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| Bishop Acts on Abuse Allegation
By Anne Marie Cox
Roman Catholic Diocese of Des Moines
June 30, 2014
http://blog.dmdiocese.org/posts/bishop-acts-on-abuse-allegation.cfm
Bishop Richard Pates has placed Father Howard Fitzgerald on indefinite administrative leave following a determination by the diocesan Allegation Review Committee that an allegation of a decades-old incident of sexual abuse of a minor is credible.
While on administrative leave, Father Fitzgerald cannot function publicly as a priest. Bishop Pates has asked him to refrain from wearing the clerical garb.
The matter is being forwarded to the Vatican.
Bishop Pates has apologized to the victim, who asked for anonymity. The diocese will honor the request.
“It is a top priority that we address all credible allegations of sexual abuse in the manner outlined by the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. In addition, the diocese continues to do all it can to ensure we create a safe environment for children and all vulnerable individuals in our churches and schools,” said Bishop Pates.
After learning of the allegation, the victim was provided the services of the Victim Assistance Advocate of the Diocese of Des Moines. Local law enforcement where the alleged abuse occurred and the Allegation Review Committee were informed.
The matter was studied by the Allegation Review Committee, which has among its members a judge, a licensed clinical social worker, a police detective, an attorney, a priest and a permanent deacon. During the committee’s investigation, Bishop Pates had asked Father Fitzgerald to step aside from his parish responsibilities at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Indianola and Immaculate Conception Parish in St. Marys and at Simpson College.
Bishop Pates will celebrate the Masses this weekend, July 5-6, at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Indianola and Immaculate Conception in St. Marys. Mass times are: Saturday at 5:30 p.m. at St. Thomas Aquinas; Sunday 8 a.m. at Immaculate Conception and 10:15 a.m. at St. Thomas Aquinas.
In 2002, the U.S. bishops created the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, which offers a comprehensive set of guidelines on reporting sexual abuse, accountability, reports to a national board and mandatory education programs in parishes and schools.
As of January, 14,416 people in the Diocese of Des Moines had undergone training and background checks designed to help create a safe environment for children and young people. To learn more about the Virtus training, go to www.dmdiocese.org/virtus.cfm.
Quoting a 2010 column which he wrote for “The Catholic Mirror,” Bishop Pates reaffirmed the Church’s commitment to do all it can to protect children in matters of sexual misconduct.
“The bottom line in all of this is that the Catholic Church cares about children – all children – and wants to protect them. Jesus had a special place in his heart for them and the Church can be no less loving. That’s why abuse of children by priests, the overwhelming majority of whom are dedicated, caring people, is a great embarrassment and causes pain for victims, their families and all the church’s members.”
The Diocese of Des Moines encourages victims of sexual abuse by clergy and their families to contact the diocesan Victim Assistance Advocate, Sherry Knox. She is a staff member at Polk County Victim Services. She assists victims through the complaint process and in seeking support and counseling services. She can be reached at 515-286-2028 or advocate@dmdiocese.org.
Consejero sobre Asistencia de Victimas El Consejero sobre Asistencia de Victimas es un empleado de Polk County Victim Services. Ella ayuda a victimas de abuso sexual por parte del clero durante el proceso de la queja y buscando servicios de apoyo y consejeria. Pueden comunicarse al 515-286-2028 o en advocate@dmdiocese.org.
Father Fitzgerald has served at the following places:
St. Albert High School, Council Bluffs
St. Pius X Church, Urbandale
Pastoral Team serving: St. Mary, Panama; St. Mary, Portsmouth; and
St. Boniface, Westphalia
St. Peter and St. Francis Worship Center, Council Bluffs
Holy Spirit, Creston; and St. Edward, Afton
St. Patrick, Dunlap; and Sacred Heart, Woodbine
St. Michael, Harlan
Ss. John & Paul, Altoona
St. Joseph, Earling; and St. Peter, Defiance
St. Patrick, Dunlap; Holy Family, Mondamin; Sacred Heart, Woodbine
Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, Glenwood
St. Thomas Aquinas, Indianola; and Immaculate Conception, St. Marys
El Obispo actua en acusacion de abuso
Un sacerdote tiene licencia indefinida durante el proceso
Monsenor Richard Pates ha dado a Padre Howard FitzGerald una licencia administrativa indefinida despues de una determinacion por el Allegation Review Committee de la diocesis que una acusacion de hace una decada del abuso sexual a un menor de edad es creible.
