By Deepa Bharath and Ellyn Pak
The Orange County Register
November 12, 2008
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/luong-parents-information-2225148-columban-school
GARDEN GROVE Victims of clergy abuse handed out fliers and information outside St. Callistus School this afternoon alerting parents of the arrest last month of the school's lay music teacher on suspicion of molesting three girls.
Garden Grove police on Oct. 22 arrested Hong Thai Luong, 52, known as Howie Luong at the school. Luong is facing four felony counts of lewd and lascivious acts with a minor after three girls between 8 and 10 came forward to accuse him last month.
The three girls were not enrolled at St. Callistus, St. Columban's or St. Polycarp in Stanton where Luong also taught music, but took lessons at a studio run by Luong's girlfriend. But after his arrest, one more girl from St. Callistus came forward and accused Luong of touching her inappropriately, officials said.
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| Joelle Casteix of Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) hands out a flier to a parent whose children attend St. Callistus School. |
Joelle Casteix, regional director of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP), said there could be more victims, including those from Luong's past, who have yet to come forward. Casteix, along with two supporters, passed out fliers to parents who were picking up their children from the school.
The information included phone numbers for local law enforcement, support groups and tips for parents about how to talk to their children about sexual abuse. Some parents rejected the fliers and rolled up their car windows when the volunteers approached.
“Get a job!” said one parent. “Get a real job!”
Fran Dunlap, whose son was sexually abused by an Anaheim priest in the mid-1970s, said she regrets not being aware of her son's plight while he was abused.
“I'm just helping because I feel parents need to talk to their kids,” Dunlap said. “The church says it doesn't happen anymore, but we all know that's not true.”
The Diocese of Orange has placed Luong on unpaid administrative leave as of Oct. 27 and prohibited him from entering any of its campuses, said spokesman Ryan Lilyengren.
“We informed parents right away and also put the information on our Sunday bulletin, which is read by all our parishioners,” he said. “We've offered our cooperation to law enforcement and support to our parishioners.”
Garbiel Alcaraz, a longtime St. Columban's parishioner who sends both of his daughters to St. Columban's School and says he has known Luong for the last six years says he is in “a state of shock.”
“I've known him to be a great person, a mild-mannered man who was passionate about music,” Alcaraz said. “My reaction, and I'm sure a lot of other parents' reaction, was disbelief, that Howie could do something like that. Everyone liked him.”
He said St. Columban's promptly sent out a note to all parents informing them about Luong's arrest.
“My wife and I talked to our daughters, asked them questions and had an honest conversation with them,” Alcaraz said. “While we will remain guarded as far as (Luong) is concerned, we also understand that he is innocent until proven guilty. We'll wait and see what happens.”
Anyone who would like to come forward with information is asked to contact Garden Grove police Detective Mike Smith at 714-741-5830 or the Diocesan Assistance Ministry Program's toll-free reporting line at 800-374-3046.
More information about support for victims and their families is also available at SNAP's Web site, www.snapnetwork.org.
Contact the writer: 714-445-6685 or dbharath@ocregister.com
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