Prosecutors to ask 4 years in prison for former Manchester diocese official

By Mark Hayward
New Hampshire UniLeader
April 23, 2014

http://www.newhampshire.com/article/20140423/NEWS03/140429669/-1/newhampshire

MANCHESTER — The right-hand man to former Manchester Bishop John McCormack is slated to appear in a Manchester courtroom this morning to be sentenced for stealing thousands of dollars from the Catholic church diocese, Catholic Medical Center and the estate of a fellow priest.

The Rev. Msgr. Edward J. Arsenault III has already signaled his intent to plead guilty to the three felonies, and his lawyer and prosecutors have agreed to ask Superior Court Judge Diane Nicolosi for a four-year prison sentence.

Last May, the Diocese of Manchester announced that it had suspended Arsenault from his priestly duties, citing both illegal financial transactions and an "inappropriate adult relationship."

Some details of the investigation are expected to be disclosed this morning:

• Court records at this point only say that Arsenault stole more than $1,500 in each of the three thefts charges he faces. The amount is the legal benchmark that makes each theft a Class A felony; the exact sums are expected to come out in court today, said Jane Young, a prosecutor in the New Hampshire Attorney General's Office.

• Less will likely be revealed about the CMC investigation. Young said Arsenault's role in the CMC theft will be dealt with today. But the investigation is continuing, and that includes whether anyone else will be charged in the crime, she said.

• It's unclear how much information will come out about the adult relationship. While not a criminal matter for Arsenault, the relationship appears to be a violation of the pledge of celibacy that a priest takes.

When the diocese disclosed Arsenault's suspension 11 months ago, it promised a review of internal operations that will "see the light of day" once the investigation is concluded. The Union Leader was unable to contact a diocesan spokesman on Tuesday to discuss disclosure.

But the newspaper has learned that Bishop Peter Libasci has called a meeting for 2:30 p.m. today with any priest who wants to ask questions or voice concerns.

"Once the sentencing takes place, I will be in a position to share information about the investigation," Libasci wrote to priests in a letter earlier this month.

Through much of the 2000s, Arsenault served as the right-hand man to McCormack, a role that put him before cameras and also involved the investigation and removal of abusive priests.

He left the diocese in 2009 for a $170,000-a-year job — running St. Luke's Institute in Maryland, a clinic for troubled priests. The following year, the Vatican named Arsenault a monsignor at McCormack's urging. Arsenault's court file contains nearly two dozen letters from people vouching on his behalf, including former Attorney General Tom Rath, Portsmouth lawyer Peter Loughlin and the sister of the Rev. Msgr. John E. Molan, whose estate Arsenault stole from.

In a hand-written letter, Katherine Molan DeCourt said she has forgiven Arsenault. "Father Edward Arsenault is a good man and a very spiritual priest," she wrote.

Others came from psychologists at St. Luke's, nuns, New Hampshire Catholics, and employees of the Diocese. No letters were submitted by New Hampshire priests.

At least two writers stressed that Arsenault was under tremendous pressure as the priest-child sexual abuse scandal unfolded.

Sister Sheila Garvey of Hudson said Arsenault was met with criticism from the press and detractors of McCormack, who turned their anger and cynicism toward him.

The psychological burden "resulted in a burn-out that contributed, if not caused, his inappropriate behavior and criminal actions," Garvey wrote.