John Does consistent in not lying, psychologist tells Mount Cashel trial

By Barb Sweet
Beacon
June 21, 2016

http://www.ganderbeacon.ca/News/Local/2016-06-21/article-4566589/John-Does-consistent-in-not-lying,-psychologist-tells-Mount-Cashel-trial/1

New York forensic psychologist Alan M. Goldstein continued his testimony at the Mount Cashel civil trial Tuesday. Photo by Barb Sweet

None of the four John Does showed signs of lying or exaggerating during psychological testing, a New York forensic psychologist told the Mount Cashel civil trial Tuesday. “I’m amazed,” said Alan M. Goldstein, adding that the consistency is something he has never seen before.

Goldstein evaluated the four former residents of Mount Cashel in 2009 and again this year, on behalf of their lawyers. The evaluations consisted of psychological testing and interviews with the men and others in their lives.

Four test-case John Does represent about 60 former residents from the 1940s to ’60s who say the Roman Catholic Episcopal Corp. of St. John’s should be held liable for physical and sexual abuse perpetrated by certain members of the lay order Irish Christian Brothers.

The church contends it wasn’t involved in the orphanage’s operation.

Goldstein finished by telling the court about his reports on the four men during direct questioning by their lawyers, Will Hiscock and Paul Kennedy. He already testified about two of the men Monday.

For all of the men, the physical abuse pounded them into the ground and made it less likely they would stand up for themselves when faced with sexual abuse, Goldstein said.

Of the John Doe whose marriage and career were ruined by alcohol abuse, Goldstein said the man was disabled by what took place at Mount Cashel, and what happened to him there led to his downfall.

Of the fourth John Doe — a tradesman who tried to join the Christian Brothers to change things, but left the training college — Goldstein attributed his problems with rage over the abuse he suffered. The man told Goldstein the beatings he took at Mount Cashel were a form of sexual perversion by the Brothers.

Goldstein said the man’s rage spilled over into all aspects of his life, though he was never in trouble with the law. But he said it made the man seem like a volatile, abrasive person at times.

He said the Mount Cashel experience is what caused the long-lasting trauma in the man’s life.

Chris Blom, a lawyer representing the Episcopal Corp., began cross-examining Goldstein later Tuesday.

He challenged Goldstein on the American psychiatric manual criteria for diagnosing sexual-sadism, arguing that Goldstein would have had to assess the Christian Brother to conclude beatings the tradesman John Doe described were indeed sexual sadism.

Goldstein conceded the point, if you follow a “very rigid” interpretation. But he also noted the Brother — Ronald J. Lasik — was convicted (of multiple charges in the late 1990s) and is on the New York State sex offender registry.

Blom, delving into the case of a retired teacher, noted in a lengthy line of questioning the inconsistencies between the man’s accolades and successes and reports of poor self-image.

“So, what might be happening here is that (John Doe) is sort of overplaying the ‘I am not worthy’ hand?” Blom suggested.

Later, Goldstein declared of the John Doe’s strengths and weaknesses, “As we would say in New York, he’s one complex dude.”

Goldstein went on to say the man, given that he has done well in life, is not a poster child for what happens to someone who comes out of the types of experiences he’s had.

Earlier story:

John Does consistent in not lying, psychologist tells Mount Cashel trial

None of the four John Does showed signs of lying during psychological testing, a New York forensic psychologist told the Mount Cashel civil trial this morning.

“I’m amazed,” said Alan M. Goldstein, remarking the consistency is something he has never seen before.

Goldstein evaluated the four former residents of Mount Cashel in 2009 and again this year, on behalf of their lawyers.

Four test case John Does represent about 60 former residents from the 1940s to ‘60s who say the Roman Catholic Episcopal Corp. of St. John’s should be held liable for physical and sexual abuse perpetrated by certain members of the lay order Christian Brothers.

The church contends it wasn’t involved in the orphanage’s operation.

Goldstein this morning finished up testifying about his reports on the four men in direct questioning by their lawyer Will Hiscock. He already testified about two of the men Monday.

For all of the men, the physical abuse pounded them into the ground and made it less likely they would stand up for themselves when faced with sexual abuse, Goldstein said.

Of the John Doe whose marriage and career were ruined by alcohol, Goldstein said the man was disabled by what took place at Mount Cashel, what happened to him there led to his downfall.

Of the fourth John Doe — a tradesman who had tried to join the Christian Brothers to change things but left the training college  — Goldstein attributed his problems with rage over the abuse he suffered. The man told Goldstein that the beatings he took at Mount Cashel were a form of sexual perversion by the Brothers. Goldstein said the man’s rage spilled over into all aspects of his life, although he was never in trouble with the law.

But he said it made the man seem a volatile, abrasive person at times.

He said the Mount Cashel experience is what caused the long-lasting trauma in the man’s life.

Chris Blom, a lawyer representing the Episcopal Corp., began cross-examining Goldstein shortly before the lunch break.