed over to the other side, joining the Catholic hierarchy in condemning others to a life of hell, for speaking truth and opinion.
Debby Bodkin, Founder
www.catholics4justice.com
February 15, 2008 08:21
Oops - thanks for the opportunity to clarify. It's a satanic mass. I tried going back to regular services but last time I went the Village People were performing at Sunday Mass at Mission San Juan. I'm sorry but I draw the line there. Also after attending Mass regularly I found myself inevitably sitting in the back of the church drinking striaght out of the bottle ala' Lt. Dan in Forest Gump.
John Manly
February 15, 2008 08:33
Jubal, as usual gets it wrong. The Pope is only infallible under Catholic teaching when he meets certain conditions.(this is called speaking ex-cathedra). The faith and morals infallibility belief includes the Pope but also also applies to the larger Magesterium or "teaching body" of the Church. This includes Bishops and other church personnel and documents./i>
Your description was no different than the brief one I gave, Manly. I also linked to a longer explanation. Was that one incorrect?
Contrary to your assertion, infallibility does not apply to "other church personnel and documents." For example, when the U.S Bishops Conference called in 1983 for a nuclear freeze, it was not an infallible statement that Catholics were bound to accept.
Then again, I don't expect intellectual precision from you.
And thanks for informing us that if you die with a mortal sin on your soul, you presumably go to Hell. I don't think anyone knew that before, John. You'e a bona fide genius.
February 15, 2008 08:36
annoyed writes: Gustavo, I'm writing those letters and you'll get a copy, but I won't be back on these boards. Goodnight.
And good riddance?
Quel relief!
February 15, 2008 08:43
Annoyed -
You said that you won't be back on these boards, but I do hope that you read this.
My contact information is available on the SNAP website. Please feel free to contact me. Let's talk and meet in person. I can help answer your questions, walk you through documents, explain why we had to settle, and talk to you about why the police were never called.
I can also talk to you about grooming, and how the molestation not only destroyed me, but a community as well.
I am sorry that you had a bad encounter with SNAP. that's too bad. I'd like to remedy that as well.
I agree, blog boards are hardly a way to create an opinion. Perhaps you should see that I am a face, a person, a mother, a wife, and a friend before you make your final decision.
And I am a volunteer with SNAP.
Hope to hear from you.
February 15, 2008 08:59
I should have also added earlier that in the Diocese of Orange if you run a third rate political blog, kiss the ass of every third rate tin horn anti-immigration politician, support a crooked Sheriff, support priests who have protected child molesters for years, out victims of childhood sexual abuse you are regarded as an intellectual and defender of the Faith. One can only wonder what Jubal's next award from the Church will be Knight of Malta? Alternatively, maybe he'll win a free lunch with Bishop Todd Brown and Fr. Michael Harris. Now that would be justice.
John Manly
February 15, 2008 11:00
I'm glad Annoyed was spurred to action, but where's the rest of the Mater Dei apologists? The guy who said Bishop Soto was great? The girl who didn't want to be called Petey? Even Former Fan? Any of you?
February 15, 2008 11:06
I love how this comment thread has devolved into an argument about Catholic dogma.
February 15, 2008 12:00
At least it hasn't devolved into a Mexican-bashing forum as happens with most OC Register stories!
February 15, 2008 16:56
Hey man...the whole sports progam at Mater Dei is corrupt. Another guy to bash on is Coach Martin Stringer! This guy is as prejudiced as the U.S. World Cup Soccer team. If he could get away with it the whole Mater Dei soccer team would be Caucasian. I am former alumni so is my little brother. We both were highly discriminated by Stringer!
February 15, 2008 17:43
Manly:
Please keep the comments coming. Please. You look more idiotic bully you are with each one.
February 15, 2008 20:24
Stringer would give detentions if anyone dared to wear blue and gold on free dress day.... can anyone guess why? Rival Santa Margarita Catholic's colors and the competition is intense even on free dress days.
