House of Affirmation The House of Affirmation was a treatment center for priests with psychological and psychosexual problems, founded by Worcester priest Rev. Thomas A. Kane. The House was in operation from 1973 to 1990, when it was closed after Kane was accused of financial improprieties. Kane was subsequently accused of sexual abuse, and allegations of sexual abuse at the Whitinsville MA facilility then came to light. There were other House of Affirmation facilities in Hopedale, Boston, and Natick MA; Middletown CT; Montara CA; Webster Groves MO; and Clearwater FL. In addition, the House of Affirmation was personally and legally connected to senior officials of the Rockville Centre NY diocese. On this page, we provide links to articles about the House and documentation on some of the accused priests who were evaluated and treated there.

PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS, RESOURCES, AND ANALYSIS

• House of Affirmation: International Therapeutic Center for Clergy and Religious: Give Me Your Hand..., by Rev. Thomas A. Kane, promotional brochure (9/73)

• The House of Affirmation, by Rev. Thomas A. Kane, Brothers Newsletter, vol. 17, no. 4 (1976)

• The House of Affirmation, on WorcesterVoice.com.

• The House of Affirmation, on the geminiwalker blog.

ARTICLES AND DOCUMENTS

1974

• [Formal Opening of the House of Affirmation], Catholic Free Press, May 31, 1974

1981

• Document Letter from Bevilacqua to Wurm about Rev. Romano J. Ferraro's Treatment at the Webster Groves MO House of Affirmation and His St. Louis Assignments (January 16, 1981)

1982

• Document Letter from Rev. Romano J. Ferraro to May about His Treatment at the Webster Groves House of Affirmation and His St. Louis Assignments (April 28, 1982)

• Counseling the Clergy, by David Mehegan, Boston Globe (8/15/82)

1987

• Counseling Program for Catholic Clergy Faces Uncertain Future, by Jeanne Pugh, St. Petersburg Times (9/26/87)

• Real Estate: Natick College Site Sold, Boston Globe (10/24/87)

1989

• House of Affirmation to Close Future of Outpatient Mental Health, by Jewel Bradstreet, Worcester Telegram & Gazette (10/4/89)

1990

• Sounding the Alarm Pointing to Truth Got Them Fired, by Allison K. Jones, Worcester Telegram & Gazette (6/12/90)

• Obituary: Neil Passariello, Boston Globe (7/26/90)

1992

• 5 Years Later, Rev. T. Kane Teaches Ethics: House of Affirmation, by Paul Della Valle, Worcester Telegram & Gazette (6/21/92)

• Book Investigates Cases: Sexual Abuse by Priests Called, by Kathleen A. Shaw, Worcester Telegram & Gazette (11/16/92)

• Bishop Places Kane on Leave: Priest Is Subject of Sex Abuse, by George B. Griffin, Worcester Telegram & Gazette (4/24/93)

1995

• Settlement, Release and Confidentiality Agreement, by Mark Barry, Rev. Thomas A. Kane, Bishop Daniel P. Reilly, and Msgr. Edmond T. Tinsley (10/6/95)

• Jury Clears Harrington and Diocese, by Gary V. Murray, Worcester Telegram & Gazette (1/30/96)

• Former Priest Pleads Guilty to Sexual Assault, in Worcester Telegram & Gazette (3/7/96)

• Misconduct by Priests Is Alleged: Diocese Lacked Rules for Sex, by Dianne Williamson, Worcester Telegram & Gazette (5/19/96)

• Sister Carmen Morzillo, in Telegram & Gazette, Massachusetts (5/3/97)

• Victim Criticizes Church, by Kathleen A. Shaw, Worcester Telegram & Gazette (1/19/02)

• Accused Priest in Mexico - Rev. Kane Settled Early '90s Sex Suit, by Kathleen A. Shaw and Richard Nangle, Worcester Telegram & Gazette (2/7/02)

• Priest May Have Lied about Ph.D., by Kathleen A. Shaw, Worcester Telegram & Gazette (2/10/02)

• Priest's Name Removed from Site - Rev. Kane Located at Teachers' School, by Richard Nangle, Worcester Telegram & Gazette (2/13/02)

• Priests Named in Sex Abuse Settlement - Document Obtained by T&G Has Confidentiality Clause, by Richard Nangle and Kathleen A. Shaw, Worcester Telegram & Gazette (2/26/02)

