Sexual abuse scandal in Providence diocese
Encyclopedia
The sexual abuse scandal in Providence diocese is a significant episode in the series of Catholic sex abuse cases in the United States and Ireland.
was criticized for his management of sexual abuse allegations in the Providence Diocese. He was named in several civil lawsuit
s.
ended a 10-year-long (the longest in the nation) legal battle over clerical sexual abuse
cases, announcing a $13.5 million settlement in 36 different lawsuit
s accusing a total of 10 priests and one nun of sexual misconduct
. He said, "I hope that this action will be helpful to the victims of abuse and bring them in some way closer to closure and reconciliation with their God, their church, their families and themselves."
has been criticized for his management of abuse allegations during his tenure in the Diocese of Providence. In 1989 he promised to "take care of it" when a Providence priest, Rev. Normand Demers, was accused of misconduct with boys while working at a Haiti
an orphanage
; Demers was later brough back to work in the diocese. He testified in a 1990 lawsuit that he did not take allegations against another priest, Rev. William O'Connell, seriously. O'Connell was later convicted and served a short sentence before moving to New Jersey
, where he committed more crimes and died in prison.
Handling by bishop Gelineau
Bishop Louis Edward GelineauLouis Edward Gelineau
Louis Edward Gelineau is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Providence from 1972 to 1997.-Biography:...
was criticized for his management of sexual abuse allegations in the Providence Diocese. He was named in several civil lawsuit
Lawsuit
A lawsuit or "suit in law" is a civil action brought in a court of law in which a plaintiff, a party who claims to have incurred loss as a result of a defendant's actions, demands a legal or equitable remedy. The defendant is required to respond to the plaintiff's complaint...
s.
Allegations of sexual impropriety
Gelineau himself was accused in 1997 of sexual impropriety with a boy at a Burlington orphanage in the early 1950s. He once said, "It sickens my heart to be reminded...that the terrible sickness of pedophilia rears its ugly head all too often within clerical ranks," and acknowledged that pedophilia "is certainly not a possibility [the church leadership] were readily prepared to acknowledge in the years past."10-year long legal battle
In September 2002, bishop Robert Edward MulveeRobert Edward Mulvee
Robert Edward Mulvee is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Wilmington, Delaware and Bishop of Providence, Rhode Island .-Biography:...
ended a 10-year-long (the longest in the nation) legal battle over clerical 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...
cases, announcing a $13.5 million settlement in 36 different lawsuit
Lawsuit
A lawsuit or "suit in law" is a civil action brought in a court of law in which a plaintiff, a party who claims to have incurred loss as a result of a defendant's actions, demands a legal or equitable remedy. The defendant is required to respond to the plaintiff's complaint...
s accusing a total of 10 priests and one nun of sexual misconduct
Sexual misconduct
Sexual 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....
. He said, "I hope that this action will be helpful to the victims of abuse and bring them in some way closer to closure and reconciliation with their God, their church, their families and themselves."
Role of Kenneth Anthony Angell
Mgr. 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:...
has been criticized for his management of abuse allegations during his tenure in the Diocese of Providence. In 1989 he promised to "take care of it" when a Providence priest, Rev. Normand Demers, was accused of misconduct with boys while working at a Haiti
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
an orphanage
Orphanage
An orphanage is a residential institution devoted to the care of orphans – children whose parents are deceased or otherwise unable or unwilling to care for them...
; Demers was later brough back to work in the diocese. He testified in a 1990 lawsuit that he did not take allegations against another priest, Rev. William O'Connell, seriously. O'Connell was later convicted and served a short sentence before moving to New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, where he committed more crimes and died in prison.
Kevin R. Fisette affair
The diocese of Providence announced on August 24, 2009 that the Rev. Kevin R. Fisette had resigned as pastor of St. Leo the Great Church in Pawtucket because a “credible allegation” of sexual abuse of a minor surfaced after more than 20 years. Rhode Island police investigated the allegations that date to 1981-82 in April and found that “they were credible”, said Capt. David Neill, state police detective commander.Abuse prevention program
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence has in place one of the strongest anti-sexual abuse programs in the United States. Nationally recognized by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Diocese of Providence’s policy clearly states that known sex offenders are not permitted to serve in active ministry.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
- 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...