Arrogance runs through the entire Diocese of Orange schools-not just Mater Dei. And, hearsay says that Mater Dei's christian values far surpass the rich and elitist Santa Margarita Catholic, with absolutely no type of moral decency present in the entire school... MONEY MONEY MONEY... POWER POWER POWER... AP Classes that are taught by non-credentialed and non-qualified teachers but no one dares to report the fact that Santa Margarita students get college credit to apply in public oolleges, but the teachers are not even qualified to teach AP classes!!
February 15, 2008 22:07
Heh Jubal... or isn't your real name Matt Cunningham: Please have the courage to review the documents that are available in Manly's office before you start calling anyone a bully.
We have never met but occasionally I read your self-serving and political website that pretends to encourage Catholicism, Christianity and moral integrity/decency. How dare you call anyone a bully when you have an ARMY of Republican idiots behind you, instructing your every move and comment on this and your blog. Jubal, Cunningham, whatever your name is, please come out of the closet as soon as possible, the closet of cultish Catholics who throw stones and condemn others for speaking truths.
By the way Jubal, we haven't read much about your best friend Mon. John Urell. Is he still hiding in Canada? Or, has he returned to the OC, but is still not ready to face his continued deposition? Why did you discontinue your informative website supporting Mon. Urell and never once thought about posting information about supporting victims of sex abuse crimes committed by politically-connected employees of the Diocese of Orange? Jubal, you are a bully--it is time to look in the mirror!!!
February 15, 2008 22:45
All I can say is I will keep the comments coming despite the ugliness and negative energy spewed out by the Catholic Hirearchy's defenders. I sincerely hope for the day when people who are self proclaimed leaders of the community will have the common decency to stand up for kids. The fact that Urell is not in prison and worse yet is regarded as near God like by Mr. Cunningham is a sad testament to the pathetic state of the Church in Orange County. Worse, it is not just Mr. Cunningham but other notable people in the community who ignore the ongoing atrocities and move on like it never happened. (It's like walking by a concentration camp in 1944 and pretending not to see the dead people piled up). If that perspective makes me "look more idiotic bully"(sic) than I accept the title with humility. It's certainly better than being a fellow traveler of those who allowed Orange County's Catholic children to be sodomized, orally copulated and otherwise molested by evil men under the guise of being God's agents. So in short I will keep the comments coming and niether "Jubal" nor any of the other diocesan pr hacks will stop the voices of those who speak for those who have no voice. We will not be silenced and we will fight for victims.
John Manly
February 15, 2008 22:50
Another genius.
It's no secret who I am. But if you prefer to malign me anonymously, you are, of course, free to do so.
February 16, 2008 08:46
Heh Jubal,
I've read your comments on many occasions and it seems that you have your head so far up the catholic church's hole that you can't see the truth. You are as guilty as the rest of the so-called catholics who continue to support their church without demanding accountability from their corrupt bishops. Until catholics wake up and demand the truth the corruption will continue.
February 16, 2008 10:17
While I appreciate the back-and-forth between various commentators here, let's try to keep to the subject at hand, namely the apologist Mater Dei family. Jubal is excused from this specific conversation because he graduated from Servite.
February 16, 2008 12:36
Mike Tardif? MD and Matt Fan? 94 grad?
Anyone, anyone? Hellooooooooooooo?
Hmmm, I guess they just aren't into accountability.
So quick to blame the victim, yet so reticent to dare remove MDHS blinders.
They don't even have to criticize the school for not lettimg me on campus. The campus is private property, and it is their right to bar me. It is, however not their right to lie about me (which they do ...)
What, are you afraid that MD will stop sending you the Scarlet and Gray? That people may not like you?
I mean really, I went to school with Mike Tardiff's daughters (who attended Rosary, if I am not mistaken) and was in his wife's brownie troop. You would think that would grant me a little bit of credibility. Besides the fact that I am working on the side of truth, of course.
I'm waiting ....
February 16, 2008 13:45
Jubal, please send me your email address at bodkind@Hotmail.com.
I would like to send you a photograph of my daughter's 6th grade class while she was attending elementary school at one of the Diocese of Orange Catholic schools. In that photo, two out of the three priests in the class photo were sexual predators that committed sex crimes against children before the Diocese of Orange attorneys and hierarchy transferred them to my family's Catholic school I also had ab 8th grader and a 4th grader at the same Catholic school. My children were not sexually abused; however, the sexual predators were never identified to me as a parent.
