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| Victims “out” Two Abusive Catholic Priests
SNAP
September 12, 2013
http://www.snapnetwork.org/pa_victims_out_two_abusive_catholic_priests
Both worked in Pittsburgh & abused elsewhere
Settlements have been paid out in both cases
One is the third predator at one McKeesport school
SNAP blasts Catholic officials for “on-going secrecy”
It urges bishop to post all predator priests on his website
What:
Holding signs and childhood photos, clergy sex abuse survivors and their supporters will disclose that two clergy sex abuse cases have been settled involving
--a local priest who reportedly molested in Massachusetts but also worked in Pittsburgh, and
--another priest who molested in Maryland (and later pled guilty) but was then sent to work in a Pittsburgh church.
They will also hand deliver a letter to the Pittsburgh Catholic headquarters prodding Pittsburgh’s bishop to post the names and whereabouts of dozens of child molesting clerics on his diocesan website (like roughly 30 other bishops have done).
And they will urge anyone who may have “seen, suspected or suffered clergy sex crimes and cover ups in Pittsburgh –by these two priests or other church employees - to “speak up, get help, call police, expose wrongdoers, protect kids and start healing”
When:
Thursday, Sept. 12 at 1:30 p.m.
Where:
On the sidewalk outside the Pittsburgh Catholic diocese headquarters (chancery office), 111 Boulevard of the Allies (corner of Stanwix) in downtown Pittsburgh, PA
Who:
Two-three members of a support group called SNAP (the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests), including a Pittsburgh woman who is the organization’s local volunteer director
Why:
SNAP has learned that two child sex abuse cases, involving two local priests (who have attracted little or no attention in Pittsburgh), have been settled in other states.
Last week, the Associated Press reported that a child sex abuse case against Fr. Alan E. Caparella has settled.
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And SNAP has also learned that a case against another Pittsburgh priest, Fr. Richard Deakin, was settled in Baltimore.
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As best SNAP can tell, there’s been no media or public attention in Pittsburgh about either Fr. Caparella or Fr. Deakin, nor the accusations against them or the settlements involving them.
According to news accounts and Boston attorney Mitchell Garabedian (617-523-6250, garabedianlaw@msn.com), Fr. Caparella abused a youngster in Boston in between 1963-1985.
According to news accounts and Maryland attorney Robert L. Hanley Jr. (410-823-7800, rhanley@nolanplumhoff.com, npw@nolanplumhoff.com), Fr. Deakin abused a teenaged Baltimore girl from 1986-88.
Fr. Caparella has not been prosecuted. But in 1990, Fr. Deakin pled guilty to criminal child sex charges.
According to the Official Catholic Directory, Fr. Caparella worked at Serra High School in McKeesport (412-751-2020) for five years 1967-1972. During those years, the school had nearly 500 students.
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Deakin had been moved in 1987 by church authorities from Baltimore to the Pittsburgh diocese, according to depositions in the civil case.
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Deakin was functioning as a priest in the Diocese of Pittsburgh when he was dismissed from the Capuchin order Dec. 13, 1989, for marrying a parishioner in Rochester, PA.
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Fr. Caparella was ordained in 1966 and also worked in at least two other cities: Boston (at three churches and a hospital) and New York City (at one church facility). He died on March 31, 1991.
Thirty bishops have, under pressure, posted names of proven, admitted and credibly accused child molesting clerics on their diocesan websites.
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No Pittsburgh bishop has done so, however. SNAP is urging Bishop David Zubik, for the protection of kids and the healing of victims,” to disclose the names. According to BishopAccountability.org, there are at least 33 publicly accused Pittsburgh predator priests.
Fr. Caparella is at least the third Serra High School cleric who is accused of child sexual abuse. Father Michael LeDoux and Brother Kenneth Ghastin - have also been accused of molesting and cases against them have settled. Fr. LeDoux was there from 1995 to 2000. Br. Ghastin was there from 1983 to 1991. All three are Franciscans.
None of the four clerics – Caparelli, Deakin, LeDoux or Ghastin- are listed on the Pittsburgh Diocese website.
Fr. Caparella died in 1991. The whereabouts of the other three are unknown. Deakin reportedly left the priesthood and the Capuchin order in 1988, married, and went to work for a Pittsburgh department store. He is believed to be a Pittsburgh native.
Contact:
David Clohessy 314-566-9790 cell, SNAPclohessy@aol.com
Fran Unglo – Samber 717-514-9660, samber13431@comcast.net
Barbara Dorris 314-862-7688 home, 314-503-0003 cell, SNAPdorris@gmail.com
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