Sexual abuse scandal in Burlington diocese
Encyclopedia
The sexual abuse
scandal in Burlington diocese
is a significant episode in the series of Catholic sex abuse cases in the United States. The court-documented cases covered abuse in the 1970s. The courts heard these cases from 2005 through 2010. In 2010, 26 cases remaining were settled for $17.6 million.
transferred Alfred Willis from a Montpelier
parish to another in Milton
after charges of sexual abuse
surfaced against the priest.
reported that a Vermont jury awarded a former altar boy a record $2.2 million in compensatory damages in a priest sex-abuse case against the Burlington diocese.
was accused in 23 lawsuits of molesting altar boys in Vermont during the 1970s. He abused several children there while Marshall was bishop.
attended a trial in the city of Burlington
in order to hear about unresolved clerical abuse affairs of Edward Paquette that occurred within the diocese in the 1970s.
issued a ruling called Turner v. Roman Catholic Diocese, which ruled in favor of the plaintiff Turner with Edward Paquette as the accused priest.
allowed six accused priests to remain in active ministry within Vermont. He refused to identify them publicly, but then gave their names to the State Attorney General
and placed them under suspension
. At a news conference in March 2005, Angell described the sexual abuse scandals as the most difficult challenge he faced during his time as bishop.
, who has been a professional witness in 57 lawsuits, found that there were extensive problems in the sexual behavior of 102 Vermont clergy "whose records were available" between 1950-2002. Sipe claimed that 23 of these priests were sexually involved with children under the age of 13 years, 15 were reported for involvement with married women and 19 priests who had sexual relationships with adult men. He asserted that out of this group, 49 priests can be said to have had a homosexual orientation.
Sexual abuse
Sexual abuse, also referred to as molestation, is the forcing of undesired sexual behavior by one person upon another. When that force is immediate, of short duration, or infrequent, it is called sexual assault. The offender is referred to as a sexual abuser or molester...
scandal in Burlington diocese
Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington is a diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the New England region of the United States, comprising the entire state of Vermont...
is a significant episode in the series of Catholic sex abuse cases in the United States. The court-documented cases covered abuse in the 1970s. The courts heard these cases from 2005 through 2010. In 2010, 26 cases remaining were settled for $17.6 million.
Case of Alfred Willis
Records show that John Aloysius MarshallJohn Aloysius Marshall
John Aloysius Marshall was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Burlington, Vermont and Bishop of Springfield, Massachusetts .-Biography:...
transferred Alfred Willis from a Montpelier
Montpelier, Vermont
Montpelier is a city in the U.S. state of Vermont that serves as the state capital and the shire town of Washington County. As the capital of Vermont, Montpelier is the site of the Vermont State House, seat of the legislative branch of Vermont government. The population was 7,855 at the 2010...
parish to another in Milton
Milton, Vermont
Milton is a town in Chittenden County, Vermont, United States. The population was 10,352 at the 2010 census. According to local legend, the town was named for the English poet John Milton, but the name most likely originated from William FitzWilliam, 4th Earl FitzWilliam, who held the title...
after charges of sexual abuse
Sexual abuse
Sexual abuse, also referred to as molestation, is the forcing of undesired sexual behavior by one person upon another. When that force is immediate, of short duration, or infrequent, it is called sexual assault. The offender is referred to as a sexual abuser or molester...
surfaced against the priest.
$2.2 million settlement
In October 2009, the Associated PressAssociated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
reported that a Vermont jury awarded a former altar boy a record $2.2 million in compensatory damages in a priest sex-abuse case against the Burlington diocese.
Edward Paquette affair
Father Edward PaquetteEdward Paquette
Father Edward Paquette is a former Catholic priest who was laicized for the numerous clerical child abuse affairs he was involved in within several dioceses of the United States...
was accused in 23 lawsuits of molesting altar boys in Vermont during the 1970s. He abused several children there while Marshall was bishop.
Bishop Motano attends trial
In December 2008, bishop Salvatore Ronald MatanoSalvatore Ronald Matano
Salvatore Ronald Matano is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who currently serves as Bishop of Burlington.-Biography:...
attended a trial in the city of Burlington
Burlington, Vermont
Burlington is the largest city in the U.S. state of Vermont and the shire town of Chittenden County. Burlington lies south of the U.S.-Canadian border and some south of Montreal....
in order to hear about unresolved clerical abuse affairs of Edward Paquette that occurred within the diocese in the 1970s.
Supreme Court ruling
The Vermont Supreme CourtVermont Supreme Court
The Vermont Supreme Court is the highest judicial authority of the U.S. state of Vermont and is one of seven state courts of Vermont.The Court consists of a chief justice and four associate justices; the Court mostly hears appeals of cases that have been decided by other courts...
issued a ruling called Turner v. Roman Catholic Diocese, which ruled in favor of the plaintiff Turner with Edward Paquette as the accused priest.
Bishop Angell deals with six abusive priests
During his tenure in Burlington, records show that Kenneth Anthony AngellKenneth Anthony Angell
Kenneth Anthony Angell is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Burlington from 1992 to 2005.-Biography:...
allowed six accused priests to remain in active ministry within Vermont. He refused to identify them publicly, but then gave their names to the State Attorney General
Vermont Attorney General
The Vermont Attorney General is one of five cabinet-level constitutional officers in the U.S. state of Vermont which are elected every two years. It was created by an act of the Vermont General Assembly in 1790, repealed in 1797, and revived in 1904. The office began as a one-person operation...
and placed them under suspension
Suspension (punishment)
Suspension is a form of punishment that people receive for violating rules and regulations.- Workplace :Suspension is a common practice in the workplace for being in violation of an organization's policy...
. At a news conference in March 2005, Angell described the sexual abuse scandals as the most difficult challenge he faced during his time as bishop.
Report by Richard Sipe
A May 2009 report by psychotherapist Richard SipeRichard Sipe
A. W. Richard Sipe is a former Benedictine monk-priest of 18 years, a sociologist and author of 6 books about Catholicism American Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor trained specifically to deal with the mental health problems of Roman Catholic Priests...
, who has been a professional witness in 57 lawsuits, found that there were extensive problems in the sexual behavior of 102 Vermont clergy "whose records were available" between 1950-2002. Sipe claimed that 23 of these priests were sexually involved with children under the age of 13 years, 15 were reported for involvement with married women and 19 priests who had sexual relationships with adult men. He asserted that out of this group, 49 priests can be said to have had a homosexual orientation.