Since my children were not sexually abused:
** Does this mean as a cradle Catholic I should keep silent about the sexual predators that had access to my children and thousands of other unsuspecting children?
** Who made the decision in 1996 to continue allowing sexual predator priests to be in the presence of minor children?
** Who made the decision not to report sexual predators to law enforcement, the attorneys for the Diocese, the General Counsel for the Diocese, who was also a member of the same parish my family attended?
I can understand why Catholics in the Diocese fear speaking out in support of exposing all the cover ups and sexual predators supervised by the Diocese. And, I can understand why employees fear reporting sex crimes and other violations of the law. Why? Because my husband, my children and I have experienced almost 6 years of legal, judicial, defamation, privacy and backroom deal abuses AFTER my husband allowed his son to participate in the felony gun possession prosecution of the former principal's son at Santa Margarita Catholic HS in 2001 - 2002, in the midst of the clergy abuse going public nationwide.
Yet, even today, the DA's office refuses to allow us to review the felony gun possession file of the former principal's son at Santa Margarita Catholic HS, even when there is evidence that school administrators knew about the gun and did not report it as mandated by law. Do you truly believe that the Diocese of Orange has learned anything from the clergy sex abuse crisis? ABSOLUTELY NOT.
If Catholics do not speak out about wrongdoing, the Diocese of Orange will continue to punish its employees, students and families for reporting sex crimes and other violations of the law to law enforcement. Catholics who remain silent and support the obvious ongoing efforts to protect the Diocese of Orange from scandal and more lawsuits, are ENABLERS of crimes against children and employees. In my opinion, this is a mortal sin... soul murder.
Once this post is monitored and/or published, we will most likely experience another series of child porn attack emails that will be sent to my personal email address and the email addresses of my husband and our children. Child porn emails are just one example... efforts to discredit me, my husband and our children have continued for 6 years, without law enforcement intervention and investigation. The patterns are clear cut not just in our personal experience, but for victims of sex crimes, their families, their attorneys and anyone else who believes in justice and truths, those who refuse to remain silent about soul murder committed against God's most precious gift to the world, ALL CHILDREN.
Jubal, please take the time to send me your email address. Looking at the class photo should be enough for you to wonder just what is going on and why have children been placed in the trusted care of predators, without corrective action.
Debby Bodkin
www.catholics4justice.com
February 18, 2008 09:15
Response to Anonymous2.... your post references an article that states:
"Casteix said she told an assistant principal of the abuse but was encouraged to keep it secret and was told that she and the choir master were in love and that 'everything is great the way it is.'"
Did you know that this assistant principal who encouraged Joelle Casteix to keep quiet, left her position as an assistant principal at Mater Dei High School and was transferred and is still employed as an assistant principal at Santa Margarita Catholic High School? If an Assistant Principal of a Catholic high school, who is considered part of the Magesterium or "teaching body" of the Church, told you to keep quiet, what would you do?
It is always easy to judge another... but until you have walked in Joelle's shoes and other survivors of sex abuse crimes, one would think that a Catholic high school administrator, is a representative of the teachings of the Catholic Church.
February 18, 2008 10:20
Anonymous:
I told Joelle not to answer and that I would do my best to help you understand the errors in your thinking.
The article you cite above states that Joelle did, in fact, report to school authorities when the abuse started, but was told to keep quiet. So, your accusations are incorrect.
Fortunately, there are plenty of resources to help you educate yourself:
Location of diocese back-dated document that shows assistant principal knew of abuse while Joelle was a student and didn't report:
www.protectkids.wordpress.com
In those documents, you will also see that there was another simultaneous victim who didn't report. Are you going to blame her, too?
press coverage of said documents:
http://www.bishop-accountability.org/news3/2005_05_19_Saavedra_SealedRecords_John_Ruhl_1.htm
Morally, legally and emotionally, it was not the kids' job to put the pedo behind bars. It was the SCHOOL'S job. And they didn't do it, even though they knew Joelle and another girl were being abused. You cannot put adult sensibilities onto a teenager. Have you talked to a 15-year-old lately? Especially one who had just been hospitalized ofr a suicide attempt?
