Our Promise to Protect – Archdiocese of Hartford

LIST OF ARCHDIOCESE OF HARTFORD CLERGY WHO HAVE BEEN THE OBJECTS OF LEGAL SETTLEMENTS OR OTHERWISE CREDIBLY ACCUSED OF SEXUAL ABUSE OF A MINOR FROM 1953 TO THE PRESENT

AND

RELIGIOUS ORDER PRIESTS AND PRIESTS FROM OTHER DIOCESES WHO HAVE BEEN CREDIBLY ACCUSED OF SEXUAL ABUSE OF A MINOR THAT TOOK PLACE IN THE ARCHDIOCESE OF HARTFORD FROM 1953 TO THE PRESENT

The Archdiocese of Hartford, which was established as such in 1953, is committed to protecting the safety of minors and vulnerable adults, as well as to complying with the 2002 United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People and the Essential Norms (2005, 2011, 2018) which are binding church law in the United States.

Since 2002, when the Charter and Essential Norms were implemented, there has been a zero-tolerance policy in effect whereby when even a single act of sexual abuse of a minor by a priest or deacon is admitted, or is established after an appropriate investigation/process, the offending clergyman is removed permanently from ecclesiastical ministry, not excluding dismissal from the clerical state. These definitive actions can only be taken by, or with the authorization of, the Holy See at the Vatican.

Also, since 2002, the Archdiocese of Hartford has promptly reported claims of clergy sexual abuse involving minors to the State Department of Children and Families regardless of whether they were current or from the distant past and regardless of whether they were credible or not.

In the interests of greater transparency, accountability, and restoring the trust of the Catholic people and the general public, and in the hope of continued healing for the victims/survivors of abuse, the Archdiocese of Hartford hereby publishes the names of those Archdiocese of Hartford clergy who have been the objects of legal settlements involving claims of, or otherwise credibly accused of sexual abuse of a minor, and the names of religious order priests and priests from other dioceses who have been credibly accused of such an offense that took place in the Archdiocese of Hartford. Most of these names have previously been reported by the secular and/or religious media. The list of names will be updated as new information becomes available.

For purposes of this publication, a “credible claim” is defined as one that, under the circumstances known at the time of determination, would cause a prudent person to conclude that there was a significant possibility that the incident occurred. It is important to note that disclosure of the names of these clerics does not necessarily mean that the accusation has been proven in a court of law or definitively shown to have occurred through a formal process, or has been admitted by the person accused. It is also important to keep in mind that the priests who died before any allegation was made against them did not have an opportunity to respond to the allegations.

Many of the clergy on the following list were the object of civil lawsuits or legal claims of sexual abuse of a minor, which were permitted by the civil statute of limitations, which is much longer than the criminal statute of limitations in place at the time that most of the abuse incidents allegedly occurred. As a result, the criminal statute of limitations had expired before most of the incidents of abuse became known and therefore criminal prosecutions of the clergy in question were not possible. In more recent times, criminal statutes of limitations have been extended to allow for longer periods of time for prosecution of such crimes occurring after those extensions became effective.

LIST OF ARCHDIOCESE OF HARTFORD CLERGY WHO HAVE BEEN THE OBJECTS OF LEGAL SETTLEMENTS OR OTHERWISE CREDIBLY ACCUSED OF SEXUAL ABUSE OF A MINOR FROM 1953 TO THE PRESENT

Priests/Transitional Deacon of the Archdiocese of Hartford (46)

Altermatt, Gregory

Ordination 3/27/1976
Assistant Pastor, Incarnation, Wethersfield
Assistant Pastor, St. Timothy, West Hartford
Assistant Pastor, St. Ann, Waterbury
Chaplain, St. Mary Hospital, Waterbury
In residence, Our Lady of Victory, West Haven
Chaplain, St. Raphael Hospital, New Haven

Removed from ministry, 2/3/2012
A civil case is pending
Died 6/4/2023

Bray, William

Ordained May 27, 1954
Assistant Pastor, Camp Trinita, New Hartford
Assistant Pastor, Sacred Heart, New Haven
Assistant Pastor, Saint James, Rocky Hill
Assistant Pastor, Assumption, Ansonia
Assistant Pastor, Saints Peter and Paul, Waterbury
Assistant Pastor, Sacred Heart, Suffield
Assistant Pastor, Saint Augustine, Hartford
Pastor, Saint Patrick, Enfield
Assistant Pastor, Blessed Sacrament, Hamden
Administrator, Saint John of the Cross, Middlebury
In Residence, Saint Vincent de Paul, East Haven
Pastor, Saint Clare, East Haven
Died, November 15, 2000

Bonadies, Kenneth

Ordination 5/21/1965
Priest of the Diocese of Steubenville, Ohio
Faculty, East Catholic High School
In residence, Saint Bartholomew, Manchester, while assisting at Saint John the Evangelist, Montville (Diocese of Norwich), Sacred Heart, Wethersfield, Saint Isaac Jogues, East Hartford
Incardinated (became a priest of the Archdiocese of Hartford), 1/31/1983
Temporary Assistant Pastor, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Meriden
Temporary Assistant Pastor, Saint Rita, Hamden
Administrator, Saint Ann, Hamden
Medical Leave of Absence, 2004
Retired, December 31, 2004 before any claims against him were received

Removed from ministry, 9/11/2018

A civil case is pending

Died 8/16/2021

Buckley, Joseph

Ordination 5/21/1932
Assistant Pastor, St. Vincent, East Haven
Assistant Pastor, St. Agnes, Niantic
Pastor, St. Therese, Stony Creek (Branford)
Administrator, St. Mary, Newington
Pastor, St. Mary, Newington
Retired 5/14/1970

Died in 1975 before the single claim against him was received in 2003.

Bzdyra, Stephen

Ordination 11/10/1979
Assistant Pastor, St. Stanislaus, Meriden
Co-Pastor, St. Francis, New Haven
Co-Pastor St. George, Guilford
Temp. Administrator, St. Joseph, Suffield
Assistant, St. Mary, Milford
Assistant, St. Rita, Hamden
Pastor, SS Peter & Paul Wallingford
Chaplain, Cheshire Correctional Institute
Pastor, St. Hedwig, Union City (Residence)
Administrator, St. Stanislaus, Waterbury
Chaplain, Cheshire Correctional Institute (continued), while in residence, St. Hedwig, Union City
Temporary Administrator, St. Margaret Waterbury
Pastor, St. Augustine, Seymour

Removed from ministry, 7/8/2010
Laicized 5/4/2018
Died 10/9/2019

Callahan, Robert

Ordained May 18, 1944
Assistant Pastor, Our Lady of the Assumption, Ansonia
Professor, Saint Thomas Seminary
Weekend Mass Assistance, Saint Vincent, East Haven
Chaplain, Trinity College
Pastor, Saint Jerome, New Britain
Retired, February 26, 1988
Died, January 1, 2013

Clarkin, Herbert

Ordination 5/7/1959
Assistant Pastor, St. Michael, Beacon Falls
Assistant Pastor, St Paul, Glastonbury
Faculty, East Catholic High School, Manchester
In residence, Mt. St. Joseph Academy, West Hartford
Assistant Pastor, Immaculate Conception, Waterbury
Pastor, St. Bernard, Tariffville
Chaplain, with ministry restricted exclusively to St. Mary Home, West Hartford

Removed from ministry, subsequent to retirement, 4/29/2002
Died 12/29/2010

Crowley, Stephen

Ordination 5/19/1955
Assistant Pastor, St. Michael, Waterville
Assistant Pastor, Immaculate Conception, Hartford
Assistant Pastor, St. Bridget, Cheshire
Assistant Pastor, Our Lady of Pompeii, East Haven
Assistant Pastor, St. Mary, Derby
Temp. Assistant, St. George, Guilford
Assistant Pastor, St. George Guilford
Assistant Pastor, St. Francis, Torrington
Pastor, St. Francis, Torrington
Pastor Emeritus, and assisting in parishes
Temp. Administrator, Ascension, Hamden

Removed from ministry, 6/11/2002
Sentenced to a life of “prayer and penance” by the Holy See in Rome, 10/21/2015
Died 8/11/2016

DeCarolis, Joseph R.

