By David Yonke
Toledo Blade
May 18, 2006
http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060518/NEWS02/605180496
The Toledo Catholic Diocese has taken the unusual step of going to court to keep a former priest away from a West Toledo chapel because children are nearby.
A civil complaint filed in Toledo Municipal Court seeks to prevent Chet Warren, who was barred from ministry over allegations of child sexual abuse, from entering a secluded chapel at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church on Bellevue Road, near Bowman Park.
At least eight women have accused Mr. Warren of abusing them when they were children.
 |
| Chet Warren |
Judge C. Allen McConnell is expected to rule on the diocese's complaint tomorrow.
The diocese alleges that Mr. Warren, a former Oblate of St. Francis de Sales, violated an agreement he made with the Rev. Martin Donnelly, pastor of Blessed Sacrament Parish, limiting his access to the church's Eucharistic Chapel to "restricted times and under certain circumstances." The diocese said in December that Mr. Warren could only visit the chapel before 6 a.m. and that he must be accompanied by an adult male.
The court filing states that Blessed Sacrament's facilities include a neighboring parochial elementary school and notes that "extracurricular school activities take place on the parish campus at various times and places."
In a response filed in Municipal Court by Mr. Warren's attorney, Martin Mohler, the former priest denied all charges in the complaint, including the diocese's contention that he has "a history of being publicly accused of engaging in illegal and harmful sexual contact with minors."
In March, 2005, as part of a legal settlement, Bishop Leonard Blair of the Toledo diocese publicly apologized to Mr. Warren's abuse victims. Speaking from the pulpit of St. Pius X Catholic Church, the bishop referred to Mr. Warren's "grievously sinful and criminal acts."
In May, 2005, the diocese sent a letter by e-mail to about 30 Catholic school principals warning them that a woman offering tutoring services to students was a companion of Mr. Warren. The diocese said "someone we know is a child molester" was either living with the tutor, Marilyn Reidy, or that he may be on the premises while she was teaching children.
In the complaint before Judge McConnell, the diocese said it does not seek to bar Mr. Warren from attending public worship at Blessed Sacrament but wants to keep him out of the chapel.
The diocese also is asking for "damages not to exceed $5,000."
Oblates and other members of Roman Catholic religious orders have their own hierarchies, but such priests and nuns serve in dioceses with the local bishop's permission.
Sally Oberski, director of communications for the Toledo diocese, said yesterday that the diocese will not comment on any legal proceedings.
The Toledo diocese's attorney, Tom Pletz, and Mr. Mohler did not return phone calls yesterday.
Messages were not returned by the Rev. David Whalen, provincial of the Oblates, who was out of town, and Father Donnelly, who was on vacation.
In 2003, a Toledo woman testified before the Diocesan Review Board that Mr. Warren was among a number of priests, including Gerald Robinson, who sexually abused and tortured her in ritual ceremonies when she was a child.
Robinson is the Toledo priest convicted May 11 in the ritual killing of Sister Margaret Ann Pahl on April 5, 1980. He was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison. Robinson was barred from ministry but remains a retired priest.
Contact David Yonke at:
dyonke@theblade.com
or 419-724-6154.
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.