Sexual abuse scandal in the Catholic archdiocese of Portland
Encyclopedia
The sexual abuse
scandal in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Portland
, Oregon
, United States is an important chapter in the series of Catholic sex abuse cases in the United States. During its course, Archbishop John G. Vlazny
filed for bankruptcy.
should be liable for any damages awarded in judgment of pending sexual abuse cases.
, a pro-abortion rights lobbying group not affiliated with the Catholic Church, Levada "shielded a pedophile in the Diocese of Portland, Oregon, for approximately nine years," which helped lead to the bankruptcy of the diocese and earned the wrath of survivor groups for his actions on the Vatican’s commission to revise the US bishops’ sex abuse norms.
Regarding the Portland case, the legal counsel for the Archdiocese of Portland, Oregon, learned that one of the priests whom he knew personally was charged with pedophilia. The lawyer told the Archbishop that the man must be removed from his position and put into treatment by a psychiatrist. The Archbishop refused to follow this advice and when the lawyer insisted the man be removed from his post, the bishop removed the lawyer and his firm as legal counsel and took a person who had been in that law office to handle legal affairs but who would do as the bishop wanted.
The lawyer who asked that the pedophile be removed was renounced from the altar of his home parish for not following the Archbishop's wishes. Subsequently the pedophile priest skipped bail and was found with a young boy in another city. Levada has been criticized by the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests
(SNAP) for failing to remove priests accused of sexual abuse from active ministry and for keeping documents about those priests secret."
As President and Chancellor of Saint Patrick's Seminary
in Menlo Park
, Archbishop Levada dealt with the dismissal of his academic dean at the seminary, Fr. Carl Anthony Schipper, after the dean's arrest in Santa Rosa
on charges apparently related to child pornography
and sexual abuse.
filed for Chapter 11 reorganization
on July 6, 2004, hours before two abuse trials were set to begin. Portland became the first Catholic diocese to file for bankruptcy.
, nearly 200 more claims of all kinds were filed as a result. That column also noted that the archdiocese has filed suit against insurance companies to compel them to contribute financially to the settlement expected to arise out of the reorganization.
A press release issued by the Archdiocese of Portland on April 17, 2007 announced a settlement plan had been reached and a bankruptcy court had approved a financial plan of reorganization.
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 the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Portland
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Portland
The Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon is an archdiocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It encompasses the western part of the state of Oregon, from the summit of the Cascades to the Pacific Ocean...
, Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
, United States is an important chapter in the series of Catholic sex abuse cases in the United States. During its course, Archbishop John G. Vlazny
John G. Vlazny
John George Vlazny is an American prelate of the Catholic Church. He is the tenth and current Archbishop of Portland in Oregon, serving since 1997...
filed for bankruptcy.
Open letter
An open letter to the archdiocese's parishioners explained the archbishop's motivation:-
- This is not an effort to avoid responsibility. It is, in fact, the only way I can assure that other claimants can be offered fair compensation. We have worked diligently to settle claims of clergy misconduct. In the last four years, we have settled more than 100 such claims. Last year alone the Archdiocese paid almost $21 million from its own funds. Major insurers have abandoned us and are not paying what they should on the claims.
- Two cases are set for trials beginning today. One plaintiff seeks more than $130 million in compensatory and punitive damages, the other $25 million. We have made every effort to settle these claims fairly but the demand of each of these plaintiffs remains in the millions. I am committed to just compensation. These demands go beyond compensation. With 60 other claims pending, I cannot in justice and prudence pay the demands of these two plaintiffs.
Settlements
The archdiocese had settled more than one hundred previous claims for a sum of over $53 million. The filing seeks to protect parish assets, school money and trust funds from plaintiffs: the archdiocese's contention is that parish assets are not the archdiocese's assets. Plaintiffs in the cases against the archdiocese have argued that the Catholic Church is a single entity, and that the VaticanHoly See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
should be liable for any damages awarded in judgment of pending sexual abuse cases.
Criticisms of Archbishop Levada
Some have criticized how Levada dealt priests who had committed sexual abuse in Portland and in San Francisco. According to Catholics for a Free ChoiceCatholics for a Free Choice
Catholics for Choice , formerly Catholics for a Free Choice , is a Catholic pro-choice organization based in Washington, D.C. that was founded "to serve as a voice for Catholics who believe that the Catholic tradition supports a woman's moral and legal right to follow her conscience in matters of...
, a pro-abortion rights lobbying group not affiliated with the Catholic Church, Levada "shielded a pedophile in the Diocese of Portland, Oregon, for approximately nine years," which helped lead to the bankruptcy of the diocese and earned the wrath of survivor groups for his actions on the Vatican’s commission to revise the US bishops’ sex abuse norms.
Regarding the Portland case, the legal counsel for the Archdiocese of Portland, Oregon, learned that one of the priests whom he knew personally was charged with pedophilia. The lawyer told the Archbishop that the man must be removed from his position and put into treatment by a psychiatrist. The Archbishop refused to follow this advice and when the lawyer insisted the man be removed from his post, the bishop removed the lawyer and his firm as legal counsel and took a person who had been in that law office to handle legal affairs but who would do as the bishop wanted.