Ordination 5/07/1959
Assistant Pastor, Saint Therese, Branford
Assistant Pastor, Saint Paul, Kensington
Assistant Pastor, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Meriden
Assistant Pastor, Immaculate Heart of Mary, Harwinton
Assistant Pastor, Saint Mary, Derby
Assistant Pastor, Saint Pius X, Wolcott
Assistant Pastor, Saint Anthony of Padua, Litchfield
Assistant Pastor, Saint Anthony of Padua, Prospect
Retired, 2007
Died, March 31, 2020

Doyle, Robert

Ordination 5/30/1935
Assistant Pastor, St Peter, Hartford
Associate Superintendent, Diocesan Office of Schools
Superintendent of Schools
Pastor, St. Augustine, Hartford
Pastor, Sacred Heart, Wethersfield

Died 12/18/1975 before the single claim against him was received in 2009

Ferguson, Ivan

Ordination 5/6/1970
Auxiliary Priest of the Missionaries of the Holy Apostles in an Apostolic Vicariate in the Diocese of St. Joseph of the Amazon, Peru
Faculty, Northwest Catholic High School
In residence, St. Bernard, Tariffville
Incardinated (became a priest of the Archdiocese of Hartford), 2/9/1979
Assistant Pastor, St. Mary, Derby
Assistant Pastor, St. Matthew, Forestville
Chaplain, Hartford Hospital; in residence at St. Lawrence O’Toole, Hartford

Removed from ministry, 3/4/1993
Died 12/16/2002

Foley, Stephen

Ordination 5/4/1967
Assistant Pastor, Christ the King, Bloomfield
Assistant Pastor, St. Robert Bellarmine, Windsor Locks
Assistant Pastor, St. Timothy, West Hartford
Pastor, St. Dunstan, Glastonbury

Removed from ministry, 8/18/1993
Laicized 4/29/2016

Glynn, Thomas

Ordination 6/29/1938
Assistant Pastor, Sacred Heart, Wethersfield
Assistant Pastor, Corpus Christi, Wethersfield
Chaplain, United States Navy,
Instructor, Mt. St. Joseph Academy, West Hartford
Chaplain, House of Good Shepherd, Hartford
Pastor, St. Boniface, New Haven
Pastor, St. Matthew, Forestville
Administrator, Holy Trinity, Wallingford
Pastor, Holy Trinity, Wallingford
Administrator, St. Clare, East Haven
Pastor, St. Clare, East Haven
Pastor Emeritus, St. Joseph, Meriden
Pastor Emeritus, assisting in various parishes

Retired, 11/1/1987
Died 1/25/1993

Gotta, Paul

Ordination 5/20/2006
Temp. Assistant, St. Margaret, Madison
Assistant Pastor, St. John the Evangelist, Watertown
Part-time Chaplain, Sacred Heart High School, Waterbury
Assistant Pastor, St. Rita, Hamden
Temp. Administrator, St. Rita, Hamden
Assistant Pastor, St. Rita, Hamden
Sacramental Minister, SCSU, New Haven
Administrator, St. Catherine, Broad Brook/St. Philip E. Windsor
Pastor, St. Francis of Assisi, Naugatuck – in addition to continuing as Administrator for St. Catherine, Broad Brook/St. Philip E. Windsor

Removed from ministry, 7/12/2013
A canonical process is underway.

Laicized: 4/2/2020

Graham, John

Ordination 12/8/1931
Assistant Pastor, St. Augustine, South Glastonbury
Assistant Pastor, St. Anthony, Hartford
Assistant Pastor, St. Joseph, Danbury
On Leave, One Year
Assistant Pastor, St. Patrick, Thompsonville
Assistant Pastor, St. Ann, Hamden
Pastor, St. Augustine, South Glastonbury
Administrator, St. Bernadette, New Haven, in residence at SS. Peter and Paul, Waterbury
Resigned Pastorate
Assistant Pastor, Ss. Peter and Paul, Waterbury
Retired, 1974

Died 12/11/1983 before the single claim against him was received in 2003

Hastillo, Stanley E.

Ordination 5/14/1942
Chaplain, Camp Trinida, New Hartford
Assistant Pastor, Saint Michael, Waterville
Assistant Pastor, Saint Augustine, Seymour
Assistant Pastor, Saint Hedwig, Union City
Assistant Pastor, Saint Bridget, Manchester
Pastor, Saint Therese, Grandby
Retired, 1993
Died, December 14, 1999

Hussey, Philip

Ordination 5/26/1938
Assistant Pastor, Immaculate Conception, Waterbury
Assistant Pastor, St. Lawrence O’Toole, Hartford
Pastor, St. Bartholomew, Manchester

Died 1/17/1978 before the claims against him were received

Hyland, Edward

Ordination 5/4/1967
Temp. Chaplain, Hartford, Hospital
Assistant Pastor, St. Joseph, Bristol
Assistant Pastor, St. Therese, North Haven
Chaplain, Hospital of St. Raphael, New Haven
Appointed Coordinator of the Hospital Apostolate
Co-Pastor, St, Francis, Naugatuck
Temp. Assistant Pastor Holy Trinity, Wallingford
Temp. Assistant Pastor St. Joseph, Bristol
Co-Pastor, St. Gabriel, Windsor
Pastor, SS. Peter & Paul, Waterbury

Removed from ministry, 7/26/2002
Laicized 4/29/2016

Lacy, Joseph

Ordination 3/19/1938
Assistant Pastor, St. Ann, New Britain
Chaplain, United States Army
Student in Rome
Chaplain, St. Agnes Home, West Hartford
Pastor, St. Michael, Hartford
Chancellor
Administrator, St. Luke, Hartford
Pastor, St. Luke, Hartford
Pastor Emeritus, St. Luke, Hartford
Retired, 11/1/1987

Died 5/18/1990 before any claims against him were received

Ladamus, Robert

Ordination 5/23/1970
Assistant Pastor, St. Francis Xavier, Waterbury
Assistant Pastor, Our Lady of Victory, West Haven
Assistant Pastor, St. John Vianney, West Haven
Assistant Pastor, St. Mary, Milford
Temp. Administrator, Christ the Redeemer, Milford
Pastor, Christ the Redeemer, Milford
Resigned Pastorate, Christ the Redeemer, Milford
Unassigned for health reasons

Retired 7/1/1998 before any claims against him were received

Died 11/8/2012

Lewandowski, David J

Ordained May 19, 1955
Assistant Pastor, Saints Peter and Paul, Wallingford
Assistant Pastor, Saint Thomas, Thomaston
Assistant Pastor, Saint Mary, Torrington
Assistant Pastor, Saint Stanislaus, Waterbury
Assistant Pastor, Sacred Heart, New Britain
Pastor, Saint Hedwig, Union City
Temporary Administrator, Immaculate Conception, Southington
Pastor, Immaculate Conception, Southington
Retired, November 23, 2004
Placed on Administrative Leave following an allegation of sexual misconduct, October 26, 2011
Restored to priestly ministry, November 16, 2012 after the legal accusations against him were withdrawn.
Died, March 31, 2020

Maguire, Felix

Assistant, St. Augustine, North Branford
Assistant Pastor, St. Patrick, Mystic
Temp. Assistant, St. Thomas, Goshen
Assistant Pastor, St. Mary Magdalen, Oakville
Assistant Pastor, St. Lawrence, West Haven
Assistant Pastor, St. Pius X, Wolcott
Assistant Pastor, St. Augustine, South Glastonbury
Pastor, St. John Fisher, Marlborough
On Leave, Three Months
Pastor, St. Mary Derby
Pastor, St. Theresa, North Haven
Retired, 1992

Removed from ministry, 1992

Died 7/13/2008

Malave, Will-Roger

Ordained February 22, 1986
Assistant Pastor, Saint Matthew, Forestville
Assistant Pastor, Saint Peter, Torrington
Parochial Vicar, Saint Francis, New Haven
Parochial Vicar, Saint Vincent de Paul
Chaplain, Connecticut Department of Corrections
In residence, Saint Thomas, West Hartford
“On Loan” Administrator, Saint Martin, Cameron & Joseph, Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston
Administrator, Saint Boniface, Camden, West Virginia
Assistant Pastor, Immaculate Heart, Harlingen, Texas
Chaplain, Saint Mary Hospital, Waterbury
Released from the Archdiocese of Hartford to the Diocese of Steubenville, November 1, 2000
Assistant Pastor, Saint Joseph, Amsterdam, Ohio
In residence, Saint Margaret, Waterbury
Retired, January 31, 2006
Canonical Suspension of the Faculty to Hear Confession, May 24^th, 2016
Administrative Leave, August 9, 2021
A canonical process is underway

Manspeaker, Terry

Ordination 11/24/1990

(Transitional Deacon – en route to priestly ordination)

Released as a seminarian from the Archdiocese of Washington, 1989
Granted candidacy for Holy Orders in the Archdiocese of Hartford, 1990
Seminarian assignment, St. Augustine, Seymour
Deacon, St. Lucy Parish, Waterbury

Removed from ministry in the Archdiocese of Hartford, 5/15/1992

McGann, Richard

Ordination 5/23/1970
Assistant Pastor, St. Gregory, Bristol
Chaplain, Hartford Hospital
Director Pastoral Ministry, St. Paul High School, Bristol
Pastor, Our Lady of Mercy, Plainville

Removed from ministry, 6/14/2005
Sentenced to a life of “prayer and penance” by the Holy See in Rome, 5/24/2016

McSheffery, Daniel

Ordination 5/10/1956
Temp. Assistant, St. Ann, Avon
Assistant Pastor, St. Mary, Branford
Assistant Pastor, St. Augustine, Hartford
Pastor, St George, Guilford
Pastor, St. Augustine, North Branford

Removed from ministry, 5/10/2002
Died 6/15/2014

Mitchell, Peter

Ordination 5/3/1951
Assistant Pastor, St. Patrick, Mystic
Assistant Pastor, St. Mary, Derby
Leave of Absence for work in Archdiocese of Santa Fe
Assistant Pastor, St. John the Evangelist, West Hartford
Assistant Pastor, St. Aedan, New Haven
Assistant Pastor, Assumption, Woodbridge
Pastor, St. Clare, East Haven
Residence, St. Mary, Branford
Assistant Pastor, St. Mary, Branford
Chaplain, St. Francis Hospital, Hartford
Pastor Emeritus, St. Mary, Derby

Removed from ministry subsequent to retirement, 12/31/2001
Died 5/20/2016

Muha, Edward

Ordination 12/22/1945
ssistant Pastor, St. Mary, Newington
Assistant Pastor, SS Cyril and Methodius, Bridgeport
Assistant Pastor, Our Lady of Mercy, Plainville
Assistant Pastor, St. Michael, Waterville
Assistant Pastor, St. Francis, New Haven
Pastor, Immaculate Conception, Terryville
Pastor Emeritus, Immaculate Conception, Terryville

Died 2/11/2002 before the single claim against him was received in 2004

Nash, Howard

Ordination 1/15/1961
Assistant Pastor, Holy Infant, Orange
Temp Co-Pastor, St. Michael, Hartford
Assistant Pastor, St. Agnes, Woodmont
Co-Pastor, St. Bernadette, New Haven
Temp Administrator, St. Casimir, New Haven
Administrator, St. Bernadette, New Haven
Pastor, St. Bernadette, New Haven

Died 10/28/2001 before the single claim against him was received in 2003

O’Connor, John T.

