Mailing label First grade sweethearts — Page 13 ■ Couples learn to make love safe — Page 16 ■ Mission trip to Mexico a success — Page 26 A Voice of Tennessee Catholic Life since 1937 • February 13, 2004 Bishop releases local abuse statistics ASHVILLE. Seven priests serv- ing in the Diocese of Nashville N between 1950 and 2002 were credibly accused of the sexual abuse of minors, Bishop Edward Kmiec an- nounced in a letter to the people of the diocese. None of the priests remain in ministry, and all of the abuse took place prior to 1985. The Diocese reported that of the 378 ordained members of the clergy who served in the diocese between 1950 and 2002, seven, or 1.85 Letter percent of all clerics, from have been credibly ac- Bishop cused of abuse of mi- Kmiec Photo by Andy Telli nors and that 30 vic- tims have contacted page 3 the diocese. The dio- Virtual windows cese has paid a little more than Carolyn Darke, a parishioner at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Dover, is painting a mural depicting the $200,000 in counseling and charitable Crucifixion of Christ. The mural, painted to look like stained glass windows, will be mounted with the Crucifix assistance to victims. No parish money, on the wall behind the altar. Darke also painted eight windows for the church, which has no real windows. or funds given to the Bishop’s Steward- Please see story on page 15. ship Appeal or to the GIFT Capital Campaign were used for this purpose. This information was supplied to a national study of clergy sex abuse con- ducted by the John Jay College of John Krenson: Soldier, deacon Criminal Justice at the request of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Theresa Laurence fort, I struggle to reconcile that with my Krenson acknowledges that while and its National Review Board. The ordination as a Catholic deacon,” he many see no conflict with his actions, study covered a 52-year period, and or the sacrifices that must be made writes via E-mail from his base in Kabul, “there are many who abhor what I am was designed to assess the scope and to preserve and establish freedom, Afghanistan. “But whenever I think doing and who see hypocrisy and be- nature of the problem of the abuse of FJohn Krenson, a soldier and a dea- about abandoning one or the other voca- trayal to the word of God.” minors. The results of that study are con, believes his spiritual and military tion, I simply cannot bring myself to do However, he feels God is calling him to scheduled to be released on Feb. 27. duties are “necessarily intertwined par- it.” help the oppressed obtain the basic free- During part of the time period covered ticularly to ensure that war is fought, Currently stationed in Kabul, Kren- doms that Americans take for granted. by the John Jay Study, the Diocese of when necessary, without hate and with son’s role is strictly as a soldier, specifi- “Peace is not absence of war while ha- Nashville included the entire state of right purpose.” cally as an intelligence officer. His unit, tred runs rampant throughout a soci- Tennessee. In 1971, the western third of A deacon at Cathedral of the Incarna- the 230th Army Liaison Team, facilitates ety. … True peace is when people can the state became the Diocese of Mem- tion in Nashville and a major in the Army communication between Coalition Joint live without fear and have real hope for phis. In 1988, the Diocese of Knoxville National Guard, Krenson has long re- Task Force 180 and the International Se- better lives,” Krenson says. As a dea- was formed from the eastern third of the flected on his call to be a soldier and his curity Assistance Force, and ensures con and a soldier, he feels called to state. The Dioceses of Memphis and call as a Catholic. “Today, in the midst of that both forces are aware of common stand against the warlords who impose Knoxville took part in the survey along a war zone contributing to the fighting ef- enemy threats. Turn to page 14, please. Turn to page 3, please. 