Immaculata Pastor: No Evidence Coach Molested Teen Boys
By Sergio Bichao
About 100 parishioners gathered at 9 a.m. at the Church of the Immaculate Conception to celebrate the first Mass on the first Sunday of the new year. Halfway into the ceremony murmurs spread through the pews when the pastor, Monsignor Seamus F. Brennan, brought up the school sex scandal that rocked the community less than a week earlier. It was Brennan’s first public comments on Patrick Lott, the Bernardsville Middle School assistant principal who serves as a volunteer basketball coach at the parish’s Immaculata High School. Lott was arrested Dec. 23 and is facing more than 50 charges of videotaping 15 boys, all 15 or 16 years old, showering together at the high school. He remains in the Somerset County Jail in Somerville in lieu of $500,000 bail. While Lott has held daily jobs at public schools, the scandal thus far has been contained to Immaculata. Investigators with the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office said they did not find any evidence of recording devices at either Bernards High School, where Lott was principal from 2003 to 2009, or at Bernardsville Middle School, according to a statement from Somerset Hills superintendent Peter Miller.
Brennan said the allegations were “serious” and that he did not want to be understood as being “defensive.” “At this point there is no evidence that any pictures were ever shared with others,” Brennan said, recounting a conversation he had last week with investigators. “Likewise, I think it’s very important to keep in mind that at this point there is no evidence that the accused ever touched anyone inappropriately. That has not been alleged,” he added. “I think those are important to keep in mind, while not denying the seriousness of the allegations that are standing.” Officials, however, said the investigation is not over. In his nine-minute remarks, which followed a homily about how a new year calls people to reflect on their lives, Brennan slammed the media for what he considered, “inaccurate … rather sensational” and “incendiary” coverage of the scandal, although he did not point to any specific examples. While Lott has been accused of videotaping boys for three years, Brennan said it was only three weeks ago “when we first got any inclination that there might be something wrong.” “But we did not delay,” he said. “We immediately turned this over to the prosecutor. We will continue to work closely with the Prosecutor’s Office to try to determine the truth and, above all, see that the issue is addressed and that justice, of course, is done.” Brennan said the school and parish will review its policies and procedures “and take every measure possible to ensure the safety and well-being of all children.” “We are not running, not hiding from this event. We do acknowledge it. We acknowledge that we own it. We will deal with it.” Brennan asked parishioners to pray for the victims, their families, the school community and the Lott family. “All of us are feeling hurt at this time,” he said. “But with our prayers and with effort of our administrators, our advisory council, the Diocese, we pray that we will find a speedy and a just resolution to this incident, and that we will go forward as strong as ever to fulfill our great mission of providing Catholic education.” Immaculata High School Principal Regina Havens informed parents of the arrest in a letter sent Dec. 27, the same day, the letter says, that the students thought to be involved in the recordings and their parents met with the Prosecutor’s Office. Havens said guidance counselors will be available when students return Tuesday, and she instructed parents not to talk to the media. In Somerset Hills, where Lott took what had been considered a mysterious leave of absence more than a week before his arrest, administrators said they would address the incident with students when they return from break Tuesday. Sergio Bichao: 908-243-6615; sbichao@njpressmedia.com
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