Ordination 6/29/1946
Assistant Pastor, St. Thomas, Southington
Assistant Pastor, St. Francis, Torrington
Assistant Pastor, St. Mary, Newington
Pastor, Holy Spirit, Newington
Pastor Emeritus, St. Dominic, Southington

Died 12/1/2003 before any claims against him were received

Paturzo, Louis

Ordination 5/26/1973

Assistant Pastor, Assumption, Ansonia – 1974 – 1975
Assistant Pastor, Sacred Heart, Waterbury
Assistant Pastor, Blessed Sacrament, Hamden
Assistant Pastor, Sacred Heart, Hartford
Temp. Administrator, Sacred Heart, Hartford
Assistant Pastor, St. Augustine, Hartford
Temp. Administrator, St. John Evangelist, West Hartford
On Leave, Two Months
Assistant Pastor, St Lawrence O’Toole, Hartford
Assistant Pastor, St. Ann, New Britain
Assistant Pastor, St. Joseph & St. Anthony, Bristol
Chaplain, State of CT Department of Corrections

Removed from ministry in 2002
Laicized in 2008

Paul, Raymond

Ordination 5/19/1955

Assistant Pastor, St. Paul, Kensington
Assistant Pastor, St. Thomas, Waterbury
Assistant Pastor, St. Barnabas, North Haven
Temp. Chaplain, St. Mary Hospital, Waterbury
Chaplain, St. Mary Hospital, Waterbury
Assistant Pastor, St. Augustine, North Branford
Assistant Pastor, St. George, Guilford
Assistant Pastor, St. Augustine, Seymour
Assistant Pastor, Holy Rosary, Ansonia

Removed from ministry, 2/21/1996
Died, 7/4/2008

Perrault, Arthur

Ordination 5/7/1964

Assistant Pastor, St. Bernard, Sharon
Assistant Pastor, Blessed Sacrament, East Hartford
On Leave, Two Weeks;
Assistant Pastor, St. Joseph, New Haven
Assistant Pastor, St. Francis, Naugatuck;
On Leave, Via Coeli, New Mexico

Removed from ministry in 1965, and sent for evaluation and treatment at a facility in New Mexico.

In 1967, following treatment in New Mexico, Perrault, at his request, was excardinated (ceased to be a priest) from the Archdiocese of Hartford and, at the request of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe, was incardinated (became a priest) of that Archdiocese.

Przybylo, William

Ordination 5/23/1968

Temp. Assistant, St. Bernard, Sharon
Assistant Pastor, SS. Peter & Paul, Wallingford
Assistant Pastor, St. Mary, Derby
Assistant Pastor, Holy Cross, New Britain
Spiritual Director, St. Paul High School, Bristol
Vice principal, St. Thomas Aquinas High School, New Britain
Principal, St. Thomas Aquinas High School, New Britain
Pastor, SS. Cyril & Methodius, Hartford

Removed from ministry, 9/22/2008
Sentenced to a life of “prayer and penance” by the Holy See in Rome, 10/21/2015

Raffaeta, George

Ordination 5/10/1956

Temp. Administrator, Immaculate Conception, New Hartford
Assistant Pastor, Our Lady of Lourdes, Waterbury
Assistant Pastor, St. Bernard, Hazardville
Assistant Pastor, St. Mary, Derby
Chaplain, Hartford Hospital, Hartford
Temp. Administrator, St. Monica, Northford
Assistant Pastor, St. George, Guilford
Assistant Pastor, St. Augustine, Seymour
Pastor, Holy Infant, Orange
Pastor, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Meriden
Pastor, St. Clare, East Haven
Pastor Emeritus, St. Francis, New Britain
Pastor Emeritus, St. Paul, West Haven
Pastor Emeritus, St. Agnes, Woodmont
Retired, 1/1/2001

Removed from ministry, 5/23/2002
Died 5/26/2010

Reardon, Edward

Ordination 5/14/1931

Assistant Pastor, St. Anthony, Hartford
Sick Leave
Assistant Pastor, St. Joseph, Canaan
Assistant Pastor, St. Mary, Greenwich
Assistant Pastor, St. Joseph, New London
Assistant Pastor, St. Mary, New London
Assistant Pastor, St. Thomas the Apostle, West Hartford
Administrator, St. Bernard, Hazardville
Pastor, St. Bernard, Hazardville
Pastor, St. James, Manchester
Pastor Emeritus, St. James, Manchester
Retired, 6/11/1979

Died 5/23/1991 before the single claim was received in 2004

Renkiewicz, Adolph

Ordination 5/10/1956

Assistant Pastor, Sacred Heart, New Britain
Assistant Pastor, St. Ann, Devon
Assistant Pastor, St. Casimir, Terryville
Assistant Pastor, Immaculate Conception, Southington
Assistant Pastor, Holy Cross, New Britain
Pastor, St. Adalbert, Enfield
Pastor, St. Stanislaus, Meriden
On Leave, Holy Family Monastery
Chaplain, with ministry restricted exclusively to the Felician Sisters Motherhouse, Enfield

Died 8/17/2015

Rozint, Joseph

Ordination 5/4/1967

Temp. Assistant, St. Mary, Milford
Assistant Pastor, St. Mary, Milford
Assistant Pastor, St. Paul, Glastonbury
Co-Pastor, St. Thomas, Waterbury
Co-Pastor, St. Gertrude, Windsor
Co-Pastor/Administrator, St. Rita, Hamden
Pastor, Ascension, Hamden

Abandoned the ministry in 1993 before any claims against him were received
Died 4/30/2009

Shea, Robert E.

Ordination 5/22/1941

Assistant, St. Mary, Portland
Assistant, St. Patrick, Thompsonville
Assistant, St. Mary, New Britain
Assistant, St. Patrick, Waterbury
Pastor, St. Patrick, Waterbury
Retired 7/1/1992

Died 6/21/1995 before any claims against him were received

Sherer, Carl

Ordained May 15, 1947
Assistant Pastor, Immaculate Conception, New Hartford
Assistant Pastor, Saint Gabriel, Windsor
Chaplain, Lauralton Hall High School, Milford
Assistant Pastor, Saint Francis, Naugatuck
Assistant Pastor, Saint John the Evangelist, Watertown
Pastor, Nativity, Bethlehem
In Residence, Saint Mary, Windsor Locks
Pastor, Saint Francis of Assisi, South Windsor
Pastor, Saint Stephen, Hamden

Died, March 29, 1995 before any claims against him were received

Shiner, Kenneth

Ordination 5/22/1971

Assistant, Cathedral of St. Joseph, Hartford
Assistant Pastor, St. Brigid, Elmwood
Assistant Pastor, Our Lady of Fatima, Yalesville
Co-Pastor, St. Francis of Assisi, New Britain
Pastor, St. Elizabeth, Branford
Pastor, St. Mary, Unionville
Resigned Pastorate 10/30/2000

Removed from ministry, 6/25/2001
Laicized 4/29/2016

Sievel, Thomas

Ordained December 15, 1978
Assistant Pastor, Corpus Christi, Wethersfield
Assistant Pastor, Assumption, Ansonia
Temporary Administrator, Assumption, Ansonia
Temporary Pastoral Care, Saint Thomas, Thomaston
Assistant Pastor, Saint Lawrence, West Haven
Pastor, Saint Lawrence, West Haven
Pastor, Saint Bartholomew, Manchester
Temporary Administrator, Assumption, Manchester
Pastor, Saint Vincent de Paul, East Haven
Pastor, Our Lady Queen of Angels, Meriden

Administrative Leave, November 8, 2021

A canonical process is underway

Suppe, Joseph

Ordained May 25, 1974
Assistant Pastor, Saint Margaret Parish, Waterbury
Assistant Pastor, Saint John the Evangelist Parish, Watertown
Assistant Pastor, Saint Paul Parish, West Haven
Retired January 1, 1990
Died, September 28, 1997

Tissera, (Wamakulasuriya) Edward

Ordination 1/22/1989

St. John the Evangelist, Watertown – 2000 – 2001
Priest of the Diocese of Chilaw, Sri Lanka
Assistant Pastor, St. Peter Claver, West Hartford
Assistant Pastor, St. Martha, Enfield
Assistant Pastor, St. Joseph, New Britain
Assistant Pastor, St. Joseph/St. Maurice, New Britain
Assistant Pastor, St. Patrick/St. Joseph, Waterbury
Administrator, St. Bernard, Tariffville
Incardinated (became a priest of the Archdiocese of Hartford) 9/29/2010

Removed from ministry, 7/21/2011
Laicized, 5/29/2018

Werpechowski, Felix

Ordination 5/25/1929

Assistant Pastor, St. Augustine, South Glastonbury
Assistant Pastor, St. Mary Church, Middletown
Assistant Pastor, Holy Cross, New Britain
Assistant Pastor, Holy Name, Stamford
Assistant Pastor, St. Hedwig, Union City
Chaplain, US Army
Assistant Pastor, Holy Name, Stamford
Assistant Pastor, St. Thomas, Thomaston
Pastor, St. Paul, Greenwich
Pastor, Holy Name, Stamford
Retired, 5/31/1971

Died 1/22/1972 before any claims against him were received

Zizka, Peter

Ordination 5/24/1975

Assistant Pastor, Holy Spirit, Newington
Chaplain, Connecticut National Guard
Assistant Pastor, St. Paul, Glastonbury
Assistant Pastor, St. Margaret Mary, South Windsor
Co-Pastor, St. Margaret Mary, South Windsor
Assistant Pastor, St. Joseph, Suffield
Pastor, St. Isaac Jogues, East Hartford
Temporary Assistant, St. Bridget, Cheshire
Temporary Assistant, St. Jude, Derby
Pastor, St. Bartholomew, Manchester

Removed from ministry, 3/19/1999
Laicized in 2002

RELIGIOUS ORDER PRIESTS AND PRIESTS FROM OTHER DIOCESES WHO HAVE BEEN CREDIBLY ACCUSED OF SEXUAL ABUSE OF A MINOR THAT TOOK PLACE IN THE ARCHDIOCESE OF HARTFORD FROM 1953 TO THE PRESENT

Externs (Priests belonging to another Archdiocese/Diocese (9)

Borowski, Karol H.