There are more than 200 interviews Joelle has done that are available on the internet. In most of them, (incl CNN, OC Reg. LA Times, ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox News), she explains that she reported, and nothing happened.
I also recommend a book called "Predators" - http://www.amazon.com/Predators-Pedophiles-Offenders-Ourselves-Children/dp/0465071732
The book astutely outlines the "grooming" process: how kids like Joelle are carefully manipulated over a period of time so that the predator has complete control over them.
Grooming is also the reason that victims of incest do not even understand they were being abused until they are adults. In fact, grooming in all child sex abuse cases is compared to being locked in a basement (an apt description on your part) ... but unlike a basement, a child can never escape the mental prison created by abuse.
While statistics on the self reporting of child sexual abuse vary, most studies agree that more than 80% of sexual abuse goes unreported.
Of those who do report, approximately 70-80% of victims do not report until adulthood. (sources vary, but you can find the numbers on the AMA, Council Against Violence, CASA, Child Abuse prevention network websites). Another great resource to explain this is Mary-Gail Frawley-O'Dea's book, "Preversion of Power." She also outlines why kids to not report.
Reasons include shame (like Joelle), fear (like Joelle - who was told she may have to go back into psych care if she reported), fear of not being believed, fear of being blamed (which she was), etc.
In fact, considering the way Joelle was treated when she did report (when the abuse started, as proven by docs, press reports and other information), why would the other victims dare come forward? Heck, you are blaming her 20 years after the fact ... why would another person subject themselves to that? In fact, why would ANY kid at MD report if they had to put up with what Joelle did?
I am curious to see if you have read any court documents about the MD cases, spoken to a survivor, or watched any of the depositions. You might find it very interesting and it may help you form some empathy for the children.
And I am sad for you ... sad for the fact that you would blame a victim for her own abuse, and sad that you won't blame the adults who knew it was going on and did nothing.
Now, they would have had no problem calling Joelle's parents if she had a dress code violation, but why was is so hard to call them and the police when their child was being abused?
Very, very sad.
As Joelle said in another blog, fighting online is no way to learn the truth. You should call her and talk to her.
February 18, 2008 10:21
Excuse me: my post was intended to respond to Anonymous2
February 18, 2008 12:02
Joelle's friend took the time to document multiple examples of failures to protect minor children from abuse committed by only two former employees of the Diocese, Hodgman and Ruhl. Thank you very much! Yet, as a Catholic mother with four children who attended Diocesan Catholic schools and churches where sexual predators had free access to children long after they committed sex crimes, I continue to struggle with the fact that in 2005, the Diocese of Orange settled approximately 87 clergy sex abuse lawsuits. Years later, we learn that the Diocese was still at it... aiding and abetting crimes against children. This is evidenced by the facts in the 4 abuse lawsuits against the Diocese settled in October 2007 relating to sex crimes committed by 4 lay employees supervised by the Diocese. Questions for anyone who knows the answer:
1. How many former sexual predator employees in the Diocese were actually CRIMINALLY prosecuted by the OC District Attorney? Answer: ______
2. How many Diocese of Orange EMPLOYEES suspected sex abuse crimes against minor children and FAILED to report to law enforcement, as mandated by law? Answer: _______
3. How many Diocese of Orange ATTORNEYS negligently advised the Diocese that "freedom of religion" privilege allowed the Diocese to ignore sex crimes against minor children, without mandated reporting to law enforcement?
Answer: ___________
4. How many Diocese of Orange EMPLOYEES and ATTORNEYS had knowledge of the sex crimes involved in the 2005 settlement of $100 million, and continued to cover up the sex crimes evidenced in the 4 lawsuits settled in October 2007, three years later? Answer: ___________
God bless Joelle, her family, and each and every sex abuse victim, family member, supporter and attorney providing factual documentation and public outreach with intent that some day, our society will DEMAND safety for minor children, those who cannot protect themselves. In reflecting, this blog only applies to sex crimes and failures to report crimes committed against children in the Diocese of Orange. Hopefully, children in Orange County are safer, but, what about the children and families that are still placing their children in the care of sexual predators employed by a religious institution throughout the world?