The lawyer who asked that the pedophile be removed was renounced from the altar of his home parish for not following the Archbishop's wishes. Subsequently the pedophile priest skipped bail and was found with a young boy in another city. Levada has been criticized by the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests
Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests
The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, known as SNAP, established in 1989, is the oldest and most active support group of survivors of clergy sexual abuse and their supporters in the United States...
(SNAP) for failing to remove priests accused of sexual abuse from active ministry and for keeping documents about those priests secret."
As President and Chancellor of Saint Patrick's Seminary
Saint Patrick Seminary, Menlo Park
Saint Patrick's Seminary and University in Menlo Park, California is a Roman Catholic post-graduate seminary whose primary mission is the formation of clergy for Western and Pacific Rim dioceses, orders, religious congregations and secular institutes...
in Menlo Park
Menlo Park, California
Menlo Park, California is a city at the eastern edge of San Mateo County, in the San Francisco Bay Area of California, in the United States. It is bordered by San Francisco Bay on the north and east; East Palo Alto, Palo Alto, and Stanford to the south; Atherton, North Fair Oaks, and Redwood City...
, Archbishop Levada dealt with the dismissal of his academic dean at the seminary, Fr. Carl Anthony Schipper, after the dean's arrest in Santa Rosa
Santa Rosa, California
Santa Rosa is the county seat of Sonoma County, California, United States. The 2010 census reported a population of 167,815. Santa Rosa is the largest city in California's Wine Country and fifth largest city in the San Francisco Bay Area, after San Jose, San Francisco, Oakland, and Fremont and 26th...
on charges apparently related to child pornography
Child pornography
Child pornography refers to images or films and, in some cases, writings depicting sexually explicit activities involving a child...
and sexual abuse.
Deposition and subpoena
Before taking up his assignment at the Vatican, Levada agreed to be deposed and questioned regarding his activities and leadership of archdiocese as it related to the claims. However, there are reports that he made efforts to avoid being served with a suspoena. At his leaving service in San Francisco, Levada agreed to accept the subpoena before the service, after being informed that if he did not accept service, he would be served during the leaving service. It was reported that Levada was reported to have said to the process server these actions "were a disgrace to the Church" while others have commented that his actual comment "were a disgrace to the legal profession". The deposition occurred in January 2006 with Levada appearing in San Francisco. He came to the proceeding wearing a business suitBankruptcy
The Archdiocese of PortlandRoman Catholic Archdiocese of Portland
The Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon is an archdiocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It encompasses the western part of the state of Oregon, from the summit of the Cascades to the Pacific Ocean...
filed for Chapter 11 reorganization
Chapter 11, Title 11, United States Code
Chapter 11 is a chapter of the United States Bankruptcy Code, which permits reorganization under the bankruptcy laws of the United States. Chapter 11 bankruptcy is available to every business, whether organized as a corporation or sole proprietorship, and to individuals, although it is most...
on July 6, 2004, hours before two abuse trials were set to begin. Portland became the first Catholic diocese to file for bankruptcy.
Relationship with the Fairbanks diocesan scandal
The lawsuits in the Fairbanks diocese have also affected the Jesuit chapter in the diocese of Portland, given that the Western Province of the American Jesuits is located in the State of Oregon.More complaints
After the filing, an April 29, 2005 deadline was set by the bankruptcy court to allow other people to file complaints. According to an October 2005 archbishop's column in the Catholic SentinelCatholic Sentinel
The Catholic Sentinel is, according to its masthead, the "Oldest Catholic Newspaper on the West Coast." A weekly publication, it is sent out every Wednesday to subscribers and is the official newspaper of the Archdiocese of Portland and the Diocese of Baker...
, nearly 200 more claims of all kinds were filed as a result. That column also noted that the archdiocese has filed suit against insurance companies to compel them to contribute financially to the settlement expected to arise out of the reorganization.
A press release issued by the Archdiocese of Portland on April 17, 2007 announced a settlement plan had been reached and a bankruptcy court had approved a financial plan of reorganization.
See also
- AbuseAbuseAbuse is the improper usage or treatment for a bad purpose, often to unfairly or improperly gain benefit. Abuse can come in many forms, such as: physical or verbal maltreatment, injury, sexual assault, violation, rape, unjust practices; wrongful practice or custom; offense; crime, or otherwise...
- Child abuseChild abuseChild abuse is the physical, sexual, emotional mistreatment, or neglect of a child. In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Children And Families define child maltreatment as any act or series of acts of commission or omission by a parent or...
- Child sexual abuseChild sexual abuseChild sexual abuse is a form of child abuse in which an adult or older adolescent uses a child for sexual stimulation. Forms of child sexual abuse include asking or pressuring a child to engage in sexual activities , indecent exposure with intent to gratify their own sexual desires or to...
- Religious abuse
- Roman Catholic Church in the United States
- Sexual abuseSexual abuseSexual 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...
- Sexual misconductSexual misconductSexual misconduct is misconduct of a sexual nature. The term may be used to condemn an act, but in some jurisdictions it has also a legal meaning....
- Spiritual abuseSpiritual abuseSpiritual abuse is a serious form of abuse which occurs when a person in a cult-religious authority or a person with a unique spiritual practice misleads and maltreats another person in the name of a deityor church or in the mystery of any spiritual concept...
- Woodstock defence