, ., ~~j ,.. ,r~, '~ , " Volume One Report The Report of , -- -- the Archdiocesan Connnission of Enquiry into the Sexual Abuse Volume of Children One by Mentbers of Report the Oet'gf © Archdiocese of St. John's 1990 Available in Canada through authorized bookstore agents and other bookstores or by mail from Archdiocese of St. john's P.G. Box 1363 Basilica Residence SI. John's, Newfoundland C1nada, AIC 5N5 ISBN 1.895264·00·6 (set) ISBN 1.895264·01·4 (v.l) ISBN 1.895264·02·2 (v.2) The Report of the Archdiocesan Conunission of Enqui.ry into the Sexual Abuse of Children by Menibers of the Oet'gf R. C. COMMISSION OF ENQUIRY Into Sexual Abuse of Children '_ittledale Conference Centre Telephone (709) 726-6808 p.a. Box 1154 Fax No. (709) 726-4301 St. John's, Nfld. A1C sMs June 1990 The Most Reverend Alphonsus L. Penney, 0.0. Archbishop of St. John's Your Grace: We respectfully submit the Report of the Archdiocesan Commission of Enquiry into the Sexual Abuse of Children by members of the clergy of the Archdiocese. Gordon A. Winter, a.c., Kst. I Chainnan Frances Q'F1aherty, M.S.W. Sister Nuala P. Kenny, M.D., ER.C.P. (C) Reverend Everett MacNeil, M.A., I.C.L. John A.Scott, Ph.D. ERRATA Volume One pa, line mJd viiJ 25 May 1989 17 35 In the autumn 18 40 corroborating 24 16 beginning in 1975 25 5 disclosure was 35 2 It might be 41 7 to see their 65 13 between the Pope 79 34 Canon 537 87 32 Archdiocese was 139 12 Archdiocese develop 143 11 the Archdiocese's 150 35 did not follow 151 2 seriously aggravated Preface Contents Acknowledgements ........................................ ill Mandate of Special Commission of Enquiry . .. v Preface ............................................... vii Chapter One: Introduction .................................. 1 Introduction ., . 1 Factors. .. 2 Definitions .......................................... 4 The VictiIns ......................................... 4 Chapter Two: Events in The Archdiocese . .. 9 Introduction . .. 9 The Investigative Results . 10 Observations on the Events . 24 Chapter Three: The Causes of Child Sexual Abuse ................ 29 Introduction . 29 Terms and Definitions. 29 Extent of Child Sexual Abuse ........................... 31 Context. .. 33 The Victim . 42 The Offender ....................................... 46 Why Men Sexually Abuse Children ....................... 50 Informed Consent ................................... 52 Conclusion . 56 Chapter Four: The Church in the Archdiocese ................... 61 Introduction ., .................................... " 61 The People of God ................................... 62 The Church Hierarchy ................................ 63 The Pope ........................................ " 65 Conference of Bishops . .. 65 Ecclesiastical Provinces ................................ 66 Historical Development of the Archdiocese . .. 67 The Archdiocese of St. John's ........................... 70 The Formation of Priests for Parish Work . .. 82 Present and Future Trends ............................ " 87 Conclusion ....................................... " 88 Volume I Chapter Five: Why it Happened. .. 91 Introduction 91 Power. .. 92 Education . 94 Sexuality and Support. .. 97 In the Parish. 101 Management ...................................... 103 The Avoidance of Scandal ............................ 112 Conclusion . 112 Chapter Six: Impacts and Needs . 117 Introduction . 117 Impact on Victims. 117 Impact on Families .................................. 122 Impact on the Archdiocesan Community .................. 124 Needs of Victims, Families and the Archdiocesan Community ... 127 Conclusion . 132 Chapter Seven: Conclusions and Recommendations. 135 Term 1 . 135 Term 2 . 138 Term 3 . 140 Term 4 . 145 I Term 5 . 154 Bibfiography ........................................... 163 Appendices. 167 A. The Commission's Consultations ........................ 167 B. Historical Overview of the Archdiocese .................... 175 C. Canons .......................................... 180 D. Policies and Procedures Regarding Complaints of Sexual Abuse .. 192 E. Guidelines for Parish Finance Committees .................. 207 F. Request for Briefs ................................... 209 G. List of Briefs ...................................... 210 H. Background Studies Prepared for the Commission ............ 