Priest of the Diocese of Silesia, Opole, Poland
Assistant Pastor, Saint Clare, East Haven
Assistant Pastor, Nativity, Bethlehem
Assistant Chaplain, Highland Heights, New Haven
Assistant Pastor, Saint John of the Cross, Middlebury
Study at Yale Divinity School
Incardination candidacy terminated, subsequently ministry in the Archdiocese of Hartford concluded on June 4, 1979, before the single claim against him was received in 2012

Kramek, Roman

Priest of the Archdiocese of Warmia, Poland http://archwarmia.pl/
“Visiting priest” helping out at Sacred Heart, New Britain, 12/2002, without any record of having been granted the faculties required for priestly ministry in the Archdiocese of Hartford

Arrested, removed from ministry, 12/2002

Returned to Poland after incarceration, 2005

Ramsay, John B.

Priest of the Diocese of Norwich https://www.norwichdiocese.org/
Volunteered & taught religious instruction classes at St. Adalbert, Enfield, 1978-1979

Died 7/26/94 before the single claim against him was received

Franklin, Edward

Priest of the Diocese of Ogdensberg, New York https://www.rcdony.org/
Study Leave at Trinity College, Hartford, while residing at Our Lady of Mercy Parish in Plainville, without any record of having been granted the faculties required for priestly ministry in the Archdiocese of Hartford

Removed from ministry by the Diocese of Ogdensberg, 1996

Died, 4-16-2005

Meunier, Lucien

(a/k/a Luke Meunier de la Pierre; a/k/a Maurice Meunier)
Priest of the Diocese of Amos in the Province of Quebec, Canada http://www.diocese-amos.org/
“Visiting priest” helping out at St. Francis Xavier Parish in New Milford from 1981 to 1982, without any record of having been granted the faculties required for priestly ministry in the Archdiocese of Hartford

Left the Archdiocese of Hartford many years before any claims against him were received

Rivera, Jose

Priest of the Archdiocese of Tegucigalpa, Honduras http://arquitegucigalpa.org/
Chaplain, Saint Raphael Hospital, New Haven 1993 – 1994
Removed from ministry in the Archdiocese of Hartford, 9/9/1994

Guillermo de Jesús Vélez López (a.k.a. Salvatore Montana)

Ordained December 29, 1991

Priest of the Diocese of Quibdo (quibdodioc@cec.org.co)
Team Ministry, Saint Justin, Saint Michael, and Sacred Heart, Hartford
Assistant Pastor, Saint Louis, West Haven
Assistant Pastor, Sacred Heart, New Haven
Yale New Haven Hospital, New Haven
Ministry in the Archdiocese of Hartford concluded on June 1, 2005, before the allegation against him was received in 2019
Faculties to minister both within and outside the Diocese of Quibdo were revoked on April 2, 2021

Primavera, Bruno

Ordination 3/5/1973

A Priest of the Archdiocese of Toronto, Canada, who ministered in the Archdiocese of Hartford https://www.archtoronto.org/
Faculty, Northwest Catholic High School, and removed after two months, 1981
Resided and helped out at St. Adalbert, Enfield, without any record of having been granted the faculties required for priestly ministry in the Archdiocese of Hartford, 1981– 1983

Left the Archdiocese of Hartford, 6/1983
Removed from ministry by Archdiocese of Toronto,1990
Died, 1/17/2006

Villacastin, Toribio

Ordained 1981 Diocese of Tagblaran, Philippines

Priest of the Diocese of Tagblaran, Philippines
Assisted in the Churches of Saint Isaac Jogues, East Hartford, and Saint Francis, Naugatuck, from 1968 through 1970, without any record of having been granted the faculties required for priestly ministry in the Archdiocese of Hartford
Left the Priesthood, 1977
Died, 2008 before the single claim against him was received on January 24, 2019

Religious Order Priests (11)

Corbesero, Eugene OSFS

Ordained 1965
Priest of the Consolata Society for Foreign Missions (http://www.consolata.us/)
Residing in the Archdiocese of Hartford, in Milford, in 1973, without having received the faculties necessary for priestly ministry in the Archdiocese.
Left the order of Consolata Society for Foreign Missions in 1981
Laicized in 1983
Died, 2016

Johnson, Stephan L. CSP

Ordained May 1981
Priest of The Missionary Society of St. Paul the Apostle (i.e. “The Paulist Fathers”)
Faculty member at East Catholic High School, Manchester, 1983-1987
Left the Paulist Fathers in July, 1996 before the single claim against him was received by the Paulist Fathers in October, 2018, (https://paulist.org/the-conversation/notification-regarding-stephan-johnson-a-former-paulist-father/)

Pelkington, Robert Leo OP

Ordination 1968
Priest of the Dominican Friars, Province of St. Joseph https://opeast.org/
St. Mary, New Haven 1994-1995
Reassigned by his Dominican Superior outside of the Archdiocese of Hartford in 1995
Removed from ministry by his Dominican Superior in 1999
Laicized, 2011
Died, 2015

Rudy, John OFM

Priest of the Holy Name Province of Franciscans https://hnp.org/
Parochial Vicar, St. Joseph, Winsted 1993 – 1998
Removed from ministry by his Franciscan Superior in 1998

Hayes, Xavier CP

Ordained June 19, 1959
Priest of the Congregation of the Passion of Jesus Christ, (the Passionists), https://thepassionists.org/
In Residence, Passionist Retreat Center, 1980-1984
Died, 2014

Meehan, Timothy LC

Priest of the Legionaries of Christ (https://legionariesofchrist.org/2021-update-on-abuse-cases-in-the-north-american-territory/)
Assistant Formator, Legion of Christ College of Humanities, Cheshire, 1990s
Left the Order in 2017 after the first claim against him was received in 2013

Pronovost, Raoul, MS

Ordained 1947
Priest of the Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette (https://www.lasalette.org/)
La Salette Mission, Burma, 1947-1962
Periodic Residence at La Salette Missionary College and Our Lady of Sorrows, Hartford
Assistant Pastor, Saint Bernard, Rockville (Diocese of Norwich)
Assistant Pastor, Saint Joseph, Willimantic (Diocese of Norwich)
Administrator, All Hallows, Moosup (Diocese of Norwich)
Retired, 1976
Died, November 2, 1996 before the single claim against him was received on March 15, 2019

Szantyr, John

Ordination 6/8/1957
Priest of the Congregation of Marian Fathers, https://www.marian.org/
Dismissed from the Congregation of Marian Fathers, 1972
Assisted in the early seventies at Sacred Heart High School in his hometown of Waterbury, without any record of having been granted the faculties required for priestly ministry in the Archdiocese of Hartford
Treatment at a facility in Massachusetts, 1975
Prohibited in 1978 from priestly ministry in the Archdiocese of Hartford after a claim against him was received
Died 5/16/2014

Izquierdo, William LC

Ordination 1958
Priest of the Legionaries of Christ, Cheshire https://legionariesofchrist.org/
Served as novice instructor from 1982-1995
Reassigned by the Legionaries of Christ outside the Archdiocese of Hartford, 1995

Miller, Michael OFM Conv.

Priest of the Franciscan Friars Conventual, St. Anthony of Padua Province https://www.franciscans.org/
Parochial Vicar, St. Paul, Kensington/Berlin 2006 – 2011
Removed from ministry on 7/4/2011 by his Franciscan Superior

Pryor, John OAR

Priest of the Order of Augustinian Recollects http://www.augustinianrecollects.us/
“Visiting priest” helping out at St. Bernard, Tariffville in 1967, without any record of having been granted the faculties required for priestly ministry in the Archdiocese of Hartford

LIST OF ARCHDIOCESE OF HARTFORD CLERGY, RELIGIOUS ORDER PRIESTS AND PRIESTS FROM OTHER DIOCESES WHO HAVE BEEN CREDIBLY ACCUSED OF SEXUAL ABUSE OF A MINOR THAT TOOK PLACE OUTSIDE THE ARCHDIOCESE OF HARTFORD.