Mientras tiene la licencia, el Padre Fitzgerald no puede funcionar publicamente como sacerdote. Monsenor Pates le ha pedido que no use ropa clerical.
El asunto ha sido mandado al Vaticano.
Monsenor Pates ha pedido perdon de la victima, quien pidio anonimidad. La diocesis honrara su peticion.
“Es una prioridad importante que tratemos con todas las acusaciones creibles del abuso sexual en la manera requerida por el Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. Tambien, la diocesis continua haciendo todo la que puede para crear un ambiente seguro para los ninos y todos los individuos vulnerables en nuestras iglesias y escuelas,” dijo Monsenor Pates.
Despues de que la diocesis averiguo de la acusacion, la victima estaba proveido con los servicios del Victim Assistance Advocate of the Diocese of Des Moines. La diocesis tambien informo a la policia donde el abuso presunto ocurrio y al Allegation Review Committee.
El Allegation Review Committee, que incluye entre sus miembros un juez, un trabajador social licenciado, un detective de la policia, un abogado, un sacerdote y un diacono permanente, estudio el asunto. Durante la investigacion, Monsenor Pates habia pedido a Padre Fitzgerald dejar sus responsabilidades en las parroquias de St. Thomas Aquinas en Indianola y Immaculate Conception en St. Mary’s y tambien en Simpson College.
Monsenor Pates celebrara las misas este fin de semana, el 5-6 de julio, en la parroquia de St. Thomas y Immaculate Conception en St. Mary’s. Las horas de las misas son: 5:30 p.m. el sabado en St. Thomas Aquinas; 8 a.m. el domingo en Immaculate Conception; y 10:15 a.m. en St. Thomas Aquinas.
En 2002, los obispos de EEUU crearon el Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, que ofrece un conjunto exhaustivo de directrices en el reporte de abusos sexuales, la responsabilidad, los reportes a una mesa directiva nacional y programas educativos obligatorios en las parroquias y escuelas.
Hasta enero, 14,416 personas en la Diocese of Des Moines habian tenido entrenamiento y chequeos de antecedentes designados a ayudar a crear un ambiente seguro para los ninos y jovenes. Para averiguar mas sobre el entrenamiento de Virtus, vaya a www.dmdiocese.org-virtus.cfm.
Citando una columna de 2010 que escribio Monsenor Pates para The Catholic Mirror, el reafirmo el compromiso de la iglesia a hacer todo lo posible para proteger a los ninos de la mala conducta sexual.
“Lo importante en todo esto es que la Iglesia Catolica se preocupa por los ninos – todos los ninos – y quiere protegerlos. Jesus tuvo un lugar especial en su corazon para ellos y la iglesia no puede hacer menos. Eso es porque el abuso de ninos por los sacerdotes, la mayoria grande de los cuales son personas dedicadas y bondadosas, es una verguenza y causa del dolor para las victimas, sus familias y todos los miembros de la iglesia.”
The Diocese of Des Moines pide a las victimas de abuso sexual por el clero y a sus familias de contactar el Victim Assistance Advocate de The Diocese of Des Moines, Sherry Knox. Ella es una empleada del Polk County Victim Services. Ella asiste a las victimas en el proceso de reclamos y en buscar apoyo y servicios de consejeria. Se puede comunicar con ella llamando al 515 286-2028 o escribiendo a advocate@dmdiocese.org.
Padre Fitzgerald ha estado en los lugares siguientes:
St. Albert High School, Council Bluffs
St. Pius X Church, Urbandale
Pastoral team para St. Mary, Panama; St. Mary, Portsmouth; and St. Boniface, Westphalia
St. Peter and St. Francis Worship Center, Council Bluffs
Holy Spirit, Creston; and St. Edward, Afton
St. Patrick, Dunlap; and Sacred Heart, Woodbine
St. Michael, Harlan
Ss. John and Paul, Altoona
St. Joseph, Earing; and St. Peter, Defiance
St. Patrick, Dunlap; Holy Family, Mandarin; Sacred Heart, Woodbine
Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, Glenwood
St. Thomas Aquinas, Indianola; and Immaculate Conception, St. Mary’s
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