Tuesday, May 17, 2005
EMAIL FROM DR. BOND
Dear Friends,
The Diocese of Scranton has posted on its web site a statement about the Society of St. John. This statement had been quoted in various newspaper articles concerning the settlement of the federal sex abuse lawsuit, but it had not be made available to the public until recently.
I have added my comments in capital letters in brackets within the statement below.
Pax vobiscum,
Dr. Jeffrey M. Bond
P.S. I have heard from two reliable sources that Rome has DENIED the Society of St. John's appeal of Bishop Martino's decree of suppression. Hopefully official confirmation will come soon.
Society of St. John Sells Property;
Diocese of Scranton Confirms Settlement in Civil Lawsuit
The Society of St. John, an organization of priests which was suppressed by Scranton Bishop Joseph F. Martino in November 2004, today (May 6, 2005) sold its 1000-acre property in Shohola, Pike County. The land was originally acquired by the Society in 1999. The Society’s failure to meet obligations as an ecclesiastical entity, its financial decisions and conduct, and allegations of sexual misconduct against two of its founding members compelled the Bishop to suppress the group.
A critical feature of today’s property transaction was the full payment of the loan which was arranged by former Scranton Bishop James C. Timlin. The Diocese was guarantor of a loan in the amount of $2,650,000. “We are very pleased that this sale has finally taken place because the burden of guaranteeing this group’s financial obligation to repay the loan has been removed from the faithful of the Diocese of Scranton,” Bishop Martino said. “It is unfortunate that this group of priests brought so much scandal and consternation to the priests and laity of the Diocese. It is now time to move forward and put the Society behind us.” [BISHOP TIMLIN'S DECISION TO MAKE THIS LOAN, DESPITE THE OVERWHELMING EVIDENCE OF THE SSJ'S GROSS IMMORALITY, WAS AN EVEN GREATER CAUSE OF SCANDAL AND CONSTERNATION AMONG THE FAITHFUL. BISHOP TIMLIN'S MISUSE OF HIS AUTHORITY TO COVER UP FOR THE SSJ, AS WELL AS HIS EFFORTS TO PUNISH THE COLLEGE OF ST. JUSTIN MARTYR FOR EXPOSING THE SSJ HOMOSEXUAL CULT, MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR US TO "MOVE FORWARD AND PUT THE SOCIETY BEHIND US" UNTIL THE COLLEGE OF ST. JUSTIN MARTYR HAS BEEN JUSTLY COMPENSATED.]
In another matter involving the Society, independent of the sale of the property, the Diocese of Scranton agreed to participate in a settlement of the case which John Doe and his parents brought against Father Eric Ensey, Father Carlos Urrutigoity, the Society of St. John, the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter and St Gregory’s Academy, and Bishop Timlin and the Diocese. A settlement in the amount of $380,000 has been agreed to. The financial settlement has been apportioned in the following amounts: Diocese of Scranton – Bishop Timlin $200,000; Society of St. John – Fr. Ensey-Father Urrutigoity $55,000; and Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter – St. Gregory’s Academy $125,000.
In announcing the settlement, Bishop Martino stated that the claims against the two priests, who are founding members of the Society of St. John, were very damaging.
“In preparing for the civil trial, more than 40 depositions were taken,” the Bishop said. “The allegations made by the young man who asserted that he was sexually molested by Father Ensey and Father Urrutigoity were very damaging. In view of the serious claims made by the young person and in light of the statements by the witnesses who supported his claim, it was determined that the just decision was to reach a settlement that will assist the victim and his family as they attempt to heal.” [HAD BISHOP TIMLIN PROPERLY INVESTIGATED THIS MATTER WHEN WE FIRST BROUGHT IT TO HIS ATTENTION IN THE SUMMER OF 2001, IT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN NECESSARY TO TAKE 40 DEPOSITIONS AND ALMOST FOUR YEARS TO REACH A JUST SETTLEMENT. WHY DID BISHOP TIMLIN SUPPORT THE SSJ AND STONEWALL FOR YEARS TO PROTECT THEM?]
The Bishop said the Diocese deeply regrets that any young person would ever suffer because of the conduct of a priest. [THESE WORDS ARE ONLY WORDS UNTIL WE SEE WHAT BISHOP MARTINO DOES WITH URRUTIGOITY AND ENSEY, AS WELL AS THE OTHER PRIESTS OF THE SSJ, ALL OF WHOM LIED TO COVER UP FOR THESE PERVERTED PRIESTS. OF PARTICULAR CONCERN IS THE IMPENDING ORDINATION OF DEACON JOSEPH LEVINE WHO, AS FORMER SUPERIOR GENERAL OF THE SSJ, ALSO USED HIS OFFICE TO COVER UP FOR URRUTIGOITY AND ENSEY.]
Bill Genello
Diocese of Scranton Spokesman