Brady, Severin OFM

Ordained March 5, 1966
Priest of the Franciscan Friars of the Holy Name Province (https://hnp.org/about-us/)
Pastor, Saint Joseph Parish, Winsted from January 1984 to July 1, 1987
Died 7/14/2006 before the single claim against him was received on April 23, 2008

Casey, Liam

Ordained 1962, Diocese of Albany
Priest of the Diocese of Albany
Director of Pastoral Care, Saint Francis Hospital, 1992 to 2004
Ministry in the Archdiocese of Hartford concluded in December, 2004, when single allegation of sexual misconduct with an adult was received by the Diocese of Albany
Included on the Diocese of Albany’s list of Clergy Credibly Accused of Sexual Misconduct with a Minor while Serving in the Diocese of Albany

Newman S.C., Robert

Priest of Le Fils de la Charite’ (Sons of Charity)
Parochial Vicar, Immaculate Conception Church, Hartford
Pastor, Sacred Heart, New Haven
Resigned, July 2, 2002, after allegations of sexual abuse of minors, which occurred in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, were received

Otero, Cornelius (Neil) T.

Ordained May 15, 1949
Priest of the Diocese of Brooklyn
Chaplain, Saint Francis Hospital, Hartford
Incardinated (became a priest of the Archdiocese of Hartford), 3/16/1981
Retired, May 1, 1992
Died 1/15/1998

LIST OF ARCHDIOCESE OF HARTFORD CLERGY, RELIGIOUS ORDER PRIESTS AND PRIESTS FROM OTHER DIOCESES WHO HAVE BEEN CREDIBLY ACCUSED OF SEXUAL ABUSE OF A MINOR THAT TOOK PLACE OUTSIDE THE ARCHDIOCESE OF HARTFORD, AND ARE RESIDING IN THE ARCHDIOCESE OF HARTFORD WITHOUT PERMISSION.

Macklin, Eckley

Ordained 1995
Priest of the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity (SOLT)
Canonical process pending due to credible allegations of sexual abuse of a minor, which occurred in the Diocese of Corpus Christi
Ministry in the Diocese of Cheyenne from 2003 to 2015
Residing without permission to minister in the Archdiocese of Hartford

Website-Financial-Report Download

Frequently Asked Questions January 2019

Sexual misconduct by Personnel of the Archdiocese of Hartford is contrary to Christian teaching and principles, is outside the scope of the duties and employment of all such personnel and is strictly prohibited. The Archdiocese of Hartford is and has been committed to the safety and well-being of Minors and Vulnerable Adults.

Italicized responses are quoted directly from the Office of Safe Environment Handbook Policies and Procedures for the Protection of Minors and Vulnerable Adults. (Some locations cited by number)

How does one report sexual abuse by an member of the clergy, employee or volunteer of the Archdiocese of Hartford, its parishes, schools and agencies?

HOW TO REPORT AN INCIDENT OF SEXUAL ABUSE TO THE ARCHDIOCESE OF HARTFORD

If you have knowledge or suspect that a minor or vulnerable adult (an adult with an intellectual disability) has been sexually abused, in any manner, by personnel of the Archdiocese of Hartford, you are urged to report this information to:

Kathleen D. Nowosadko
Victim Assistance Coordinator
860-541-6475
kathleen.nowosadko@aohct.org

In addition, you will be asked to follow up in writing with a detailed description of the facts involved in the incident. Specifics of this written report can be found in the Policies and Procedures of the Archdiocese of Hartford Relating to Allegations of Sexual Misconduct Involving Minors and Vulnerable Adults. This document is also available online at www.archdioceseofhartford.org. The Archdiocese of Hartford will report any and all incidents to the proper civil authorities.

Mandated reporters in the State of Connecticut are required by law to report any incident of sexual abuse involving a minor or vulnerable adult. We encourage any Non-Mandated persons to report such incidents to the proper authorities as well. We support your right to do so.

Incidents involving sexual abuse of minors (persons under the age of 18) should be reported to:

State Department of Children and Families Care-line 1-800-842-2288

Incidents involving sexual abuse of vulnerable adults aged 18 – 59 should be reported to the:

Connecticut Department of Developmental Services – AID Division for Persons with Intellectual Disabilities 1-844-878-8923

Incidents involving sexual abuse of vulnerable adults aged 60 and over should be reported to:

Department of Social Services for the Elderly 1-888-385-4225

Once a written report of an incident of sexual abuse of a minor or vulnerable adult has been received, an investigation will be undertaken by, or on behalf of, the Archdiocese of Hartford.

How does one report sexual abuse of a minor by a Bishop/Archbishop?

You should contact the papal nuncio, who is the Vatican’s ambassador to the United States, Most Reverend Christophe Pierre, 3339 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 202-333-7121

And Kathleen D. Nowosadko Victim Assistance Coordinator

860-541-6475

kathleen.nowosadko@aohct.org

How are the Policies and Procedures Distributed?

Distribution of these written policies and procedures shall be as broad as reasonably possible. They will also be posted on the website for the Archdiocese of Hartford.

2.1 Acknowledgement of receipt and understanding shall be included with personal contracts of employment with entities of the Archdiocese.

2.2 A signed acknowledgment of receipt and understanding shall be obtained from any Personnel of the Archdiocese who has contact with Minors and/or Vulnerable Adults, and shall be kept on file at the parish, school or Archdiocesan entity wherein the person is employed or volunteers.

What is being done to insure the safety of minors and vulnerable adults?

Safe Environment Program and Background Checks (BGCs)

3.1 The Archdiocese will also evaluate the background of all Personnel of the Archdiocese who have contact with Minors and/or Vulnerable Adults in their ministerial or employment duties, by causing them to undergo a standard Background Check.

3.1(a) All employees of a Catholic school must undergo a Fingerprint Background Check. All such employees must undergo a standard Background Check every 10 years following the initial fingerprinting, or at any time if the employee changes schools. (Every 5 years effective 2019)

3.1(b) All Personnel of the Archdiocese who have contact with Minors and/or Vulnerable Adults are required to promptly self-report any convictions involving criminal and/or motor vehicle matters, current or pending, to their pastor, principal or supervisor who will in turn notify the Office of Safe Environment.

3.1(c) Standard Background Checks will be repeated every 10 years.

3.1(d) A Standard Background Check should be re-done any time an employee or volunteer leaves employment or the volunteer position for more than one year and seeks to become employed by and/or volunteer at either the same or new parish, a parish school, Archdiocesan Catholic School, the Hartford Roman Catholic Diocesan Corporation, or Catholic ministry sponsored by the Archdiocese of Hartford.

3.1(e) Any employee who works in more than one entity set forth in section 3.1 (d) must comply with sections 3.1 (a), (b), (c), and (d), however they will not need to complete separate standard background checks for each employer. Any individual who volunteers at more than such entity must comply with sections 3.1, 3.1 (b), (c), and (d). A background check to fulfill a requirement for any other organization (i.e. Scouting, State Police, Teachers, etc.) will not be accepted as a background check for the Archdiocese of Hartford. The background check must have been completed specifically for the Archdiocese of Hartford.

What kind of background checks are being conducted in the AOH?
- The AOH completes two different types of background checks. Initially, Fingerprint Background Checks are completed on all employees of our Catholic Schools. These captured fingerprints are scanned and sent electronically, along with specific required personal information, to the CT-DESPP and the FBI. All other BGCs are completed by Mind Your Business, Inc. These checks are processed on the personal information supplied by the applicant (ie. Name, Address, DOB, SS#)

Again, who are required to have background checks?
- All employees, including clergy of the Archdiocese, its parishes, schools, offices and agencies and any volunteer in a leadership role or who has contact with a minor or vulnerable through their ministry.
What does the background check cover?
- It includes State and National Criminal Files, Social Security Number Verification and National Sex Offender Registry.
Does the AOH have a policy for how the information it obtained through the background check is used?
- Specific criteria will be applied in considering whether or not an individual will be eligible for initial or continued employment or service as a volunteer in positions with any Archdiocesan entity where the individual involved may have contact with minors or vulnerable adults. In some instances, criminal convictions will automatically bar and applicant. In other instances, the totality of the circumstances may result in the barring of an individual. Other circumstances may necessitate obtaining additional information. In all instance, the safety of minors and/or vulnerable adults is paramount

The Pastor, Administrator, or Principal will be notified by phone that an individual is barred from employment or volunteering. The details of the matter will notbe discussed, only that the individual is barred and, if applicable the date in which they are able to be re-considered for employment of volunteering. The applicant will be sent a letter stating such and the Pastor, Administrator or Principal will be copied on the letter.

Is all of the information that is revealed in the background check passed along to the pastor?
- No, unless the applicant has given in writing the authorization to release the results of the records to a specific pastor.
Why?
- The OSE Code of Ministerial Behavior III. 2. A. b. provides that the AOH shall not harm the reputation of others through:
  - Disclosing the faults or failings of others to persons who have no cause to know them.
  - Disclosing confidential information, except in cases of mandated reporting of child abuse or neglect
  - Disclosing personal information that could cause an individual to suffer embarrassment, humiliation or public ridicule of any kind.
Where is that policy available?
- The policy is made available to every school and parish, and provided to any volunteer/employee when requested.
How does the AOH monitor the process of rechecking volunteers, employees and clergy?
- The Office of Safe Environment maintains a detailed software data program designed specifically for their needs. A report is generated and sent to the parishes and schools generally about every 2-3 months, or upon request of the school/parish. Site Coordinators at every school/parish are responsible for reviewing the names provided in the report and ensuring that all persons listed are up to date with their BGC. The OSE visits with parishes/schools, and continuously monitors the SE data reports to make certain that all policies and codes are being followed and to ensure that all personnel are in compliance
How are background checks handled for priests and/or seminarians who come to the US (to the Archdiocese of Hartford) from other countries?
- Priests, deacons and seminarians from other countries are subject to all Visa requirements of the State Department and any and all background checks required by their Diocese in their country of origin. These include governmental and Church related policies. When they become affiliated with the AOH, they are subject to all the requirements of this Archdiocese. Priests and deacons must also bring with them a “letter of suitability” to perform any liturgical/ministerial function or to take up residence within the Archdiocese

What is a “Letter of Suitability?”

