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PDF versionSex abuse victim awaits bishop's promised call to his mom
by Joshua J. McElwee on Jul. 06, 2011
As part of a sex abuse settlement, an attorney for the Pueblo, Colo., diocese made a promise to John Yengich.
In March, the attorney told Yengich, who was molested by a priest in the diocese between 1968-1969, that Bishop Fernando Isern of the diocese would call Yengich's mother to express remorse over what happened to her son.
Three months later, Yengich's attorney says the call still hasn't happened.
Records given to NCR by the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests show that Yengich's lawyer, Adam Horowitz, has contacted the church's defense lawyer, Timothy P. Schimberg, via email on three separate occasions asking if the call was forthcoming.
In the last email sent to Schimberg, dated June 16, Horowitz writes: "I received an email from John Yenigich informing me that Bishop STILL has not called. How disappointing! That is all I can say."
Katherine A. Chrisman, communications director for the Pueblo diocese said in an emailed statement to NCR that Isern "has been traveling extensively. The chancery has arranged for the Bishop's call to Mrs. Yengich. The Bishop hopes to give Mrs. Yengich a call this week."
David Clohessy, the director of SNAP, said the call is one any bishop "should want to make."
"No victim should even have to ask. And when a bishop promises to make one call, it shouldn't take repeated proddings and three months to do it," he said.
Yengich's lawsuit with the diocese, settled March 17, alleged that Fr. Daniel Maio, since deceased, subjected him to fondling, masturbation, oral sex and sodomy.
Bishops are frightened to
Bishops are frightened to death of anyone who puts them on the spot -- abuse victims, gay people, even devout Catholics who happen to question a minor teaching. Very few of them will talk to victims willingly.
One should only hope that a
One should only hope that a phone call is forthcoming. It is the VERY LEAST the Bishop can do under the circumstances.
Oh come on. The bishop is "a
Oh come on. The bishop is "a busy man."
Well, at least he's busy.
This is another example of
This is another example of professionals being used to gain what the church wants.
No public scrutiny through the courts.
A high profile Catholic Melbourne family Law solicitor, made it quite clear the case he was handling on the part of the complainaint, (paying their own legal fees mind you), "the matter had to be nipped in the bud".
Because it wasn't, he wrote to his bishop afraid he was going to be reported to the Law Institute.
The matter went to court, the complainant won was entitled to at least party party costs (as in each pay their own legal fees), but costs were not pursued.
All on record.
Excuses, excuses, excuses...
Excuses, excuses, excuses... Can Bishop Fernando Isern keep coming up with more excuses?
This is disgusting, how difficult is it for him to sit down a write an compassionate letter of "I'm sorry" to this victim's mom?
Judy Jones, SNAP Midwest Associate Director, 636-433-2511
snapjudy@gmail.com
"Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests"
http://www.snapnetwork.org/
We can't even get a friggin
We can't even get a friggin apology! How arrogant or sad is that. But it is also very telling in how bishops perceive this whole sexual abuse issue.
David Lorenz
"subjected him to fondling,
"subjected him to fondling, masturbation, oral sex and sodomy." An apology to the mother is just out of the question for the busy, good bishop/shepherd? It is sad we don't hear more Catholics calling for JUSTICE!
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