Safeguarding Commission refuses to say whether perpetrator has been laicised

William Green the former parish priest of Holy Family Roman Catholic Church, Wigan was arrested on 27 December 2007. In August 2008 he was convicted at Manchester Crown Court of 26 offences of indecent assault. 

On 1 October 2008, he was sentenced to six years imprisonment (Case No: T20080502).  

In 2008, the Manchester Evening News reported, “Father William Green 67, had pleaded guilty to 27 assaults on six - boys aged between 11 and 15 at St Bede's School in Alexandra Park while head of religious education, and a deputy prefect there, and assault on an eight year old at a different school at which he had previously taught. 

Passing sentence, Judge Clement Goldstone told Green "You systematically and sexually abused these boys, who were vulnerable and impressionable, and they were groomed by you for the purposes of your own sexual gratification." You abused them in school, on school trips and on church-related activities, and you procured the trust and respect of families of several of your victims. You breached their trust and friendship remorsefully and repeatedly.” (see http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/s/1069987_pervert_priest_jailed)

Subsequently, in September 2010 “church chiefs vowed that (Green) would never minister to the public again” and a spokesperson for the Diocese of Salford said “William Green is in the process of being laicised.” A former parishioner said “It is an absolute disgrace that this man should still be part of the Roman Catholic clergy.” (see http://www.wigantoday.net/news/sex_beast_still_a_priest_1_1545444 )

Then in December 2010, a spokesperson for the Diocese said that the laicisation was on-going and was out of their hands. (see http://www.wigantoday.net/news/paedo_priest_anger_1_2866892)

However, nothing has been said since December 2010 about Green’s laicisation. Therefore on 2 May 2012, I wrote to the Diocese of Salford Safeguarding Commission and asked,

·         Has Green yet been dismissed from the clerical state under Canon 290?

·         Has Green yet lost his right to be a potential beneficiary of a potential beneficiary of a bishop’s obligations under Canon 384 “to ensure that” he is “provided with adequate means of livelihood and social welfare, in accordance with the law”?

Yesterday (9 May 2012), I received a reply from Michael Devlin, the Chair of the Diocese of Salford Safeguarding Commission. He wrote,

“You will be aware it is not our policy to comment on individual cases, and we shall not be responding to your correspondence accordingly, nor will Ms Lundergan when she is in post.

I have responded today (10 May 2012) saying,

“Dear Mr Devlin,

 Thank you for you e-mail of 9 May 2012.

I note your refusal to tell me whether Father William Green, the former parish 

priest of Holy Family, Wigan has been laicised, as would be expected given 

recommendation 78 of the Nolan Committee's report and the fact that Father 

Green was convicted in August 2008 of 26 offences of indecent assault 

against children and sentenced in October 2008 to 6 years imprisonment.

In light of your refusal to tell me whether Green has been laicised, I would 

ask you, as Chair of the Diocese of Salford Safeguarding Commission, to 

please respond to the following  queries,   

1. Could you please tell me where I can access a copy of the Diocese of 

Salford Safeguarding Commission's policy regarding commenting on cases 

of diocesan priests who have been convicted of offences against children?

2. Could you please explain to me how  your refusal to give information 

about whether Father William Green has been laicised is consistent with 

the previous willingness of the Diocese to tell the press, in September 2010, 

that "William Green is in the process of being laicised" 

(see   http://www.wigantoday.net/news/local-news/sex-beast-still-a-priest-1-1545444 ) 

and, in December 2010, to tell them that  "the laicisation was on-going and 

was out of their hands. Green was asked by the Diocese of Salford in January 

2009 to apply for laicisation, which he did. The application went to the Bishop, 

who then sent it to Rome to be considered by the Congregation for the Defence 

of the Faith (CDF)" (http://www.wigantoday.net/news/paedo_priest_anger_1_2866892 ).

3. Could you please, also, explain to me how your refusal to give information 

about whether Father William Green has been laicised is consistent with your 

willingness during the meeting which you had with Mike Harding and Paul 

Malpas on 10 September 2010 (see http://www.mediafire.com/?se3udyzz3jql7gr 

for an audio recording) to volunteer several pieces of detailed information 

about Green's case apparently entirely at your own volition?

4. Could you please tell me when Ms Lundergan is taking up her role as 

the new safeguarding coordinator?

I look forward to your reply.

 Yours sincerely,

 Philip Gilligan”