2Tennessee Register February 13, 2004 BISHOP KMIEC’S KORNER February 28 • Saturday 15 • Sunday Confirmation, 5:30 p.m., St. Pius X Dedication, 2 p.m., St. Patrick School, Parish, Nashville. McEwen 29 • Sunday 17 • Tuesday Rite of Election, 3 p.m., Holy Family Presbyteral Council, 10 a.m., Catholic Parish, Brentwood. Center, Nashville. RCIA, 7:30 p.m., St. Henry Parish, Bishop Edward U. Kmiec asks for your Nashville. prayers for vocations, for our priests and for the following deceased clergy of the Dio- 19 • Thursday cese of Nashville: Confirmation, 7 p.m., St. Bernard Acad- Msgr. Louis Hoste, V.G. emy, Nashville. February 15, 1888 20 • Friday Father John W. Sliemers Strategic Planning Commission, 10 February 15, 1934 a.m., Catholic Center, Nashville. Bishop James Whelan Cathedral Blarney Ball patrons February 18, 1878 party, 6:30 p.m., Gaylord Entertainment Center, Nashville. Father John F. Walsh February 19, 1882 21 • Saturday Opening Mass, Ann & Monroe Carell Bishop Richard P. Miles Conference, 9:30 a.m., Pope John Paul II February 21, 1860 High School, Hendersonville. Father Thomas A. Giblin Photo by Rick Musacchio 22 • Sunday February 23, 1934 Bishop Edward Kmiec greets Chief Ronal Serpas, the newly appointed head of the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department, at the 25th Confirmation, 2 p.m., St. Matthew Father Charles V. Schirmpf Parish, Nashville. February 23, 1958 annual Father Ryan High School Mardi Gras Auction and Gala. Bill Farmer, a former president of the school’s board of trust, introduced 25 • Wednesday Father Michael McAleer the new chief at the event, held Friday, Feb. 6. Ash Wednesday Mass, 8:30 a.m., February 24, 1881 Catholic Center, Nashville. Father Curvin P. Wassem Msgr. I. Harold Shea Father Joseph L. Boehmer Opening prayer, 3 p.m., Tennessee February 25, 1965 February 26, 1967 February 29, 1928 • State Senate, Nashville. February 13, 2004 Volume 67, Number 4 Publisher Most Rev. Edward Kmiec MAIN OFFICE Editor in Chief Rick Musacchio The Catholic Center Managing Editor Andy Telli 2400 21st Avenue, South Staff Writer Theresa Laurence Nashville, TN 37212-5390 Administrative Ann Marie Sorrow (615)783-0750 Production Risa Underwood (615) 783-0285 FAX Advertising Byron Warner (800) 273-0256 TN WATS Correspondents Theresa Jensen Lacey [email protected] E-MAIL Rottero Bros. Diocese of Nashville Web Page – dioceseofnashville.com Restoration & Copy of old The Tennessee Register® (USPS 616-500) is published bi-weekly by the Tennessee Register, Photographs Inc., 2400 21st Avenue, South, Nashville, TN 37212-5302. Periodicals postage is paid at Nashville, TN 37212 and additional offices. Subscriptions: $23.00 per year in the U.S., Hand-tinting • Color $24.00 foreign. POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to the Tennessee Register, Black & White 2400 21st Avenue, South, Nashville, TN 37212-5302. 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February 13, 2004 Tennessee Register 3 Bishop releases results of abuse of minors study Continued from page 1. establishment of policies to respond to al- suspects that abuse is taking place to resources to developing good pro- with nearly all of the 195 Roman Catholic legations of abuse, and the prohibition of report it to the proper civil authorities grams such as background checks, Dioceses and Eastern Rite Eparchies in dioceses entering into to confidential set- and to the diocese. screening, checking applications, the United States. tlements with victims of abuse. Since the charter was adopted in checking references, and developing The study was commissioned follow- The compliance audit conducted in June 2002, the diocese has not re- good training programs for everyone, ing the USCCB’s adoption of the 2003 found that the Diocese of moved any priests from ministry be- including children, to detect and pre- “Charter for the Protection of Children Nashville was among 52 dioceses in cause of allegations of the sexual vent child sexual abuse.” and Young People” in June 2002. Later the country in full compliance with the abuse of minors. However, one priest Bishop Kmiec has met personally that same year, the USCCB adopted terms of the charter at the time of from a religious order was removed with many victims, and has invited any the “Essential Norms of their audit. Another 106 dioceses were from ministry here in 2003 by his victims of past abuse to contact the Diocesan/Eparchial Policies Dealing able to correct shortcomings and were order shortly after it received an alle- diocese if they desire assistance with with Allegations of Sexual Abuse of deemed to be in compliance when the gation of misconduct that predated his counseling or healing. The diocesan Minors by Priests or Deacons” which audit report was released in early Jan- ordination to the priesthood. That inci- sexual abuse help line is 800-770-0602. became “particular law” for the uary. Thirty-three dioceses had yet to dent allegedly took place nearly two “Though even one instance of abuse Catholic Church in America. address recommendations or instruc- decades ago, well before he was as- is one too many,” Bishop Kmiec said, Dioceses of the Roman Catholic Rite tions to comply with the charter.