Does the requirement of a “letter of suitability” apply to priests of the United States from other dioceses?

Yes, Priests and Deacons from outside the Archdiocese of Hartford must submit a letter of suitability to perform any ministry whatsoever, including masses, baptisms, weddings and funerals within the boundaries of the Archdiocese. Any Clergy member from outside the AOH who will be residing in the AOH for any period of time (owns a home, studying, research, etc.) must also provide a letter of suitability from their bishop or provincial, and are also subject to all the requirements of the AOH.
Is there a DCF search done?
- Under CT State 10-221d, DCF searches are completed on all school employees by the Office of Education, Evangelization and Catechesis.

How are clergy transferred between Dioceses?

Transfers Between Dioceses

No priest or deacon who has committed an act of sexual abuse of a Minor or Vulnerable Adult may be transferred for ministerial assignment to another diocese/eparchy or religious province. Before a priest or deacon of the Archdiocese may be transferred for residence to another diocese/eparchy or religious province, the Archbishop shall forward in a confidential manner to the local bishop/eparch and religious ordinary (if applicable) of the proposed place of residence, any and all information concerning any act of sexual abuse of a Minor or Vulnerable Adult and any other information indicating that he has been or may be a danger to Minors or Vulnerable Adults. This shall apply even if the priest or deacon will reside in the local community of an institute of consecrated life or society of apostolic life (or, in the Eastern Churches, as a monk or other religious, in a secular institute, or in another form of consecrated life or society of apostolic life).

12.2 Before the Archbishop receives a priest or deacon from outside his jurisdiction, the Archbishop will obtain the necessary information regarding any past act of sexual abuse of a Minor or Vulnerable Adult by the priest or deacon in question.

What training is required for adults? Employees, etc.

Sexual Abuse Awareness Training – Adults

All employees of the Hartford Roman Catholic Diocesan Corporation, and any other Personnel of the Archdiocese who have contact with Minors and/or Vulnerable Adults, must attend the Sexual Abuse Awareness Training which the Archdiocese of Hartford has selected to meet the criteria established in the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People.

Any Personnel of the Archdiocese who completed training in a different diocese must submit proof of attendance from that diocese’s Sexual Abuse Awareness Training. Proof of completion of such training will satisfy the requirements of the Archdiocese of Hartford.

Training to fulfill a requirement for any other organization (i.e. Scouting, State Police, Teachers, etc.) will not be accepted as training for the Archdiocese of Harford. The Sexual Abuse Awareness Training must have been completed in the Archdiocese of Hartford, other arch/diocese, or eparchy to fulfill the requirement from another archdiocese, diocese or eparchy.

Personnel of the Archdiocese, who are attending the selected Sexual Abuse Awareness Training for the first time, in order to meet the requirements of the Charter, must attend the specifically approved training program of the Archdiocese of Hartford.

All Priests, Deacons, Principals, Directors/Coordinators of Religious Education and Facilitators of the Sexual Abuse Awareness Training Programs, are responsible for continuing education.

Records of Sexual Abuse Awareness Training will be kept permanently.

What does the training entail?
- Three hour mandatory session conducted by an employee of the Office of Safe Environment or a trained facilitator. The Archdiocese currently uses the Virtus: Protecting God’s Children for Adults program.
What is the expectation of the AOH regarding the monthly on line training?
- It is expected that all Priests, Deacons, Principals, DRE/CREs and Virtus Facilitators read the monthly bulletins provided by Virtus.

What sexual abuse training is available for minors?

Sexual Abuse Awareness Training – Minors

Any student enrolled in a religious education program at a parish in Grades 1 through 10, and any student enrolled in a Catholic school Grades 1 through 12 will be offered the opportunity to attend a Child Sexual Abuse Awareness program as designated by the Office of Safe Environment. This program must be offered to all students, every school year, in every grade. Attendance at such a program will be kept on record at the parish school level and/or religious education office each year. These records must be kept permanently. Presently we are using the Think First, Stay Safe: Child/Teens Lures Prevention

Opt Out forms are available for parents or guardians who choose not to allow their student to attend these programs. Should a parent or guardian make a verbal request to ‘opt out’ but fail or refuse to sign the form, a signature from the DRE/CRE, Principal or the Pastor will be accepted as proof of the Opt Out.

How are allegations reported?

Reporting to Civil Authorities Instances, Allegations or Suspicions of Sexual Misconduct of Minors or Vulnerable Adults

Personnel of the Archdiocese are expected and required to comply with all applicable civil laws of the State of Connecticut with respect to reporting to civil authorities all instances where there is reasonable cause to suspect or believe that Sexual Misconduct involving a Minor or Vulnerable Adult has occurred (unless to do so would violate the priest/penitent relationship of the Sacrament of Reconciliation). Failure to report to civil authorities as required will result in appropriate sanctions and can, by law, result in fines or criminal prosecution. Personnel of the Archdiocese are also expected and required to advise victims of their right to make a report to public authorities and to support that right. They are also expected and required to cooperate in investigations by civil authorities regarding allegations of this type (unless to do so would violate the priest/penitent relationship of the Sacrament of Reconciliation).

Mandated Reporters Under Connecticut Law – Minors Connecticut law requires that persons engaged in certain occupations report all incidents of known or suspected child abuse, neglect, intentional injury, injury which is at variance with the history given of the injury, or imminent risk of serious harm, including but not limited to sexual abuse involving a Minor, to state or local authorities whether or not the child abuse, neglect, injury or imminent risk was brought about by Personnel of the Archdiocese. Gen. Stats. §17a-101 et seq. Individuals who are mandated reporters include but are not limited to: physicians and surgeons licensed by the state, residents or interns in hospitals within the state, registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, psychologists, dentists, school employees (teachers, substitute teachers, administrators, guidance counselors, paraprofessionals, coaches, etc.), or any other person who in performance of duties has regular contact with students, pursuant to contract with a school, social workers, clergy members, mental health professionals, physician assistants, certified substance abuse counselors, licensed marriage and family therapists, licensed professional counselors, sexual assault counselors, domestic violence counselors, and paid daycare workers.

Nature and Substance of Reports of Suspected Sexual Misconduct Involving Minors

The reporting requirements under Connecticut law are set forth in Conn. Gen. Stats. §17a-101a et seq. and can be summarized as follows: Where there is reasonable cause to suspect or believe that any child under the age of eighteen (1) has been abused or neglected, (2) has sustained a non-accidental physical injury or injury that is at variance with the history given of such injury or (3) is placed at imminent risk of serious harm, an oral report must be made as soon as practicable (but no later than twelve (12) hours after the mandated reporter has reasonable cause to suspect or believe that abuse has occurred) to either the State Commissioner of Children and Families or the Commissioner’s representative, or to a law enforcement agency. A mandated reporter’s suspicion or belief may be based on many factors, including but not limited to observations, allegations, facts or statement by a child, victim or third party. Such suspicion or belief does not require certainty or probable cause. The oral report must be followed within forty-eight (48) hours with a written report to the Commissioner of Children and Families or the Commissioner’s designee. The oral and written reports shall contain, if known, the names and addresses of the child and his parents or other person responsible for the child’s care; the age of the child; the gender of the child; the nature and extent of the child’s injury or injuries, maltreatment or neglect; the approximate date and time the injury or injuries, maltreatment or neglect occurred; information concerning any previous injury or injuries to, maltreatment or neglect of the child or his/her siblings; the circumstances in which the injury or injuries, maltreatment or neglect came to be known to the reporter; the name of the person or persons suspected to be responsible for causing such injury or injuries, maltreatment or neglect; the reasons such person or persons are suspected of causing such injury or injuries, maltreatment or neglect; any information concerning any prior cases in which such person or persons have been suspected of causing injury, maltreatment or neglect of a child; and whatever action, if any, was taken to treat, provide shelter or otherwise assist the child.

4.3 Reports Where School Personnel Are Involved When an employee of a school or institution or facility that provides care for a child is suspected of causing the abuse, the report must be made as described in Section 4.2 above. The Connecticut State Commissioner of Children and Families or the Commissioner’s designee shall notify the person in charge of such school, institution or facility or the person’s designee and such person in charge or such person’s designee, must immediately notify the child’s parent or other person responsible for the child’s care that a report has been made. Conn. Gen. Stats. §17a-101b(d). When a mandated reporter is a member of the staff of a school, institution or facility that provides care for such child, said reporter shall also submit a copy of the written report to the person in charge of such school, institution or facility or the person’s designee. Where the report concerns a certified school employee, a copy of the written report shall also be sent by the Commissioner of Children and Families or the Commissioner’s designee to the Commissioner of Education or the Commissioner’s designee. Where the report concerns an employee of a facility or institution that provides care for a child, which is licensed by the state, a copy of the written report shall also be sent by the Commissioner of Children and Families to the executive head of the state licensing agency. Conn. Gen. Stats. §17a-101c.

4.4 Failure to Report Suspected Sexual Misconduct Involving a Minor and/or Filing of False Reports The failure of a mandated reporter to make the required report of child abuse as described in Section 4.2 above can lead to criminal charges against the person who fails to make a report. A person who intentionally interferes with the making of a report may also face criminal charges. Any person who, in good faith, makes or does not make a report of suspected child abuse shall be immune from liability, civil or criminal. Likewise, no employer shall discharge or in any manner discriminate or retaliate against any employee who in good faith makes a report of suspected child abuse. Conn. Gen. Stats. §17a-101e(a) and §17a-101e(b). Any person who knowingly makes a false report of child abuse or neglect shall be fined not more than $2,000 or imprisoned not more than one year or both. Conn. Gen. Stats. §17a-101e(d).

