The Catholic Telegraph [Cincinnati OH]
May 24, 2006
http://www.catholiccincinnati.org/tct/may2606/052606briefs.html
The Archdiocese of Cincinnati announced May 17 it is launching an investigation into comments made about an employee on a local televisions news broadcast. The archdiocese said it also plans to seek an independent evaluation of identity security in its background check program for volunteers and employees who work with children.
A Cincinnati television station reported March 14 that the father and brother of fired employee Alex Henties told the station that Vince Frasher, archdiocesan personnel director and Henties' former boss, had sexually abused Henties "when he was young."
The archdiocese has a copy of a hand-written letter from Henties, dated April 28, 2006, in which he states, "I have never been abused in such a way as this and have never been abused by Vince whatsoever or at all."
Given the seriousness of the charge, archdiocesan officials announced that a private investigator is being retained to uncover the facts about allegations and inferences from the news program.
The archdiocese sent a copy of the television station's report to the Hamilton County prosecutor's office May 15.
Officials also announced May 18 that Frasher, who is currently on a two-week vacation scheduled since January, has been placed on administrative leave.
In a May 22 letter to pastors, Cincinnati Archbishop Daniel E. Pilarczyk outlined the steps taken in the wake of the news report.
"I am well aware of the hurt, embarrassment and anger once again being felt by Catholics of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati in the wake of recent events," he wrote. "I deeply regret the serious lapse in judgment in having a felon involved with our background check program designed to protect children.
"The investigation into the allegations by Alex Henties that he and Vince Frasher had a sexual relationship is under way. I want it to be done quickly but also thoroughly. I do not know how long that will take."
The archbishop said he has "pledged complete cooperation with any investigation by secular legal authorities." The archdiocese is also currently trying to identity "an outside, independent expert to evaluate identity security in the background check program for volunteers and employees who work with children."
Although the archdiocese has never received a complaint of identity theft related to the three-year-old background check program, officials said last week they want to be sure the system is as secure as possible.
The alleged theft by Henties' former girlfriend of two laptop computers formerly used by the archdiocese for fingerprinting and background checks does not pose a threat for personal identity theft, according to Attorney General Jim Petro's office. In an April 16 letter to the archdiocese, Jeffrey A. Rossi, deputy superintendent of Identification in the Office of the Attorney General, wrote: "The workstations were designed to provide remote transmission of fingerprints and demographic data to the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation (BCI & I). The data is encrypted by the workstation software during this process. The equipment used by WebCheck agencies, such as the archdiocese, is not designed to store information on the individuals who participate in the background check process."
Contrary to the suggestion raised in the television report, archdiocesan spokesman Dan Andriacco said the stolen computers were only used in the fingerprint program and are in no way related to the archdiocese's announcement earlier this year that it was unable to confirm that several thousand volunteers who work with children had taken the required training in the Decree on Child Protection since 1993.
"As explained at the time, this was because of inconsistent record keeping in the parishes before these records were centralized," he said.
The complete statement issued in February is available on the Web at: www. catholiccincinnati.org/childprotect/ 2005_audit_report.php
Archbishop Pilarczyk encouraged pastors to share the information in his letter with area Catholics, adding, "Please continue to pray for the archdiocese and its shepherds during these difficult times."
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St. Ursula Academy Vocal Ensemble members pose for a photo together. Pictured in the back row from left are Jessica Waddle, Carole Wurzelbacher, Andrea Hill, Kathy Backherms, music director, Jillian Ellis, Sara Fletcher, and Candace Kirksey. In the front row are Laura Droba, Paige Rinehart, Leah Bobbey, Maggie Reder, Sadie Corbo, and Kristen Duffy. Photo by the Courtesy |
ST. FRANCIS DE SALES DEANERY
St. Ursula group sings way to award
The St. Ursula Academy Vocal Ensemble (SUAVE) merited the first place trophy and also received the highest rating of "superior" in the high-school show-choir division of the Music in the Parks competition on April 28.
