If a bishop, priest or deacon is convicted of a criminal offence against children and is sentenced to serve a term of imprisonment of 12 months or more, then it would normally be right to initiate the process of laicisation. Failure to do so would need to be justified. Initiation of the process of laicisation may also be appropriate in other circumstances.
(Nolan, 2001, 3.5.32, p44).

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Monday, April 25, 2011

What knowledge did the Bishops of Salford have about Duggan?

Regarding the assertion by the Salford Diocese Safeguarding Coordinator, Father Barry O'Sullivan, that there is no evidence that Bishops of Salford had any knowledge of the complaints by children and their parents about Monsignor Thomas Duggan, please see

1. the comment posted by 'Anonymous' at http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=5504951114233652085&postID=1039836881192104623

Anonymous confirms that he and his father had alerted the future Bishop Geoffrey Burke to Duggan's behaviour during the 1950s

2. Paul Malpas' post at http://paulmalpas.com/ 'The Salford Diocese Examined'

Paul
a) recalls a telephone call from Father Barry O'Sullivan "on 8th October 2010 during which he explained ... how the Bishop, the Chair of St. Bede’s Governors, Monsignor Quinlan, the headmaster of St. Bede’s, Mr. Michael Barber, Michael Devlin, a solicitor and Chair of the Safeguarding Commission and O’Sullivan had met up in early October 2010 and discovered “serious and sensitive” evidence against Duggan that was too “serious and sensitive” to discuss over the telephone ..."

and

b) suggests, on the basis of testimonies received, that "the various bishops, including Bishop Vincent Marshall, Bishop George Andrew Beck and Bishop Thomas Holland ... had all received parental warnings and chose to cover it up" while "Bishops Kelly and Brain ... pushed this information to the furthest reaches of their files."

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Duggan - Safeguarding Coordinator asserts “there is no evidence to suggest that the Bishops ... had any knowledge". Has he checked his facts?


One of the survivors of the abuse perpetrated at St Bede’s College during the 1950s and 1960s has kindly forwarded a copy of the letter shown above together with a copy of the letter he sent originally to Father O'Sullivan. He has made these available to give others an opportunity to see for themselves the nature of the responses received by those who contact the Diocese of Salford about their experiences at St Bede’s.

The contents of the reply – and most especially the assertion that “there is no evidence to suggest that the Bishops or any of those in senior office within the Diocese at the time had any knowledge of the concerns you raised” - should, perhaps, be considered alongside a number of salient facts.

These include:

· The fact that Bishop Geoffrey Burke, who retired on 31st July 1988, was according to the website of the Diocese of Salford (see http://www.salforddiocese.org.uk/former-bishop/bishop-geoffrey-burke )

o at St Bede’s College from 1940 until 1967, becoming in turn professor, Headmaster and Rector.”

o “Appointed auxiliary Bishop of Salford and titular Bishop of Vagrauta, he was consecrated by Bishop Holland on 29th June 1967.”

o “resided at Cathedral House in Salford and took a very active role in the administration and work of the diocese.”

  • The fact that another survivor, who has identified himself privately and is referring to events that took place in the 1950s, reports that “After the worst and last incident … my father … confronted the bishop and Duggan in his study. But it was still a 'no-win' situation as I left the school with my father and the horrible Geoff Burke told everyone … I had 'been expelled for bringing the reputation of the school into disrepute'. And Duggan carried on till 1966 protected by the church.” (see http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=5504951114233652085&postID=3638674777010711981 ).
·         The fact that Father O’Sullivan, himself, can be heard very clearly on the
audio-recording available at
http://www.mediafire.com/?se3udyzz3jql7gr,
saying “I've been a priest for 23 years. I've heard stories for 23 years
about Duggan; on the golf course or on retreats".

The original letter of 25 March 2011 to which Father O'Sullivan was responding included the questions and statements given below (NB. Some information from which family members could be identified has been omitted.)

“Dear Father O'Sullivan

… In the 1950's, myself and elder brother, ______ unfortunately and with a great amount of reluctance were sent as boarders to St Bede's. I was about 12 years of age at the time of my "hurt" which I suffered at the evil hands of Duggan, for such a small misdemeanour that I had done. For legal reasons, I won't enlighten further at this stage.

… Father O’Sullivan, could you give me your views on why, as our days as boarders at St Bede's were marred in such a manner, none of the priests ever highlighted this evil man. It beggars belief the naivety of those priests.

The next question I would like to put to you father is this; I cannot for the life of me believe that there were not people in higher places who installed this evil man from a priest to a monsignor, did they not know what he was? The hypocrisy and pomp that they afforded him sickens me to the core. His endorsement to such a high stature is unbelievable and in some ways the people responsible for this are, in my view, as bad as him. Father, this might seem to you to be very bitter of me and my feelings, but I am sorry, it is how I feel.

The third question I would put to you is this; do you believe that Duggan would have been forgiven by God for the wrongdoings that he did to hundreds of young boys all those years ago? Well I don't and I hope that if there is a Hell, he is on top of the fire keeping in inflamed, as he deserves it.