4.5 Reporting to Civil Authorities Instances of Suspected Sexual Misconduct Involving Vulnerable Adults (a) In situations where a mandated reporter has reasonable cause to suspect or believe that there has been Sexual Misconduct involving a Vulnerable Adult who is sixty (60) years of age or older, the suspected abuse must be reported to the Department of Social Services within seventy-two (72) hours. The report must include the name and address of the elderly person, information regarding the nature and extent of the abuse, and any other information that the reporter believes might be helpful in an investigation of the case and the protection of such elderly person. Failure to make the report as required may result in a fine of up to five hundred dollars, except that if the mandated reporter intentionally fails to make the report as required, such person shall be guilty of a class C misdemeanor for the first offense and a class A misdemeanor for any subsequent offense. Any person who makes a report in good faith is immune from civil or criminal liability in connection with the report. Conn. Gen. Stats. §17b-451.

(b) In situations where a mandated reporter has reasonable cause to suspect or believe that there has been Sexual Misconduct involving a Vulnerable Adult who is between the ages of 18 and 59, the suspected abuse must be reported orally to the Abuse Investigations Division of the Office of Protection and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities within seventy two (72) hours. The initial report must be followed by a written report submitted within five (5) calendar days of the oral report. Failure to make the report as required may result in a fine of up to five hundred dollars. Any person who makes a report in good faith is immune from civil or criminal liability in connection with the report. Conn. Gen. Stats. § 46a-11b.

4.6 Reports By Others If any mandated reporter acting outside his/her professional capacity or any other person has reasonable cause to suspect or believe that a Minor or Vulnerable Adult has been the victim of Sexual Misconduct, that person may cause a written or oral report to be made to the appropriate agency as stated above or to law enforcement.

5.1 When an accusation of Sexual Misconduct involving a Minor or Vulnerable Adult that has a semblance of truth is made against any Personnel of the Archdiocese, contact will be promptly initiated by the Victim Assistance Coordinator with the alleged victim, and/or parent or guardian in the case of a Minor, or legally responsible party if the alleged victim is a Vulnerable Adult. Contact should be made for the purpose of offering whatever concern or solace may be needed, with no comment as to the truth of any accusation. Medical, mental health and spiritual assistance and, in appropriate instances, economic assistance may be offered in the spirit of Christian justice and charity, determined according to the specific situation presented.

5.2 Under the direction of the Victim Assistance Coordinator, competent counselors and social workers employed or designated by Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese or other competent professionals will offer to provide appropriate assistance to persons who make a claim having a semblance of truth that any Personnel of the Archdiocese sexually abused them when they were Minors or Vulnerable Adults. This outreach will be made regardless of whether the alleged misconduct was recent or occurred many years in the past. The outreach will include the offer of counseling, spiritual assistance, support groups, or other social services agreed upon between the victim and the Archdiocese.

Is there an obligation to report to the Church as well?

6.1 Obligation to Report In addition to and separate from any duty to report to civil authorities, Personnel of the Archdiocese are expected and required to report promptly to the Victim Assistance Coordinator of the Archdiocese (unless to do so would violate the priest/penitent relationship of the Sacrament of Reconciliation) any instances of Sexual Misconduct involving a Minor or Vulnerable Adult committed by any Personnel of the Archdiocese and/or any instances where there is reasonable cause to suspect or believe that such Sexual Misconduct has occurred regardless of when the Sexual Misconduct may have occurred. Likewise, any person who believes he or she has been the victim of Sexual Misconduct while a Minor or as a Vulnerable Adult by Personnel of the Archdiocese or knows of someone else who was such a victim is encouraged to report the alleged misconduct to the Victim Assistance Coordinator of the Archdiocese regardless of when the alleged Sexual Misconduct may have occurred. In the event that the alleged victim is a student at an Archdiocesan Catholic school or parish school or is a patient/client at an Archdiocesan sponsored Catholic institution or facility within the Archdiocese that provides care for Minors or Vulnerable Adults and/or the alleged perpetrator is an employee or volunteer at such school, institution or facility, then the report shall also be made promptly to the person in charge of such Archdiocesan Catholic school or parish school, or Archdiocesan sponsored Catholic institution or facility or such person’s designee. If the alleged victim or perpetrator is a student at, employed by, or a volunteer at an Archdiocesan Catholic school or parish school within the Archdiocese, then the report should also be made promptly to the Archdiocesan School Office.

6.2 How to Report The report(s) of Sexual Misconduct as referenced in Section 6.1 above shall be made by telephone, e-mail or mail. The report shall include the name and contact information of the alleged victim and the complainant, the name and position of the Archdiocesan personnel alleged to have been engaged in the misconduct, and the details of the incident. The Victim Assistance Coordinator shall keep a written record of all reports

What is the “Review Board”? Who is on it?

7.1 Nature and Scope of the Review Board The Archdiocese will maintain a Review Board that will function as a confidential, consultative advisory body to the Archbishop in discharging his responsibilities with regard to allegations of Sexual Misconduct involving Minors or Vulnerable Adults directed against Personnel of the Archdiocese. The functions of this Review Board include: (a) advising the Archbishop in his assessment of allegations of sexual abuse of Minors and/or Vulnerable Adults and in his determination of suitability for ministry; (b) reviewing Archdiocesan policies for dealing with sexual abuse of Minors and Vulnerable Adults; and (c) offering advice on all aspects of these cases, whether retrospectively or prospectively.

The Review Board will be appointed by the Archbishop. It will be composed of persons of outstanding integrity and good judgment in full communion with the Church, and will consist of at least five persons. The majority of the Review Board members will be laypersons who are not in the employ of the Archdiocese. At least one member will be a priest who is an experienced and respected pastor of the Archdiocese. At least one member should have expertise in dealing with Minors who have been sexually abused. The members will be appointed for a term of five years, which may be renewed. If not a member of the Review Board, the Promoter of Justice will be given notice of all meetings and encouraged to and may participate in the meetings of the Review Board.

Present members include: a former attorney who worked in the Superior Court for Juvenile Matters, having represented children victimized by sexual assault in Superior Court; a religious Sister with extensive ministry, educational and professional experience; a board-certified psychiatrist who remains in private practice, a priest of the Archdiocese who is Pastor of a large parish with a school, and a medical a doctor in private practice of Family Medicine; along with an ex-officio member: Moderator of the Curia. It is desirable that the Promoter of Justice participate in the meetings and that the Legal Counsel and Victim Assistance Coordinator attend.

7.3 Recommendations by the Review Board Following the Review Board’s consideration of the results of the investigation of a report of Sexual Misconduct involving a Minor or Vulnerable Adult by Personnel of the Archdiocese, it shall make whatever reasonable and prudent recommendations it deems just and appropriate to the Archbishop including, but not limited to, whether the allegations are or are not supported by sufficient evidence to warrant action against the alleged perpetrator; and if the allegations are supported by sufficient evidence to warrant action, what action should be taken in accordance with Ecclesiastical or civil law.

Is the Archdiocesan Review Board appointed by the Archbishop?
- Yes, members of the Review Board are appointed by the Archbishop

Has the Archbishop ever declined to follow the recommendation of the Review Board?
No

How can it be determined that these policies are being followed?

An audit is conducted.
The Audit, as mandated in Article 9 of the Charter, which charges the Secretariat of Child and Youth Protection, established by the USCCB, with providing an annual public report on the progress made in implementing and maintaining the standards in this Charter. The report is to be based on the annual audit process whose method, scope, and cost are to be approved by the Administrative Committee.
Who performs the audit?
An independent audit company contracted by the USCCB.
Period of 2002 through 2008 The Gavin Group
Period of 2008 through 2018 Bridgestone Business Partners
Is it based on self – reporting or is there an actual on-site audit by an independent third party?
In a three year cycle, two years are paper audits and the third year is onsite in the Archdiocese.

What have been the results for the Archdiocese of Hartford?

Every year since the first audit in 2003, the Archdiocese of Hartford has been found to be in compliance with the Charter.

What is the policy regarding confidentiality? Article 3 of the Charter

Article 3 of the Charter forbids the entering into of settlements which bind the parties to confidentiality, unless the victim/survivor request confidentiality and this request is noted in the text of the agreement.

What are the “Procedures” involved when claims of sexual abuse are received?

8.6 Investigation Procedure The Archbishop will promptly refer any report of alleged Sexual Misconduct involving a Minor or Vulnerable Adult by Personnel of the Archdiocese to the Archdiocesan Response Team which will then commence an investigation of the allegations with care taken not to interfere with any confidential or civil/criminal investigation on the part of civil authorities and with a high level of Christian care, concern and confidentiality for the alleged victim, the family of the alleged victim, the person reporting the incident and the alleged perpetrator. Unless circumstances warrant in a particular instance, the investigation ordinarily will be conducted in accordance with the following guidelines:

(a) Promptly after receiving a report of alleged Sexual Misconduct involving a Minor or Vulnerable Adult, a member of the Archdiocesan Response Team will encourage the alleged victim to submit a written description of the alleged incident(s).

(b) The Archdiocesan Response Team will attempt to identify and contact any other persons, in addition to the alleged victim, who may have relevant knowledge about the allegation.

