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	Pastor: Seattle Archdiocese 'Made Mistakes' By Chris Daniels KING 5 May 14, 2009 http://www.king5.com/topstories/stories/NW_051409WAB-church-trial-KS.241291e.html [with video] SEATTLE - Father Michael Ryan, a pastor at St. James Cathedral, admits the Seattle Archdiocese "made mistakes" on how it handled priests accused of sexual abuse during the 1970's. Ryan made the admission during another round of questioning at a civil trial over the Archdiocese's handling of a priest who molested more than 30 boys. Patrick O'Donnell was a visiting priest at St. Paul's Parish in South Seattle between 1976 and 1978. Two local men say O'Donnell groomed them as children, and sexually abused them at various locations. The Spokane bishop had sent O'Donnell to Seattle for sexual deviancy treatment, and the archdiocese allowed him to live and work at St. Paul's. O'Donnell also attended graduate courses at the University of Washington. Ryan, who sat on the Priest Personnel Board at the time, and had access to archdiocese records, says he knew of no allegations during or before O'Donnell's time in Seattle. But he acknowledged, on the stand, the archdiocese poorly handled other priests accused of abuse. He says the Archdiocese viewed sex abuse at the time as more of a "moral offense" than a crime, and acknowledged the cases were dealt with under a "cloak of secrecy." While not speaking directly about O'Donnell, Ryan made an admission today. Attorney Michael Pfau said: "Did the archdiocese put known child molesters back into the ministry in the 1970s?" "I believe it did," Ryan said."I would like to say the archdiocese's counsel stated at the beginning of these proceedings the archdiocese has made some mistakes over time …We've made mistakes for which we should be sorry and we are sorry." Father Ryan also acknowledged the archdiocese kept secret files on problem priests. Former Seattle Archbishop Raymond Hunthausen, who was the head of the archdiocese when the assaults occurred, was supposed to take the stand today. But after being called to the court by a judge, the 87-year-old was sent home for unexplained reasons and could testify next week when the trial resumes.
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