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	St. Joseph's ousts Priest Sex Abuse Victims Group By Abbott Koloff Daily Record June 9, 2007 http://www.dailyrecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007706090331 Mendham — A support group for victims of sexual abuse by priests has been told it no longer will be allowed to meet at St. Joseph's parish, where it has been holding meetings for the past five years. Monsignor Joseph Anginoli, pastor of the parish, said in a letter to the local chapter of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, known as SNAP, that the building where it meets is being renovated to accommodate a pre-kindergarten program. "This is effective immediately,"Anginoli said in the letter. Church officials say the move was made solely because of space restrictions. "That's a letter that has been sent to many organizations over time in many places," said Marianna Thompson, a spokeswoman for the Paterson Roman Catholic Diocese. "This is not being done in response to any action of the group. ... Father has a right to use the space any way he sees fit." 'Lack of concern ...' Victims advocates characterized the letter as a cold eviction notice and said it reflects a lack of concern for victims on the part of church leaders. They also said the timing of the notice was symbolic for them. This Thursday marks the fifth anniversary of the signing of the Dallas Charter, a document signed by American bishops during a conference at the height of a scandal involving the sexual abuse of children by some priests and a cover up by some bishops. St. Joseph's Church — where victims advocates say more than a dozen children were molested decades ago by a former pastor, James T. Hanley — is the site of a memorial to victims of clerical abuse. Hanley, who was defrocked in 2003, has admitted to abusing at least a dozen children at three parishes, including St. Joseph's. The Paterson Diocese paid $5 million two years ago to settle a lawsuit by more than two dozen victims of clerical abuse, many saying they were victims of Hanley. The Mendham parish became known five years ago as a welcoming place for victims under the leadership of Monsignor Kenneth Lasch, a nationally-known victims advocate who retired as pastor three years ago. "If you asked survivors of clerical sex abuse around the country to name the most supportive Catholic community in the country, they would say St. Joseph's — until today," said Dave Clohessy, SNAP's national director. Clohessy said St. Joseph's may have been the only Catholic parish in the nation to host SNAP meetings — but added that the group typically doesn't ask Catholic churches to host its meetings. Glimmer of hope Patricia Serrano, a local SNAP official whose son, Mark, was abused at St. Joseph's, said she was told last week that the meetings would have to move. She said she was told on Monday by a woman who handles scheduling at St. Joseph's that another meeting place at the parish might be found for the group. "She said she'd look for another meeting place for us for the rest of the year," Serrano said. "I announced that at our last meeting, on Tuesday." But the letter sent by Anginoli, dated Wednesday, said the group would have to "seek another venue." Thompson was unable to say on Friday whether any other organizations that meet at the parish also were asked to leave. Mark Serrano, who now lives in Virginia, said the letter came as a surprise, but added that SNAP members believe they have been less welcome at the church since Anginoli took over a couple of years ago. Anginoli, he said, never attended a SNAP meeting at the parish. "There was no outreach, no dialogue," Mark Serrano said. "The first we've heard from Anginoli is this letter. That speaks for itself." Anginoli did not respond Friday to a message left at the St. Joseph's rectory. Bishop Arthur Serratelli, head of the Paterson Diocese, also did not respond to a message. Diocesan programs Thompson said the diocese has implemented programs to help victims since 2002, including a victims assistance coordinator. She said the decision to stop hosting SNAP meetings was about making room for a pre-kindergarten program and has nothing to do with the way church leaders relate to victims. "I don't see the connection,"Thompson said. "The people who have been supportive to SNAP at St. Joseph's will continue to be supportive. ... St. Joseph's parish is more than a single cause." Lasch said he did not want to comment on the decision to move SNAP meetings out of St. Joseph's, but did say those meetings have been important in helping victims to heal. "St. Joseph's was one of a few churches around the country welcoming victims of sexual abuse," said Lasch, who now lives in Morristown. "Many of the people who came here five years ago felt they were all alone. They didn't realize there were other victims. We felt it was important for the parish to be a place of welcome for the victims." Abbott Koloff can be reached at (973) 989-0652 or akoloff@gannett.com
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