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Archdiocese of Chicago ARCHDIOCESE OF CHICAGO Office of Assistance Ministry Posi Otfice Bo\ 1979 E-mail .issisiminiojarchchicago org Chicago, Illinois 60690-1979 www archchicago org (3l2)75l-82b7 Fax (312)751-8307 ]1! ENT1A MEMORANDUM TO: File Cc: Leah McCluskey, Professional Review Administrator FROM: Ralph Bonaccorsi H^" R£: ^^^^^^^Hv- ^ev- Thomas Swade] DATE: July 5, 2006 On June 30, 2006, 1 received a telephone call from Fr. Michael Knotek, pastor at St. John De LaSalle Parish, reporting that a parishioner had approached him, and in confidence claimed abuse by a priest [Rev. Thomas Swade] when the parishioner was a minor [in the '80s]. After discussing the mandated reporter issue, the parishioner.^^^^^^^^|agreed to speak with me. 1 agreed to call ^^^^^H after Fr. Knotek provided his telephone number. I callcd^^^^^^| today and left a message that I would call back, or if he wished,| could initiate a call to the office. I left my direct phone number. To date.^^^^^^|and 1 have yet to talk even though each of us have tried at various times to return each other's calls. Rev. Michael Knotek ARCHDIOCESE, a CHICAGO Diocesan Administrator Post Office Box 1979 Chicago, Illinois 60690-1979 (312)751-8271 Fax (312) 337-6379 Phone Call March 7. 1997 To: Bishop Goedert From: 4- Don't believe issue is about - Swade as a person it is about the fear it is putting into our children. They are taught about stranger danger and bad touching. They are told a priest did these things, but he won't anymore. They see TV cameras at their playground and see a Catholic priest on TV saying Father Swade's coming is a bad thing. Their teachers say he is ok but the priest can't come into the school and he can't be around children without other adults. Children are very perceptive and are perceiving danger. On a Saturday afternoon if the ball gets kicked underneath the rectory window which child will volunteer to get it? Our children are scared and this is not being Christian to our children.^bishop Goedert stop this as soon as possible. ^^^™ . 7>: ?Yf?-$ MAR 7 iggj The Most Reverend Raymond E. Goedert March 6,1997 Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago 155 E. Superior Street Chicago, Illinois 60611 Your Excellency, For over 10 years I have been an active parishoner at Saints Faith, Hope and Charity in Winnetka For over 100 years our family has been active in the Archdiocese of Chicago contributing both time and financial support For over 75 years we have been products of Catholic education in the Archdiocese. My mother and father and my wife and I were married at Holy Name Cathedral Morality is not taught in public schools. Our society has reflected this in the steady deterioration in the moral fabric of the nation from our President and Congress, through our corporations and even, in some infrequent instances, into our Catholic Religious. Giving a grade school child as strong foundation in moral values is a character anchor that will enable them to ride out many of the storms that they will face in life. On Wednesday of this week, there was a news story about the possible reinstatement of Fr. Tom Swade into our Parish. The story was immediately followed by the requested resignations of two very senior executives at one of Chicago's largest corporations because of sexual harassment. Their offense was using bad language in the workplace. This is a common response for inappropriate conduct in Corporate America today. In Congress, where almost anything is forgiven, a person of the status of Senator Robert Packwood of Oregon is censured due to inappropriate kissing of fellow adult women. These acts are all offenses against adults. I am sure there are many families in our Parish, just like any other Parish, who have been touched by the difficult adjustment problems implanted from childhood sexual abuse. Some of those people have coped with it well.. .others have not. For some, no amount of expert testimony is going to calm their fears. , Lhave heard many great comments about Fr. Swade from friends whom I admire and respect. I accept those comments. If they are convinced that Fr. Swade is cured, I accept that. As I said, however, some will not... cannot The issue is not about whether Fr. Swade is cured or a risk to our children. This issue is not about Fr. Swade at all. This issue is about protecting the innocence and respect very young children have for their priests. As adults they will learn more about the real world and will find out that this type of conduct from a priest is very rare. As a child, a priest is not just a human role model; he is a role model for God Himself. In the last few days, our children have had their anchors shaken badly with respect to their view of \ priests. Please stop this AOC 005535 Our children are told that this priest is a good man, now, and he is a friend of Fr. Ventura's . Our children also are told that Fr. Swade is not allowed in the school. If he is around children there will always be an adult preserit(guards is a term that came home from school yesterday). Children are told he is fine, but not allowed anywhere near them. The natural response to this is fear and now our children fear. Isn't the world going by a little too fast if the subject of sexual misconduct with children has to be discussed before the subject of sexual education? This whole notion of reinstating a priest with this background in a Parish with children will not work and, as I understand it was even a guideline cited by the Archdiocese in these situations. Due to today's legal environment and the requisite branding of Fr. Swade with a bright scarlet "A", it makes this impossible and is also absolutely barbaric treatment for Fr. Swade. For the members of Saints Faith, Hope and Charity, our faith has been questioned on television. We probable have done more for the Archdiocese than any other Parish in the Archdiocese. My Christianity has been questioned by the growing chasm that has been created in our Parish. I resent that. Some families are even split mother vs. father, parents vs. children. If Fr. Swade still wants to come and live in our Parish after realizing the effect his presence will have on our children, I question his Christianity. I pray that you not allow this to continue because I certainly would not want to question yours. CC: Rev. Thomas Ventura Parish Council Parish School Board Religious Education Board AOC 005536 CofY 13 March 1997 Yesterday, I received the copy of the letter you addressed to Bishop Goedert. As you know, I serve on the Religious Education Board at Ss. Faith, Hope & Charity, where I have also taught Religious Education for some six years. I hope you take this letter in the constructive and empathetic spirit intended. I, too, am a parent. My children—^^^^^^^^^^B— are all in the Religious Education Program. Without trying to address each and every point you made, I'd like to tell you a story from my seventh-grade class. Early this year, I mentioned in passing that none of them should ever believe anyone who says growing up today is easier than it "used to be in the good old days." As proof, I said I remembered the first time I ever saw a person my own age drunk. I was a junior in high school and vividly recalled the scene of funny behavior one moment, and vomiting the next. Four boys in the class quickly said, "Oh, I've seen that plenty of times!" It was apparent they were being totally honest. What struck me like a brick was the weight this put on my own back and that of my fellow teacher. Unlike those who taught us so many years ago, we couldn't anticipate these young men and women would have three or four more years of adolescent innocence during which their faith and moral values could slowly grow and build in strength. Indeed, while we try very hard to present to our class as much of the richness and beauty of our religion a3 we can, I believe we do the young people a disservice to "hide from their eyes" some of the moral challenges of the day. Probably like you, I wish none of them would see a drunk of their own age until college or beyond. But I'm afraid that really is just a "wish." In this spirit, last Sunday we read Fr. Ventura's letter about Fr. Swade to our class. Without trying to lead their decision-making in a heavy-handed fashion, we did give them as much information and perspective as we thought helpful and appropriate. By an overwhelming majority, they felt Fr. Swade should be given "a second chance." We went on to explain that if Fr. Swade came into residence in the parish, they could expect to hear from their peers at school how "Faith, Hope" had a "pervert priest" or a "child-abuser in the rectory." We wanted them to know that AOC 005537 the peer pressure they feel so profoundly at their age would accompany Fr. Swade. None of those who wanted to give him a second chance changed their mind as a result. I must say, I was very proud of them. To say the least, this is a difficult time for the parish.
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