212 ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This report is a distillation of much evidence, which the Commission heard at public and private meetings, together with a considerable volume of information gathered through research and consultation with people who have special knowledge and expertise in the fields within the scope of our mandate. To my Commission colleagues, I express my appreciation for their courtesy and their abiding support. I acknowledge the advice that our legal counsel, J. Vernon French, Q.c., Dennis M. Browne and Reverend Francis Morrissey, O.M.L, gave the Commission and I thank them for the care with which they performed their duties. A number of knowledgeable professionals have given us valuable advice and I wish to thank all of them for their help. In particular, I would like to express our appreciation for the quality of the background research and support provided by Cheryl Hebert and Carmel Wyse, both of whom worked tirelessly to give us essential guidance for many of our conclusions. I wish to thank Roben Pitt for editing our report, Anita Best for proofreading and Sheila Gillard for the design and layout of the printed documents. The Commission has benefited greatly from several encounters with victims of sexual abuse and with members of their families. To each of them I offer our special thanks and our best wishes for their future happiness. The Sisters of Mercy are due the Commission's thanks for providing most . suitable offices and hospitable accommodation. To the Commission's small and dedicated staffl extend my warmest thanks. Michelle Hawco is due our thanks for the role she played in assisting with the Commission's research and Cathy Power for recording, transcribing and typing the numerous drafts of the Commission's Report. I wish to thank Robert Carter for the important contribution he has made, particularly for the able manner in which he co-ordinated the performance of the Commission and the structuring of our report. Last, but by no means least, I wish to thank Barbara FitzGerald for the care and efficiency with which she administered the Commission's affairs and for the tact with which she dealt with delicate matters. I thank her also for her thoughtful kindness to all the Commissioners and I add my own appreciation for her patience and her personal attention which was so helpful to me. Gordon A. Winter Chainnan Hi OFFICE OF THE ARCHBISHOP P.O. BOX 37 ST. JOHN'S, NEWFOUNDLAND Ale ~H5 MANDATE OF SPECIAL COMMISSION OF ENQUIRY INTO SEXUAL ABUSE OF CHll.DREN BY MEMBERS OF THE CLERGY ARCHDIOCESE OF ST. JOHN'S The abiding concern of the people of God in the Archdiocese ofSt. John's for persons who are injured and suffering has been heightened by the recent incidents of sexual abuse of children by some members of the clergy. In a spirit of compassion and with the desire to heal and help the persons who have been harmed, to promote the spiritual and psychosocial well-being of the clergy and to seek means to prevent further incidents of this kind, a Special Archdiocesan Commission of Enquiry is established by the Archbishop of St. John's. The mandate of this Commission is: 1. To enquire into factors which might have contributed to the sexual abu,se of children by some members of the clergy: which factors may include family background, education, lifestyles, mutual support systems, or any other pertinent circumstance. 2. To enquire bow such behaviour co~ have gone undetected and unreported for sucb a long period of time. 3. To make recommendations to provide for the spiritual, psycbological and social healing of the victims and their families. 4. To make recommendations that will ensure that the Church has effective procedures for becoming aware of, reporting and dealing with incidents of deviant behaviour that might occur. 5. To make recommendations respecting the selection of candidates for the priesthood, the promotion of wholis tic growth of the clergy, the fostering of healthy relationships between clergy and laity and the provision of support for the clergy to help them cope with deep psychosocial problems. The Commission will determine its own procedure. Bearing in mind the delicacy and complexity of this Enquiry, the Commission is asked to carry out its mandate as expeditiously as it can and hopefully to submit its report to the Archbishop by the end of this year 1989. The report will be made public. Members of the Special Archdiocesan Commission of Enquiry into Sexual Abuse of Children by Members of the Clergy are: Honorable Gordon A. Winter, O.c., LL.D., Kst.J., Chainnan Sister Nuala P. Kenny, RA., M.D., F.R.c.P. (c) Reverend Everett MacNeil, B.A., M.A., J.c.L. Frances G. O'F1aherty, RA., B.5.W., M.S.W. Dr. John A. Scou, Ph.D. Preface Preface At the time of the first public revelations of the sexual offences with which this Report is concerned, the whole church community reacted with shock, disbelief, and then anger. While this anger was primarily directed at the priests who had sexually abused male children of the Archdiocese, the people's outrage did not end there. Given the volume of charges that were eventually laid, and the indecisive initial response by the local Church. administration, allegations were made that the Church