BishopAccountability.org
	Bishop Apologizes for Priest's Actions Letter Sent to St. Pius X, Where Parishioner Reported She Was Abused Toledo Blade [Toledo OH] March 4, 2005 Bishop Leonard Blair, in an unprecedented public letter, apologized to hundreds of members of a West Toledo Catholic parish for the actions of a former priest removed from ministry for allegedly sexually abusing young girls in the 1970s. The letter was mailed this week to parishioners at St. Pius X Church as part of a legal settlement between the diocese, the parish, and Teresa Bombrys, 43, who accused former associate pastor Chet Warren of molesting her when she was a student at the parish's grade school. The bishop wrote that Ms. Bombrys' complaint was investigated by the diocese and "determined to be credible." "On behalf of the Diocese of Toledo and Saint Pius X Parish, I apologize to Teresa Bombrys for the harm she suffered," the bishop stated. "I continue to pray for her and all the other innocent victims of sexual abuse and ask your prayers as well as those who have been harmed." In addition to the letter - the first of its kind ever sent by the Toledo diocese - the bishop plans to preside at a healing Mass at the church sometime later this year, Sally Oberski, diocesan spokesman, said. An undisclosed financial settlement has been reached with Ms. Bombrys. The apologies are expected to end one of the first clerical abuse cases against the diocese in what has been a long and, at times, contentious battle in Lucas County Common Pleas Court. The case, filed in April, 2002, accused the onetime cleric of abusing Ms. Bombrys for four years, beginning in the fourth grade and ending when she was a seventh grader in 1974. She said the priest frequently removed her clothes and molested her on the parish grounds and other places, at times admonishing her not to tell anyone. Ms. Bombrys said yesterday in an interview she was pleased the diocese sent the letter "to finally tell the church and the community the truth about Chet Warren." But she said she was disappointed the bishop didn't include other information asking any other victims of Mr. Warren to call police. Though the letter doesn't mention other accusations against the former priest, now 77, at least five other women have complained to the diocese about Mr. Warren, who was removed from ministry by the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales in 1993 after sexual abuse complaints, according to church documents. One of his accusers, Barbara Blaine, is the director of the national organization SNAP, Survivors of those Abused by Priests in Chicago. She was a student at St. Pius X in the 1960s and 1970s. Mr. Warren, who could not be reached for comment, was accused two years ago by a 41-year-old woman of raping her in ritual abuse ceremonies with other priests in the 1970s and arranging an alleged abuse session with the Rev. Gerald Robinson in 1977, according to police and diocese records. The woman's complaint eventually prompted the Lucas County Prosecutor's Office last year to reopen the 1980 murder case of Sister Margaret Ann Pahl, in which Father Robinson was a suspect. He was charged in the slaying in April, and is expected to be tried in Lucas County Common Pleas Court on Oct. 17. No charges have been filed against Father Robinson in the sex-abuse allegation. His attorney, Alan Konop, said he could not comment because of a court gag order.
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