TO THE PARENTS, STUDENTS AND ALUMNI of Mater Dei, Servite, Santa Margarita, Rosary, Connelly and JSerra Catholic High Schools: You have the OPTION to speak out publicly and ask your children to speak out publicly in opposition to the failures to protect minor children from sex crimes in the Diocese of Orange. Children learn from life examples.... please do not keep silent because you were not a victim of sex abuse and/or one of your children was not sexually abused by a trusted employee of the Diocese of Orange. Please take the challenge to speak out in the interests of justice and the protections of unsuspecting children and parents who need your support!
Debby Bodkin, Founder
www.catholics4justice.com
February 18, 2008 15:46
To Anonymous2: How do you feel about the Diocesan attorneys and employees who failed to report sex abuse allegations committed against minor children 10 - 15 years ago, enriching and maintaining their employment with the Diocese of Orange, as long as they agree to continue a conspiracy to protect the Diocese from public scandals and lawsuits? Do you think Lu Dominguez and Maria Rullo Schinderle had the duty to warn parents, students and employees long before California's 2003 Sex Abuse Law forced them to do so?
Do you think Lu Dominguez, Maria Rullo Schinderle and other Santa Margarita Catholic HS administrators had the duty to protect 1850 children from a potential Columbine HS shooting tragedy, when the principal's son threatened the safety of students and employees in 2001 - 2002? Protecting minor children from any type of danger, sex abuse and/or school violence, is the moral and legal responsibility of adults and mandated reporters. Tragically, the only adults that protect children from danger in the Diocese of Orange do so on their own terms, with lifelong employment protecting crimes that destroyed lives.
The patterns of abuse are clear cut... the lawsuits only assist in revealing some of the crimes that destroyed the lives of children and families for decades. There are many other secret crimes that have been committed and continue because the Diocese of Orange has the support of wealthy and politically-connected law enforcement and government officials. Bishop Brown knows the truths about his supervisory employees and attorneys, and refuses to CLEAN HOUSE of persons who have placed minor children in harm's way. What is Bishop Brown afraid of?
February 18, 2008 16:41
To Anonymous2: I have personally made reports and requests for investigations to the Diocese of Orange, the OC District Attorney, the OC Sheriff, the California Attorney General and the State Bar of California, regarding failures to protect children and employees from sex crimes and another shooting incident similar to the Columbine HS tragedy, since 2004.
There is absolutely no help in this County if you are not a member of the inner circle of the OC Republican GOP that controls the OC Board of Supervisors, the OC District Attorney and the OC Sheriff Department. If you would like copies of letters and signed certified mail receipts, please send me an email at bodkind@hotmail.com and I will provide you with all the proof you need. The only way a victim of any type of crime in Orange County is protected is if someone in a position of power has something to gain. Otherwise, your voice and crimes committed against you will be ignored and disappear.
Justice is definitely for sale in Orange County.... may the richest man be safe, and the hell with anyone else!
February 18, 2008 16:56
Debby Bodkin:
You're obviously ignoring my comments because you know its too true to disprove.
On your whole investigating the whole church and Orange County DA's office and such, I guess all I could tell you is good job for making our world a less corrupted place.
But i still stick to the comments i made earlier about there being alot of fake victims.
February 18, 2008 19:41
Joelle Casteix says:
Mike Tardif? MD and Matt Fan? 94 grad?
Anyone, anyone? Hellooooooooooooo?
Hmmm, I guess they just aren't into accountability.
So quick to blame the victim,...
I mean really, I went to school with Mike Tardiff's daughters, ... and was in his wife's brownie troop. You would think that would grant me a little bit of credibility. I'm waiting ....
Mike Tardif says:
Joelle - For what in my posted comment to Gustavo do I need to account?
Where in that post do I blame the victim?
