RUTLAND (VT)
RuTland Herald
August 24, 2019
By Patrick McCardle
The release of a list on Thursday of 40 Catholic Church clergy members who have been the subject of at least one “credible accusation” of sexually assaulting a minor has not affected local Catholic schools which are set to start their fall school year next week.
Whether the scandal, one of the latest involving the Catholic Church, will be discussed during Sunday’s services will be up to the priests at local churches, according to Monsignor John McDermott.
On Friday, Lisa Millard, the new principal at Christ the King School said she hadn’t gotten questions or comments based on the report.
The report, compiled by an independent committee requested by the Diocese of Burlington, listed 39 priests accused of misconduct during their tenure and one facing an out-of-state allegation. From that list, 20 had spent time assigned to Rutland County churches including Christ the King.
Millard said CKS could accommodate about 300 students. During the school year, which is set to begin Thursday, the student body is expected to be 201.
“That’s growing every year,” she said.
While an informational meeting is planned for early in the school year, Millard said she hadn’t decided whether she will address the report. As of Friday afternoon, she said no parents had talked about withdrawing students.
Mike Alexander, principal at Mount St. Joseph Academy, said he expected to start his school year on Thursday as well, with at least 77 students, and possibly one more student expected to join the school.
Alexander said the average number of students through the past 10 years has been 81 so the enrollment for the coming year is about what he expected.
Alexander said he had not heard any concerns in response to the report.
If he believed a meeting for parents on the topic was necessary, Alexander said, he would reach out to the diocese for direction.
McDermott said the diocese has not directed the priests at Vermont’s Catholic churches to respond in a specific way.
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