Diocese Accused of Covering up Abuse Allegations, Turn to 10, August 24, 2007

Diocese Accused of Covering up Abuse Allegations

Turn to 10
August 24, 2007

http://www.turnto10.com/northeast/jar/news.apx.-content-articles-JAR-2007-08-23-0022.html

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence allowed a priest to be transferred to a Providence church after an allegation of sexual abuse, an abuse survivors group said Thursday.

NBC 10's Kelley McGee reported that the Dominican order requested that the Rev. Aaron Joseph Cote be transferred to St. Pius V Catholic Church in Providence in 2003.

He served at the church for two years, and did not teach in the adjoining school.

According to the Providence Diocese, then Bishop Robert Mulvee was assured by the Dominican order that, "an allegation against Cote had been closed as unfounded."

In a statement from the Providence Diocese, "a background check by the Rhode Island attorney general's office revealed that Cote had no criminal background."

In November of 2005, Cote was dismissed by Mulvee when allegations of sexual abuse surfaced from the Washington, D.C., area where Cote had served previously.

The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, or SNAP, claims the Providence Diocese knew about the allegations against Cote and accepted the transfer anyway.

"Father Cote should never have been permitted to work in this diocese," said Barbara Blaine, president of SNAP. "Bishop Mulvee took in Father Cote when they had information of at least two other allegations."

McGee said there have been several allegations against Cote, however none of them resulted in any criminal charges.

Last week, a $1.2 million settlement was reached between the Dominican order and a teenager in the Washington, D.C., area who accused Cote of sexual abuse.

"They say that they have a zero-tolerance policy. If there is a credible allegation, even one time, the priest will not be allowed to serve in the ministry again," Blaine said.