Letter May Prove Clergy Abuse in the 1950s

By Sarah Delage
WCSH
April 7, 2015

http://www.wcsh6.com/story/news/local/2015/04/07/clergy-abuse-letter/25421787/

[Letter Regarding Early Notice of Vallely Abuse - BishopAccountability.org]

[with video]

A recently revealed letter may prove that a Maine priest was sexually abusing children as far back as the 1950s.

The letter discusses abuse by Father James Vallely, who is now deceased. It came to light during legal discovery in a recently settled sexual abuse case.

Robert Hoatson, founder of the organization Road to Recovery, held a press conference in front of the Portland Catholic Diocese headquarters Tuesday. He gave out copies of the letter, which was written by a retired priest to a Diocese official. It describes a conversation between another priest and a bishop about five boys who had reported being abused at St. John's Church in Bangor. According to the letter, Vallely was transferred shortley after that conversation. Hoatson said the transfer occurred in 1956. He said this is yet another example of the church concealing abuse over the years.

"How could six Bishops, six Catholic bishops encompassing the state of Maine allow a pedophile to travel throughout the state of Maine and sexually abused children for many, many decades?" Hoatson asked.

This is not the first time Vallely has faced these kinds of accusations. He was identified by the church in 2005 as one of eight deceased priests who were accused of abuse in the last few decades. Two brothers sued the church in 2013, saying Vallely abused them when they were altar boys in Portland in the 1970s.

Bishop Robert Deeley released a statement about the letter. He said the church respects the privacy of victims, even they choose to go public.

"As I said at the annual Day of Prayer and Penance in Portland on February 27, mistakes were made in the past and the failure to deal with this problem in a more forthright manner gravely harmed those who were abused. We do not want to forget. Remembering keeps us vigilant in our effort to reform. We cannot change the past, but we can do everything possible to see that history does not repeat itself."

Both the diocese and victim advocates are encouraging anyone who has been a victim of clergy abuse to contact police.

The church is asking victims to contact Michael Magalski, Director of the Office of Professional Responsibility for the Diocese of Portland, at (207) 321-7836 or at michael.magalski(at)portlanddiocese.org.