(c) In connection with a current allegation, after giving the State Department of Children and Families a reasonable opportunity to investigate the allegation, a member of the Archdiocesan Response Team will promptly notify the accused person about the substance of the allegations. In connection with an allegation of Sexual Misconduct from the past (not recent or ongoing misconduct), a member of the Archdiocesan Response Team will promptly notify the accused person of the substance of the allegations. After the accused is given an opportunity to retain counsel, the accused person’s response to the allegations will be sought.

(d) All appropriate steps will be taken to protect the reputation of the alleged perpetrator during the investigation.

(e) The Archdiocesan Response Team will immediately notify the Archbishop of any information developed in the course of the investigation that, in its judgment, warrants immediate attention. In all events, the results of the Archdiocesan Response Team’s investigation will be conveyed to the Archbishop and to the Review Board of the Archdiocese.

What Pastoral Care and outreach is offered to victims/survivors and their families?

5.0 Sexual Misconduct involving Minors and/or Vulnerable Adults can cause serious and continuing emotional and psychological problems for the victim. Therefore, the Archdiocese is committed to providing victims of such misconduct with appropriate professional assistance to address these consequences of Sexual Misconduct by any Personnel of the Archdiocese.

The Archbishop will appoint a Victim Assistance Coordinator, who will be charged with providing pastoral care, support and resources to victims/survivors of Sexual Misconduct by Personnel of the Archdiocese of Hartford and will be responsible for receiving notification of all allegations of Sexual Misconduct involving a Minor or Vulnerable Adult-directed against Personnel of the Archdiocese. The Victim Assistance Coordinator will advise the alleged victim of his/her rights and the procedures to be implemented under this Policy.

All victims/survivors are offered the opportunity, if they so choose, to meet with Archbishop Blair.
Counseling and therapy both psychological and spiritual, opportunity for prayer, Masses for Healing are offered.

Outreach to Affected Parishes/Schools

The Victim Assistance Coordinator will be responsible for causing immediate steps to be taken to assist and support parish and/or school communities directly affected by Sexual Misconduct involving Minors or Vulnerable Adults by Personnel of the Archdiocese. This outreach may be accomplished by competent counselors or social workers employed or designated by Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese or other competent professionals under the direction of the Victim Assistance Coordinator. The outreach may consist of a parish and/or school meeting at the affected parish/school, an offer of counseling to members of the affected community, explanation of the response process and informing the affected community of the action taken in response to the allegation.

What are the Financial Implications of this Crisis?

See Clergy Sexual Abuse Financial Report

What is done in the Seminary Training?

Are psychological screening tools used?
- Yes, all Seminarians must undergo the following psychological testing:
Psychological Examination: Clinical Interview; Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence; Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2; Coolidge Assessment Battery; FIRO Awareness Scales/Myers-Briggs Type Indicator; Brown ADD Scales; Sexual Addiction Screening Test; Internet Sex Screening Test; and Rorschach Test.
Sexual Identity and Orientation: Family of Origin; Prepubescent Sexual Development; Sexual Abuse History; Puberty and Adolescence; Sexual Orientation; Dating and Adult Sexual Activity; Pedophilia and other Problematic Sexual Behavior
Is there a seminarian advisory board to screen candidates for admission?
- Yes

If one of the priests on the list baptized my baby or celebrated my marriage, is the sacrament still valid and legal? Do I have to renew my vows?

“Celebrated worthily in faith, the sacraments confer the grace that they signify. They are efficacious because in them Christ himself is at work: it is he who baptizes, he who acts in his sacraments in order to communicate the grace that each sacrament signifies. The Father always hears the prayer of his Son’s Church which, in the epiclesis of each sacrament, expresses her faith in the power of the Spirit. As fire transforms into itself everything it touches, so the Holy Spirit transforms into the divine life whatever is subjected to his power” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1127).

“This is the meaning of the Church’s affirmation that the sacraments act ex opere operato (literally: ‘by the very fact of the action’s being performed’), i.e., by virtue of the saving work of Christ, accomplished once for all. It follows that ‘the sacrament is not wrought by the righteousness of either the celebrant or the recipient, but by the power of God’ (St. Thomas Aquinas, STh III, 68, 8). From the moment that a sacrament is celebrated in accordance with the intention of the Church, the power of Christ and his Spirit acts in and through it, independently of the personal holiness of the minister. Nevertheless, the fruits of the sacraments also depend on the disposition of the one who receives them” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1128).

St. Thomas sums up the various aspects of sacramental signs: “Therefore a sacrament is a sign that commemorates what precedes it–Christ’s Passion; demonstrates what is accomplished in us through Christ’s Passion—grace; and prefigures what that Passion pledges to us—future glory” (St. Thomas Aquinas, STh III, 60, 3).

Therefore, the sacrament(s) celebrated by a priest who is on the list is/are valid and legal; there is no need to re-baptize the person or to renew the marriage vows if the sacrament was celebrated by one of these priests.

GLOSSARY:

AOH – AOH is the abbreviation for Archdiocese of Hartford. The Archdiocese of Hartford is the geographic region comprised of Hartford, Litchfield and New Haven Counties.

Archbishop – The title of a bishop with jurisdiction over an archdiocese, which is the principal see (diocese) of a large geographic region. The Archbishop governs the archdiocese as an authentic successor of the apostles.

Archdiocesan Priest – Archdiocesan priests are under the direction of their local bishop. Most serve in the parishes of the diocese, but they may also be assigned to other diocesan posts and ministries or be released for service outside the diocese. (From United States Conference of Catholic Bishops/USCCB glossary).

Canon Law – A code of ecclesiastical laws governing the Catholic Church. (From USCCB glossary).

Cathedraticum – The diocesan assessment on parish revenue. (From Financial Accountability Report).

Cleric – Sacred minister of the Church. (Canon Law/C.207)

Credibly Accused – For the purposes of this report, it refers to a cleric who has been the object of a credible claim of sexual abuse involving a minor. A credible claim is defined as one that, under the circumstances known at the time of determination, would cause a prudent person to conclude that there was a significant possibility that the incident occurred. It is important to note that disclosure of the names of these clerics does not necessarily mean that the accusation has been proven in a court of law or definitively shown to have occurred through a formal process, or has been admitted by the person accused. It is also important to keep in mind that the clerics who died before any allegation was made against them did not have an opportunity to respond to the allegation.

Director of Safe Environment – An archdiocesan employee appointed by the Archbishop who is tasked with the duties of ensuring that all parishes, Catholic schools, and all Entities that come under the Hartford Roman Catholic Diocesan Corporation are in compliance with the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People and the Essential Norms.

Extern Priest – An extern priest is one that ministers in a diocese other than his own.

Laicization – The process by which a priest is returned to the lay state. It is sometimes used as a penalty for a serious crime or scandal, but more often it comes at the request of the priest. A laicized priest is barred from all priestly ministry with one exception: He may give absolution to someone in immediate danger of death. The pope must approve all requests for laicization. When a priest is laicized without his consent, for a crime such as living in concubinage, committing child sexual abuse or using the confessional to solicit sex, it is sometimes called defrocking or unfrocking. Those terms, which are not used in church law, should be restricted to forcible laicizations, since they connote a penalty. (From USCCB Glossary).

Masses of Reparation – In ordinary speech “reparation” simply means making amends to another person or persons for an offense or injustice committed against them. Inasmuch as an offense or injustice is sinful, it also demands that reparation be made to God. Sexual abuse is a sin against a person created in the image and likeness of God and redeemed by the sacrificial death of Christ on the Cross. It is a sin against another person and a sin against God. Spiritual reparation and healing need to be made. These Masses will be celebrated with this in mind.

Minor – A person who has not yet reached his or her 18^thbirthday.

Prayer and Penance – Priests who have been sentenced by the Holy See in Rome to a life of “prayer and penance” can no longer function as a priest. The only thing that remains to their priestly identity is that they can pray the Divine Office and say Mass alone in a room with absolutely no one else present.

Religious Order Priest – Religious priests are professed members of a religious order or institute. Religious clergy live according to the rule of their respective orders. In pastoral ministry, they are under the jurisdiction of their local bishop, as well as of the superiors of their order. (From USCCB glossary).

Sexual Misconduct – Refers to any sexual abuse, sexual assault, sexual molestation, or sexual exploitation of a Minor or Vulnerable Adult as well as any other behavior by which an adult uses a Minor or Vulnerable Adult as an object or instrument of sexual gratification and/or any sexual conduct which is unlawful as described by the laws of the State of Connecticut whether the conduct is performed in person with the Minor or Vulnerable Adult or via telephone, computer, internet, social networking sites, etc. Sexual misconduct includes violation of the sixth commandment. For example, it would include, but not be limited to, complete acts of intercourse, touching of intimate or private parts of a Minor or Vulnerable Adult for the purpose of sexual gratification or arousal or for the purpose of degrading or humiliating the Minor or Vulnerable adult, a request to touch the intimate or private parts of the adult, the exposure of intimate or private parts of the adult to a Minor or Vulnerable Adult, the request that a Minor or Vulnerable Adult expose his or her intimate or private parts, the showing of pornographic materials to a Minor or Vulnerable Adult, lewd communications with a Minor or Vulnerable Adult, etc. Sexual misconduct would also include misconduct that does not involve force, physical contact of a discernible harmful outcome. (From Archdiocese of Hartford Office of Safe Environment Handbook).

Victim Assistance Coordinator – An archdiocesan employee appointed by the Archbishop to coordinate assistance for the immediate pastoral care of persons who claim to have been sexually abused when they were Minors by clergy or personnel of the Archdiocese of Hartford.

Vulnerable Adult – A person who is at least 18 years of age with an intellectual disability.