This marks the 11th consecutive year that SUAVE has retained this standing in the competition, which was held at Loveland Middle School. In addition, the freshman chorus and concert chorus performed in the Trills and Thrills Music Festival on April 29, and received a "superior" rating for their performances. Music Director Kathy Backherms lauded of the students' accomplishments and hard work. "I am so excited for the members of SUAVE for meriting the first place and overall trophies because they have truly worked as an ensemble all year," she said.
SUAVE is St. Ursula Academy's premier vocal ensemble. Since 1992, the 12-member ensemble has performed extensively in the tri-state area and merited numerous awards and honors, such as performing at the prestigious Carnegie Hall in New York City in 1999, 2001 and 2004, and they will perform again in January 2007. The ensemble also has merited consistent "superior" ratings and numerous first-place trophies in the High School Show Choir Division as well as Overall Grand Championship Choral Awards. In addition, they have received several Judges' Choice Awards for Outstanding Sections, Soloists and Accompanist in the Music Showcase Festivals, Music in the Parks, and Festivals of Music competitions in cities such as Aurora, Chicago, Cincinnati, Gatlinburg, Louisville, Nashville, St. Louis and Sandusky. SUAVE also performs in Christmas and spring tours and sings for various liturgies and special events at St. Ursula Academy and throughout the community.
ST. MARGARET MARY DEANERY
St. Vivian teacher wins 'Rising Above' Panera award
A fifth-grade teacher at St. Vivian School in Cincinnati is the southern Ohio winner of Panera Bread's first "Rising Above Award" contest. Julia Glassmeyer was presented the award, sponsored in conjunction with the Ohio PTA, at a special ceremony held May 8 at the school.
Tyler Hadden, one of her students, nominated Glassmeyer for the award. She was one of three finalists selected based on a nomination letter submitted by students regarding why their teacher is special and deserving of the award. After participating in an interview process, which focused on overall teaching philosophy, community involvement and creative teaching techniques, Glassmeyer was named the southern Ohio winner. She won a $500 grant for St. Vivian School, a catered lunch for her students, a Panera Bread gift card valued at $150, and a plaque to display in her classroom.
JustFaith workshops available
By Lenore Christopher
ARCHDIOCESE - JustFaith. You've heard about it. Some of your friends may have attended a workshop. Now it just may be time for you to do the same.
JustFaith is a conversion-based process that seeks to provide a context in which participants can grow in their commitment to care for the vulnerable and to become advocates for justice. It serves to strengthen the growing commitment of Catholic parishes to be instruments of social transformation.
Early in 2005, JustFaith Ministries, the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD), Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA) and Catholic Relief Services (CRS) announced a new partnership to promote and support parish and diocesan involvement in the JustFaith program. The partnership recognizes the importance of expanding parish and church commitment to social ministry and the critical role that formation in the justice tradition plays in this process.
All three national organizations support JustFaith Ministries through a financial commitment and directional support. The partnership, in turn, helps CCHD, Catholic Charities USA, and CRS carry out their mission of engaging U.S. Catholics in work with and on behalf of the poor and vulnerable, to alleviate poverty, and empower communities both at home and abroad.
In the archdiocese, the program increasingly has become the program of choice for parishes - and now regions - seeking to instill a discipleship model.
"JustFaith is an in-depth adult faith-formation program designed to deepen understanding of and commitment to the Gospel's call to build a more just society," said Cori Thibodeau, regional director of the Catholic Social Action Office in Dayton.
A JustFaith introductory workshop will be held June 3, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at Incarnation Parish in Centerville, with national speaker and justice educator Dan Driscoll. Light breakfast snacks will be provided.
A second workshop will be held June 6, 6:30-9:30 p.m., at the day chapel in the new church building at St. John Parish in West Chester with JustFaith founder Jack Jezreel. Registration and a light dinner will begin at 5:45 p.m.
Regional JustFaith groups, in addition to parish groups, will also be formed, in keeping with the new structure that has created 100 regions within the archdiocese.
The workshops are being sponsored by the Dayton and Cincinnati collaboratives organized during the last several years. There is no charge for the workshops. If planning to attend, please call the corresponding Catholic Social Action Office by June 2: Cori Thibodeau in Dayton, 937-224-3026, csadayton@catholiccincinnati.org, and in Cincinnati, 513-421-3131, ext. 239, csa@catholiccincinnati.org.
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