San Gabriel priest’s past misconduct detailed in letters called “smoking gun”

By Lauren Gold
Pasadena Star-News
September 09, 2014

http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/social-affairs/20140910/san-gabriel-priests-past-misconduct-detailed-in-letters-called-smoking-gun

Members of San Gabriel Mission Church Dan Acosta and Linda Acosta of Rosemead pray with Joelle Casteix, right, from the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP), held a press conference outside the San Gabriel Mission Wednesday to demand answers after the mission church's priest Fr. Bruce Wellems resigned as Pastor of San Gabriel Mission.

SAN GABRIEL >> Representatives from Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) clashed with parishioners Wednesday after raising questions about a former San Gabriel Mission Parish pastor.

SNAP spokeswoman Joelle Casteix said the organization sought answers as to why Father Bruce Wellems was removed from the church in June and more information about an alleged incident of sexual abuse that occurred when Wellems was a teenager. SNAP held simultaneous press conferences in San Gabriel and Chicago, where Wellems now lives.

Casteix said SNAP found out about the incident recently via two letters sent by officials from the Claretian Missionary Fathers order in Chicago to the parish notifying parishioners of Wellems’ departure. Casteix called the letters a “smoking gun.”

“Now that the letters are out there we want answers. All we want is truth and all we want is transparency,” Casteix said. “Everyone gets hurt when the truth is not told. We don’t know what the truth is, but from what’s here it doesn’t look very good. We want the truth about why they yanked the guy from this parish.”

Several parishioners showed up to the conference, however, to argue in Wellems’ defense, praising his leadership during the two years he served as pastor.

“I would trust my son’s life with him,” lifelong parishioner Irene Marcinska said. “You are trying to find something where there is not anything. I know he is innocent.”

The parishioners said they were informed that Wellems was asked to resign after a record surfaced of inappropriate behavior with another minor when Wellems was 15 years old. Wellems returned to Chicago, where he previously worked with impoverished youths.

Parishioners said Wellems told them the Los Angeles Archdiocese gave him three days to leave. His supporters launched a Facebook group to try to bring Wellems back to San Gabriel.

Those who attended the press conference agreed that they, too, wanted answers about the sudden departure.

“What was disturbing was the silence. We couldn’t get to anybody,” Linda Acosta said. “We couldn’t get answers.”

Parishioners said Wellems said he had not committed any misconduct as a priest, and officials with the Claretian Missionary Fathers said there have been no allegations filed against him.

“I’m sure all of us could say something stupid we did when we were 15 years old,” parishioner Ortencia Ramirez said.

In a press release, the Claretian Missionary Fathers offered some details.

“Some questions have emerged related to an incident that happened when (Wellems) was a teenager of inappropriate behavior with another minor, many years before becoming a priest,” the statement read. “When this became known in the ‘90s, the matter was dealt with in accord to the protocols of the time and Fr. Bruce was allowed to continue his ministry. Fr. Bruce is currently not in public ministry and his future work will depend upon further dialogue and consultation with him and church authorities.”

A spokesman and an attorney for the Claretian Ministry did not respond to calls for further comment.

A spokeswoman for the Los Angeles Archdiocese referred all questions on the matter to the Claretian Missionary Fathers, which is charged with Wellems’ assignments. In a statement, Los Angeles Archdiocese officials said they were not made aware of the incident when Wellems came to San Gabriel in 2012.

Ultimately, Casteix said she hopes bringing the issue to the larger community will “shame” religious officials into shedding more light on Wellems’ removal and, if he has committed any sexual misconduct while serving as a priest that victims will come forward.

“The only reason we have been able to get justice for victims is by alerting the general public. It always starts with there was just one incident of abuse 20 years ago then more victims come out,” Casteix said. “It’s not us sullying a good man’s name its us saying there is information here and we want answers. ... Everybody has to rock the boat to make serious change.”