By Scott Tedrick
Advocate Tribune
March 26, 2010
http://www.granitefallsnews.com/news/x38418413/Former-interim-Granite-Falls-pastor-charged-with-rape
 |
| Francis Markey |
A?recent CNN: Special Investigation report uses Granite Falls as the setting for a story involving 82 year old priest Francis Markey who is facing charges of raping a 15-year-old boy in Ireland 40 years ago.
According to a statement issued by the New Ulm diocese, Markey filled in at the Granite Falls parish during an approximately three month period during the spring of 1982. Following the death of Fr. Henry LeMay, pastor James Moran was lined up to take on the post at St. Andrew’s. However, Moran was on a sabbatical in Rome at the time and unable arrive in Granite Falls immediately. Markey was brought in to fill in during the interim.
The CNN report states that, as a priest, Markey was first suspended for unidentified reasons in 1964 and sent for psychiatric treatment in Dublin. Throughout the 60s and 70s he underwent suspension and subsequent treatment a total of three times. Eventually, he was sent to New Mexico where it was reported that the Catholic church ran a treatment facility for priests with “various addictions or sexual problems.”
CNN reported Markey to have “resurfaced” in Granite Falls following his stint in treatment, but the diocese account was more detailed. According to the statement, Markey arrived in Willmar in December of 1981 where he applied and was accepted into the Clinical Pastoral Education program at Willmar Hospital. While participating in the program he did some parish work in the diocese, which included his time at St. Andrews.
CNN reported that after Markey left the Granite Falls church, the reverend went back into treatment because the diocese said that “parents were concerned that he had an unnatural attraction to minor males.”
The story contains an interview with a Granite Falls community member who said that he was assaulted by Markey as a youth at the priest’s home, formerly located across the street from St. Andrew’s.
The individual, “to protect his family from embarrassment,” asked to remain anonymous. He said that he was leaving Markey’s home when, “he gave me a hug and as he did so he stuck his tongue down my throat ... he had been drinking ... I can’t say if he was drunk but he was definitely drinking.”
The abuse was said to have not gone any further, but nevertheless it left an indelible mark and lingering questions.
“To this day, I wonder how many people had encounters with him,” he said.
St. Andrews
According to St. Andrews Parish Council President, Jim Almich, it is his belief that nobody apart of the St. Andrews’ congregation was aware of Markey’s perversion until after the interim pastor had left the church a few weeks prior to Moran’s scheduled arrival.
In fact, Almich said that Markey was “a wonderful speaker, very humorous and very enjoyable to listen to.” He said that some in the congregation had hoped that Markey would become the parish’s full time pastor, and he had planned to bring the idea up when he found out that Markey was going to be leaving two weeks earlier than originally expected.
The former parish president said that he contacted Markey on a Wednesday and asked if he could meet with him that evening. Markey said that he was busy but happy to speak to him in the morning.
“I called him and told him that I wanted to talk to him,” Almich said. “The next morning he was gone.”
In hindsight, Almich said that he suspects Markey probably thought that he was going to bring up the accusations that are only now surfacing publicly. Almich said he didn’t know if the church moved him or if the priest left on his own accord, but he expected that he packed up and left that night.
Soon after the departure, Almich said that a representative of the diocese – believed to be then Vicar General John McRaith – came to talk to him and two other members of St. Andrews, who he said he preferred not to name.
The retrieval of the names through other avenues and contact of Fr. McRaith were unsuccessful prior to the articles publication.
Almich said he does not remember exactly what was told to them and whether the diocese came right out to say that Markey had a history or inclination toward pedophilia, or if it was a situation in which the three were able to put two-and-two together.
Whatever was said during the exchange left Almich unaware of anyone who had been molested in any fashion at the church, he said. However, he added that he was concerned that it might have happened.
“I?hoped to God that didn’t,” he said.
Over 20 years elapsed before he found out that it had.
In 2004 Almich received an unsigned note with no return address following a farewell letter to the editor published in the Advocate Tribune, which announced the former parish president’s intentions to leave the town.
Almich said the letter placed blame on him and stated, “There’s people that have been suffering for 25 years because of you.”
Almich did say that he has struggled with guilt at times following the letter, but looking back felt that there was little he could have done at the time not knowing what may or may not have taken place.
“I probably should have told the whole congregation but back in ‘82 you didn’t even think about those types of things.”
Diocese of New Ulm
According to the current Diocese of New Ulm Vicar General, Fr. Douglas Grams, the dioceses of New Ulm also did not have any knowledge of Markey’s history when they accepted him into the diocese through the Clinical Pastoral Education program in Willmar, nor when he was placed in Granite Falls.
Grams said that they did not do criminal background checks back then, but protocol has since changed.
Statements
Former St. Andrew’s pastor Moran was contacted at his home in New Ulm for comment by CNN. He insisted the had no contact with Markey nor knowledge of the allegations.
Current pastor James Devorak said that he was not ready discuss the subject, but said that he had been in contact with the Diocese of New Ulm regarding it.
“At this point in time I”m hesitant to say anything other than I am deeply disturbed,” he said.
After reentering treatment following his time in Granite Falls, the New Ulm diocese statement says that “Markey has not lived in or served the diocese in any capacity.”
The statement closes saying that the diocese “has a comprehensive safe environment program which educates clergy, teachers, parents and students, and helps them identify and prevent sexual misconduct. We are committed to offer help and healing to anyone who has been a victim of sexual misconduct and to prevent this terrible crime in the diocese. Anyone who believes that he or she may have suffered sexual abuse, exploitation, or harassment by a priest, deacon, pastor or pastoral administrator of the Diocese of New Ulm is urged to report such misconduct to the Victim Assistance Coordinator or the Bishop’s Delegate in Matters Pertaining to Sexual Misconduct, 1400 Sixth Street North, New Ulm, MN 56073; phone: (507) 359-2966.”
Bob Schwiderski, a former Granite Falls council member and EDA director now living in Wayzata, also offered his services to any individual who has been sexually abused.
The former resident is the current director of The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP). He can be reached at 952-471-3422.
Global relevance
Markey is currently in an Indiana jail where he is awaiting extradition to Ireland.
The CNN?article states that “His story is a part of a growing crisis in the Irish Catholic Church, which has recently admitted its leaders hid, moved and even exported suspected pedophile priests abroad to cover up horrific crimes.”
The story is particularly relevant as it resulted in a statement released by Pope Benedict XVI on Saturday.
Reactions to the Pope’s letter have been mixed after he rebuked Irish bishops and apologized to victims, but laid no blame for the crimes on Vatican policies.
A link to the CNN story and short video can be viewed at:http://edition.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/03/18/ireland.abuse.abroad/
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.