Catholic Church to Investigate Claims of Abuse after Mans Suicide, by Connie Leonard, WAVE, February 5, 2011

Catholic Church to Investigate Claims of Abuse after Man's Suicide

By Connie Leonard
WAVE
February 5, 2011

http://www.wave3.com/story/13974631/catholic-church-to-investigate-claims-of-abuse-after-mans-suicide

[with video]

Cal Pfeiffer

Valerie Wilson

Blessed Mother Catholic Church

LOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE) - An investigation has been promised by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Owensboro after the shocking suicide of a former Western Kentucky University student. Before his death, 23-year-old David Jarboe told friends on his Facebook page he suffered sexual abuse by priests. Now some abuse survivors in Louisville are questioning how thorough the investigation will be.

"Our heart goes out to the family," said Cal Pfeiffer, a member of Louisville SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests.

With three of his own sons, Pfeiffer told us he can't imagine how the Jarboe's parents are coping.

"This is a young man," Pfieffer said, "he had a promising future."

Jarboe, a talented former football player and "A" student, shot himself Feb. 3 in front of Blessed Mother Catholic Church in Owensboro. In a six page letter on Facebook, Jarboe told friends that when he was young he was a victim of sexual abuse by priests.

"He was in a fraternity and I was in a sorority so we did different events together," said Valerie Wilson, a WAVE 3 employee who says Jarboe was in her circle of friends.

Those friends were stunned to see the Facebook farewell. Wilson told us a lot of people are praying for the family.

On Facebook, Jarboe named the priests. One of them, Jarboe said he "forgave," but he called another "an evil man."

"Most of the victims of the abuse or alleged abuse tend to be older and it comes out much later in life and it's just hard to believe that someone our age has gone through this," Wilson said.

Pfeiffer believes Jarboe was making a statement that the abuse continues by taking his life in front of the Catholic parish and school. While he hopes there will be a thorough investigation as promised, Pfeiffer said, "I don't have a lot of confidence that's going to happen."

Pfeiffer claims that is because Owensboro's new bishop, William F. Medley, came from the old Louisville guard. Pfeiffer alleges Medley's past history doesn't suggest he is proactive when it comes to getting rid of abusive priests.

"He was very familiar with many of the sexually abusive priests. Either he wrote letters in their behalf or he received copies of letters and he knew what was going on yet, he was silent," said Pfeiffer. "When are people going to wake up on how serious this is? How many more people have to die?"

In a statement released by his office, Bishop Medley said the Diocese of Owensboro is investigating "in light of the information that has surfaced in the Facebook posting."