• Priests Named in Sex Abuse Settlement - Document Obtained by T&G Has Confidentiality Clause, by Richard Nangle and Kathleen A. Shaw, Worcester Telegram & Gazette (2/26/02)

• Man Accuses Teacher-Priest of Molestation - Fitchburg House Was Hangout, by Kathleen Shaw, Worcester Telegram & Gazette (3/27/02)

• Rev. Devlin Removed - Directed Anti-Abortion Activities of Diocese, by Kathleen A. Shaw, Worcester Telegram & Gazette (4/30/02)

• Secrecy Agreements Criticized - Victims Want to Be Free to Talk about Abuse, by Richard Nangle, Worcester Telegram & Gazette (5/10/02)

• Northbridge Man Wants Monsignor Prosecuted, by Kathleen A. Shaw, Worcester Telegram & Gazette (5/22/02)

• Lillian R. Dupras, 82, in Telegram & Gazette, Massachusetts (6/12/02)

• Suit Claims Priests Ran Sex Ring - Children Were Shared by Clergy at Center, by Kathleen A. Shaw, Worcester Telegram & Gazette (7/24/02)

• Priest's Past Haunts Pacifica Parish: Father Lenczycki, Who Served at St. Peter, Was Accused of Child Molestation in Illinois in 80s, by Chris Hunter, Pacifica Tribune (8/28/02)

• 2 More Say Messier Assaulted Them - Suit Filed against Priest, Worcester Diocese, by Kathleen A. Shaw, Worcester Telegram & Gazette (9/4/02)

• Priest Flouted Ban, Continued Duties after Child-Porn Case, by Chris Gray, Philadelphia Inquirer (12/18/02)

• Files Reveal Accusations against Crusader Priest, by Robin Washington, Boston Herald (2/7/03)

• Victims Seek Grand Jury Action - DA Pressed to Find Truth on Clergy Abuse, by Richard Nangle, Worcester Telegram & Gazette (2/20/03)

• Ruling Goes against Diocese on Questioning of Reilly, by Richard Nangle, Worcester Telegram & Gazette (4/1/03)

• Bishop Reilly Set to Give Deposition - Man Says Bishop Rueger Molested Him, by Kathleen A. Shaw, Worcester Telegram & Gazette (4/8/03)

• Judge's Ruling in Rueger Case Appears 'Open to Interpretation', by Kenneth J. Moynihan, Worcester Telegram & Gazette (4/9/03)

• Man Sues Texas Diocese for Hiring Rev. Teczar, by Kathleen A. Shaw, Worcester Telegram & Gazette (4/15/03)

• Letter Implored Diocese to Take Accused Priest, by Richard Nangle, Worcester Telegram & Gazette (4/21/03)

• Leo P. Lucier, 79, in Telegram & Gazette, Massachusetts (6/3/03)

• Release of Priest's Records Ordered - Accuser Can See Parts of Evaluation, by Kathleen A. Shaw, Worcester Telegram & Gazette (6/13/03)

• Tape Says Kelley Confided in Medeiros, by Kathleen A. Shaw, Worcester Telegram & Gazette (8/15/03)

• Victim's Dad Speaks out: 'I Am No Longer a Catholic', by Matt O'Brien, Lowell Sun (10/2/03)

• Abuse in the Church; Sexual-Abuse Lawsuits Target Former Inland Priest: Men Feel Lost in the Shuffle; They Blame Dioceses for Transferring Problem Cleric, by Michael Fisher, Press Enterprise, Riverside, CA (2/22/04)

• Plaintiff in Priest Sex Abuse Suit Sanctioned, by Kathleen A. Shaw, Worcester Telegram & Gazette (4/29/04)

• Grand Jury Heard Law, Two Bishops: Transfer of Priest under Scrutiny, by Michael Rezendes and Shelley Murphy, Boston Globe (6/17/04)

• Reverend Eymard P. Galligan, SSE, 82, in Telegram & Gazette, Massachusetts (11/29/04)

• Adela M. "Dell" (Urbanovitch) O'Leary, in Telegram & Gazette, Massachusetts (12/17/04)

• Priest Encountered Troubles before His Ordination, by Kathleen A. Shaw, Worcester Telegram & Gazette (2/22/05)

• Shreddin'!: Other Catholic Diocese Have Destroyed Incriminating Priest Personnel Files. Why Not Orange? by Gustavo Arellano, Coughlin Case (3/24/05)

