Church Identifies Child-Molesting Priest Archbishop Says It's Time to 'Break Cycle of Silence' By Carol M. Ostrom Seattle Times May 26, 1988 In an effort to "break the cycle of silence that perpetuates abuse," Catholic Archbishop Raymond Hunthausen sent a pastoral letter to all parish pastors today, naming a priest with a long history of child molesting. Hunthausen instructs the pastors to read the letter from the pulpit and counsels them on caring for child-abuse victims who might come forward now. The letter names the Rev. James McGreal, a retired pastor in residence at St. Theresa's parish in Federal Way. McGreal was unavailable for comment. However, the Rev. Joe Kramis, pastor at St. Theresa's, said, "He has a deviancy that is horrible. He talks about it. We've talked about it every day. He's terribly repentant of what he's done to the victims. He's shed tears over it." Among other things, the letter spells out for pastors a procedure for dealing with reports of abuse by pastors and others. It was prepared with assistance from Northwest Treatment Associates, a program for treating sexual deviance. "I am writing in hopes that this situation, as painful as it is, will serve as an opportunity to break the cycle of silence that perpetuates abuse in the human family," Hunthausen said in the letter. "First of all, I want to express my deep concern and compassion for all those whose lives have been directly affected by this painful situation. "I assure them that the archdiocese will do all in its power to provide them with pastoral care in the days ahead. At the same time, we wish to create a new atmosphere based on education and dialogue, so that the problem of abuse and exploitation will become a distant chapter in our past. " Yesterday, archdiocesan officials were concerned that news of an unnamed priest with a history of child abuse would bring accusations against innocent priests, and prompt a number of child-abuse victims to come forward before church officials were prepared to help them. Some parents called the archdiocesan offices wanting to know if their children in parish schools or groups might be at risk. Others asked for appointments to talk, said the Rev. Jack Walmesley, director of clergy personnel. Until about two months ago, McGreal, 65, said Mass and worked with older people at the parish. He is in a supervised living arrangement at the parish, and is in a treatment program at Northwest Treatment Associates. Much of the furor has been concentrated at his current parish, where some parishioners said they are angry that archdiocesan officials assigned McGreal to parishes and hospitals even after they knew of his problems. McGreal, who has been in the archdiocese 40 years, has worked at 12 parishes and hospitals since he was ordained in the late 1940s. The parishes include: St. Patrick in Tacoma, 1948-1950 St. James in Vancouver, 1950-1954 Holy Rosary in West Seattle, 1954-1956 St. Mary in Monroe 1956-1966 St. Michael in Olympia, 1966-1971 St. Catherine in Seattle, 1971-1977 St. Anthony in Renton, 1977-1981 St. John Bosco in Tacoma in 1981 Queen of Angels in Port Angeles in 1986 St. Theresa's in Federal Way since July 1987. He also has worked at two Catholic hospitals, St. Joseph in Tacoma and Providence Hospital in Everett, since 1981. McGreal has been removed from at least two parishes and one of the hospitals for pedophilia problems since 1977, according to Walmesley. Walmesley said the King County prosecutor's office has investigated the incidents and no charges were filed. Kramis said the archdiocese removed McGreal from S1.Theresa's yesterday, and will make other housing arrangements for him. A parish meeting to be held tonight will include therapists and others to help people deal with their feelings or experiences with abuse. About 20 people from the church met at a home Tuesday night to air their feelings privately, according to two who attended. Some said they believe the church has been ignoring victims of abuse for years. Parish member Adele Doran said she would like to see the archdiocese contract with" a group of established, knowledgeable professionals who can begin to work with the people who come forward." Money she normally would give to the church, Doran said, she now contributes to a fund for victims. Other parishioners say they resent the secrecy with which McGreal was placed in their parish. The archdiocese told only Kramis, others who shared the priest's living quarters and selected parish staff members about McGreal's history.

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