Where do I indicate that I doubt your credibility? I am waiting.
February 18, 2008 19:57
Man, Big Red is big PUSSY!!!
February 18, 2008 20:09
Anonymous2: In the event there are victims who are not truly victims, then law enforcement, social services and the attorneys representing them should have the expertise to sift through any concerns. I would NEVER doubt a victim on his/her word alone and due process of the law will bring justice to those deserving justice. It is too bad the Diocese of Orange did not let the system work years earlier.
Opinion... I would NOT put it past the Catholic Church and bad faith attorneys to exploit the clergy sex abuse crisis by attempting to recoup the millions of dollars in damages paid out to date--this is personal opinion of course. Use your imagination to figure it out! The Catholic Church has a very active detention ministry nowadays.
When John Lenihan's sexual misconduct was exposed publicly, I was devastated. I had sought marriage counseling and advice for an anulment from Lenihan. I never imagined in a million years that he had admitted to sexually abusing two minor girls before he was assigned to my family's Catholic school and church. When I met Mary Grant and listened to her personal story of abuse crimes committed by John Lenihan, and what the Diocese did to shut Mary up for years, I was physically ill. When I continued to personally witness the Diocese destroying anyone who dared to speak out in support of truths, I knew that evil consumed the Diocese. I am sorry for the Catholics who have been hurt by Mon. Urell leaving for Canada or any other priest found guilty of sex abuse crimes against minor children. However, at some point, Mon. Urell will have to make his own decisions about what his future life path will hold and the priests who have betrayed persons believing in them need to face up to their wrongdoing.
Bishop Brown and his legal advisors have had many opportunities to make things right.. but they refuse to do it, even six years after the clergy sex abuse crisis erupted in 2002. They fear all the donations will stop coming in if all of the truths come out publicly, so the lies and cover ups continue. In the end, only children, families and employees of the Church will suffer greatly.
February 18, 2008 20:12
The reason that many victims of child sex abuse do NOT report to parents, school, police, etc., is that usually the so-called grooming is really seduction. Once seduced, the child (who is still really a victim) becomes either a willing participant or a near-willing one, sometimes bribed with presents, outings, or money.
In any case, the real point is that priests, religious, and other leaders in religions, supposedly fortified by ordinations, holy professions, or adoptions of rules, have betrayed the children, the parents, the institution, and society.
Laws must be conformed to allow justice to prevail. Religions ought to take a good hard look at their rules and outlook. All leaders who enabled it to continue ought to be reported to the police, and dismissed from their jobs -- and not sent, like Cardinal Law, to a sinecure at world headquartes!
March 7, 2008 10:19
When my freshman son tried out for and was cut from the Mater Dei Freshman soccer team, that is something that he has learned to accept. However, what I cannot and no parent at Mater Dei or anywhere else should accept was the manner in which he, and all the other student/athletes who were cut on that day, were cut from the team. It was a two hour or so tryout and before the end of the tryout there was a scrimmage. The coach separated the boys by race. In 2007. All the brown skinned boys on one team, and all the white skinned boys on the other team. At the end of this scrimmage, all the brown skinned boys were cut from the team, with the coach claiming that they lacked the skills. "And don't try out again on the second tryout," is what the coach told these boys. I would have never believed it had I not seen it and video taped it with my own eyes.
What I find appalling is how this coach separated these boys by race and then summarily cut the brown skinned boys from the team when there also were white skinned boys who obviously lacked skills but weren't cut that day. What kind of message does this teach these boys? Now my boy wasn't the best out there but he wasn't the worst, and he held his own against the white boys, but Stringer called my son too aggressive. And what was the Freshman soccer team record this year? That's what I thought.
Now I understand that this coach is British, but this is America, and Jim Crow laws were repealed in 1965. Or do they not apply to parochial schools? My advice to Mater Dei Administration is to have coach stringer teach or take a class on U.S. history, because since he is not from America, he may not be aware of Jim Crow and how it separated this society. He may actually learn that separating people by race for the purposes of a soccer team tryout can be construed, as it was me when I witnessed it, as discrimination.
John Virata