Father, I could go on and on regarding the depravity that I witnessed during my stay at St Bede's but, for legal reasons, I will not at this stage reveal further.

My final question to you at this stage would be; did you, as an adolescent in your young days at school, ever experience the groping hands of your elders? Those days that should have been the most memorable and happiest days in a child's life, instead of the Hell that I experienced and recall.

I can tell you that my academic years became a blur, with no positive results of achievement what so ever. I lost interest in everything attached to St Bede's, which is very sad. I can tell you that I became the embarrassment of my whole family. My siblings attained wonderful results in their academic years, with all of my sisters becoming successful _______. My brother, ______ became a very respected and sought after _____. So you can see, the family were not idiots or failures. Only through hard work and determination, becoming a tradesman running my own _____ company did I achieve some success in life.

Father, I hope that you will respond urgently to my letter as I have already read of a person who was interviewed by you and has had very little response in nine years.”


Monday, April 11, 2011

Letter to Michael Devlin re. his recent comments on the failure of the Church to laicise diocesan priests convicted of offences against children

18 Dean Head

Todmorden Road

Littleborough

OL15 9LZ

11 April 2011

Dear Mr Devlin,

Re. Your recent comments on the failure of the Church to laicise diocesan priests convicted of offences against children

I write to say that I very much welcome your comments on the ‘Sunday’ programme broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on10 April 2011(see http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qnbd ). I fully support your view that the fact that William Green is still not laicised, thirty months after he was sentenced for his many offences against children, is “unsatisfactory”.

I also welcome the fact that you, now, seem able and willing to comment on such issues, when, in the recent past, you have stated that you cannot. I refer, for example to what you wrote to me in your letter of 22 July 2010. I had asked,

“What trust can you or the people of the Diocese have in its Safeguarding Commission when almost 8 years after our Bishop committed himself to fully implementing Lord Nolan’s recommendations, it appears that Doherty has still not been laicised and is, now, living in a house owned by the Diocese?” (see http://caads.blogspot.com/2010/04/letter-to-michael-devlin-chair-of.html )

In July 2010, you replied,

“In relation to the issue of laicisation of Father Doherty and in respect of any financial arrangements between the diocese and Father Doherty, these are not matters over which the Salford Diocesan Safe Guarding Commission has any authority or responsibility. For that reason I do not and cannot make any comment on these issues” (see http://caads.blogspot.com/2010/04/letter-to-michael-devlin-chair-of.html )

As I said above, I welcome the fact that you can now comment on such matters and agree with your view that the situation as regards the laicisation of such diocesan priests is “unsatisfactory”. I trust that this new-found ability will enable you and other members of the Safeguarding Commission to ask your own questions

For example, I would suggest that you ask Bishop Brain,

Why Green was not asked by the Diocese to apply for laicisation until January 2009 (see http://www.wigantoday.net/news/paedo_priest_anger_1_2866892 ), when he had been arrested on 17 December 2008 and sentenced on 1 October 2008?

And that you ask the Vatican and others,

Why in the wake of the much vaunted changes made to Church Law, while Pope Benedict was in charge of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Green has not yet been laicised?

The changes did, after all (and according to the bishops) include, “the establishment of fast-track dismissal from the clerical state for offenders” (see Bishops Conference of England and Wales and the Bishops' Conference of Scotland (2010) Heart speaks unto heart. The visit of POPE BENEDICT XVI. The Universe Media Group Ltd: Cheadle Hulme – distributed in parishes in the Diocese of Salford on 20 June 2010).

I look forward to hearing news that the Commission is taking action to attempt to remedy this unsatisfactory situation. Thirty months and counting is not what most people understand by “fast track”!

Yours sincerely,

Philip Gilligan

Copies to:

Uschi Műller, Safeguarding Adviser, Salford Diocese Safeguarding Commission, Cathedral Centre, 3 Ford Street, Salford, M3 6DP

Detective Inspector Michael Montford, Safeguarding and Vulnerable Persons Unit, Greater Manchester Police HQ, Chester House, Boyer Street, Stretford, M60 ORE.

Dr Maria Cunningham, Brunswick Health Centre, Hartfield Close, Manchester, M13 9TP.

Mark Wiggin, Director Caritas Diocese of Salford 390 Parrs Wood Road,
390 Parrs Wood Road, Didsbury, Manchester M20 5NA

Marie Corran, Strategy and Performance Manager, Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council, Stopford House, Piccadilly, Stockport, SK1 3XE. marie.corran@stockport.gov.uk

Fr John Flynn, Cathedral Centre, 3 Ford Street, Salford M3 6DP j.flynn@salford.ac.uk

Fr Christopher Dawson, Chancellor and Judicial Vicar, Cathedral Centre, 3 Ford Street, Salford, M3 6DP tribunal@dioceseofsalford.org.uk

CORRECTION
The date of Mr Devlin's letter was, in fact, 22 July 2009, not 22 July 2010.