Child Sex Abuse "As Important As Any Other Act of Terrorism," Crowd Told at Mendham Church

By Brendan Kuty
NJ.com
April 29, 2013

http://www.nj.com/morris/index.ssf/2013/04/security_cameras_to_watch_over.html

The next person who tries destroying a memorial at St. Joseph's Church honoring victims of clergy child sex abuse will be in for a big surprise, according to The Rev. Joseph Angiolini.

"They're going to get scared out of their wits," he said.

Security cameras now overlook the 400-pound millstone statue that was vandalized in early March — the second time it was attacked in two years — Angiolini said. He also said a motion-activated light will flip on when someone approaches the memorial at night.

Angiolini's remarks came at a rededication of the memorial Sunday afternoon. About 75 people attended the ceremony, which featured speeches from Assistant District Attorney of New York Jill Starishevsky and Angel Rose, founder of nonprofit Promoting Awareness, Victim Empowerment, or PAVE.

Starishevsky wrote a children's book, "My Body Belongs to Me," which has been adapted into an animated movie.

"Our resolve is strong," Starishevsky said. "As strong as this millstone. Some may try to fracture us. But we will continue to speak out, and speak up, so that all children are safe."

Rose's PAVE works to raise sexual violence awareness.

"Today as we look at this statue, I feel like I have such an incredibly profound illustration of the damage that's done to survivors by the lack of support, by the lack of accountability, by the shame," Rose said. "And it's up to all of us to stand together and cultivate those communities of support."

The statue still hasn't been fully rehabilitated. A badly damaged girl statue has yet to be rebuilt following the March attack. All that remains are a boy, shoes and a megaphone.

Authorities are still trying to learn who destroyed the monument. Morris County Crimestoppers is offering $2,000 to anyone who can provide information that leads to the arrest or indictment of the responsible person or people; anyone with any information can call CrimeStoppers at 973-Cop-Call or 1-800-Sheriff.

Organizer Bill Crane, who couldn't attend the ceremony, was one of several children the former Rev. James Hanley abused at the church. He has said the symbolism of the shattered girl statue could be powerful, since the third dedication centered around female victims of clergy abuse.

Crane helped spearhead the push to create the memorial after James Kelly, another of Hanley's victims, committed suicide at age 37.

Borough resident Gordon Ellis allegedly smashed the monument with a sledgehammer in 2011, after which Crane led a drive to have it rebuilt. Ellis is currently pursing a mental health defense in relation to the vandalism.

Pat Serrano, part of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, told the crowd her son, Mark, was also sexually abused by Hanley.

"With the dedication of this memorial, it has become hallowed ground," Pat Serrano said.

The Rev. Kenneth Lasch was particularly emotional when he stood behind the lectern.

"One of the burdens I have as a priest is that I carry in my head and in my heart stories that I will never be able to report publicly. Never. … And every time I pass certain churches, certain religious institutions, I know there's a story attached behind those walls," he said.

Child sexual abuse is an issue "as important as any other act of terrorism," Lasch said.

"A little different, to be sure," he said. "But its physical, and it's mental. And it's spiritual. And it continues."