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	DSS Scrutinizes Mount Calvary in Abuse By Michele McPhee Boston Herald May 17, 2007 http://news.bostonherald.com/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=1001679 The Department of Social Services is launching a sweeping investigation into Mount Calvary Baptist Church in the South End for not reporting allegations of sexual abuse made against one its ministers, and to make sure there are no additional victims. "The special investigations unit is strongly investigating the Mount Calvary church," said DSS spokeswoman Denise Monteiro. "We want to be sure there are no other victims, and we want to know why no report was made." The move comes a day after the Herald disclosed that DSS lost track of three reports in May 2005 - including a call the accused predator, the Rev. Lawrence Brown, made to a DSS hot line, according to documents reviewed by the Herald. Another 18 months would elapse before DSS was again notified of the alleged abuse, after the accuser, P. Edward Harrison, became suicidal and had to be hospitalized on Oct. 31, 2006. Those reports were filed by officials at the Emmanuel Gospel Center in the South End, where Brown worked as a youth minister for more than a decade. He was fired in May 2005 after he allegedly confessed to inappropriate sexual conduct with Harrison, his second cousin, who belonged to Mount Calvary Baptist. Brown allegedly acknowledged his sexual misconduct to Doug Hall, the gospel center's president, and to certain officials at Mount Calvary Baptist. The Mount Calvary Baptist officals did not report the alleged abuse. Brown was reinstated as a minister this year after he was treated at Living Waters, a "Christ-centered program" for clergy dealing with sexual problems. Brown did not respond to phone calls and e-mails from the Herald. This latest hit to the besieged DSS comes as Commissioner Harry Spence has been asked to resubmit his resume, along with about 50 other state officials, to Gov. Deval Patrick. Yesterday, through his spokesman, Kyle Sullivan, the governor called the allegations "serious and troubling." "That is why the governor has asked (Health and Human Services) Secretary (JudyAnn) Bigby to investigate the DSS process in handling this report and assessing the overall system for how we track all cases," Sullivan said. Under Spence's stewardship, DSS has come under fire for the death of Rebecca Riley from a prescription drug overdose, and for its mishandling of the Haleigh Poutre abuse case. It remains unclear how DSS managed to lose track of the three reports. Initially, Monteiro said DSS learned of the allegations in November 2006 from Somerville Hospital officials after Harrison was admitted for "severe depression." Yesterday, the Rev. William Dickerson of the Greater Love Tabernacle Church said it was appalling that Brown was able to return to the church. "When someone violates a child, especially someone in the clergy, they should never be afforded the opportunity to work with a child again," Dickerson said. "Something like this needs to be reported right away. We need to be protecting our young people. Contact: mmcphee@bostonherald.com
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