• Bierman in Denial until the End, by Cindy Schroeder, Cincinnati Enquirer, Ohio (6/19/05)

• Vatican Papers Spark Debate - Clergy Abuse Protocol Noted, by Kathleen A. Shaw, Worcester Telegram & Gazette (8/28/05)

• From Anger Comes Art - Priest Abuse Victim Staging Show in N.Y., by Kathleen A. Shaw, Worcester Telegram & Gazette (11/28/05)

• Madeleine Avedian, 96, in Telegram & Gazette, Massachusetts (5/25/06)

• Teresa Cardin-Morris, in Telegram & Gazette, Massachusetts (12/20/06)

• Rudy Giuliani's Father Confessor: A Molester? Priest, Long-Time Friend of Rudy, Covered up Dozens of Abuse Cases on Long Island, Accused in Attacks on Students, by A. Kronstadt, The Shadow (5/4/07)

PRIESTS WHO WERE EVALUATED OR TREATED AT HoA

Authenreith

• Child-Abuse Cases Cost Church Millions: Florida Lawyers Get $3 Million for 4 Boys' Families, by Carl M. Cannon, San Jose Mercury News (12/31/87)

Burns

• Deposition of Cardinal Bernard Law, in Offices of Greenberg Traurig, Boston (1/22/03)

• In Suit, Three Ex-Altar Boys Allege Sex Abuse, by Kathleen Burge, Boston Globe (10/17/02)

• Records Show a Trail of Secrecy, Deception, by Walter V. Robinson and Stephen Kurkjian, Boston Globe (12/4/02)

• Former Priest Pleads Guilty to Sexual Assault, in Worcester Telegram & Gazette (3/7/96)

• Louisville (6/10/03)

• Father Edward M. DePaoli (9/21/05)

• Priest Flouted Ban, Continued Duties after Child-Porn Case, by Chris Gray, Philadelphia Inquirer (12/18/02)

Rev. Romano J. Ferraro (Webster Groves MO Facility)

• Document Letter from Bevilacqua to Wurm about Rev. Romano J. Ferraro's Treatment at the Webster Groves MO House of Affirmation and His St. Louis Assignments (January 16, 1981)

• Document Letter from Rev. Romano J. Ferraro to May about His Treatment at the Webster Groves House of Affirmation and His St. Louis Assignments (April 28, 1982)

Rev. Mark Fleming (Webster Groves MO Facility)

• Document Memo by Chancellor Christian of Manchester about Arrangement for Fleming to Go to House of Affirmation in Webster Groves (December 14, 1983)

• Document Handwritten Letter by Fleming to Bishop Gendron of Manchester Describing His Therapy at the House of Affirmation (May 16, 1984)

• Document Letter by Episcopal Vicar Quinn to County Attorney Gagnon about Quinn's Visit to the House of Affirmation (July 2, 1984)

• Document Letter by Fleming's Therapist Gennari to County Attorney Gagnon about the End of Fleming's Therapy at the House of Affirmation (September 14, 1984)

• Document Agreement Not to Seek Indictments in Return for Commitment to Continue Therapy at the House of Affirmation (September 18, 1984)

• Document Letter to Bishop Gendron of Manchester from Auxiliary Bishop of St. Louis about Decision to End Fleming's Assignment (May 15, 1986)

See also the entire investigative file of the New Hampshire Attorney General on Rev. Mark Fleming, in two parts: 1 [3.2 megabyte file] and 2 [2.4 megabyte file].

Fontenot

• Anatomy of a Cover-Up: The Diocese of Lafayette and Its Moral Responsibility for the Pedophilia Scandal, by Jason Berry, Times of Acadiana (1/30/86)

Freitas

• Priests: Diocese Knew of Parishioner Abuse, by Matt O'Brien, Tri-Valley Herald (3/30/05)

• Trial's Outcome Could Affect Results in 150 Other Cases, by Don Lattin, San Francisco Chronicle (3/30/05)

Friese

• Priest Gets Probation for Child Sex Abuse, by Linnet Myers, Chicago Tribune (1/16/86)

Gagnon

• Priest Loses Court Battle, by Jeff Haynes, Woonsocket Call (6/12/03)

• Plaintiff in Priest Sex Abuse Suit Sanctioned, by Kathleen A. Shaw, Worcester Telegram & Gazette (4/29/04)

• Release of Priest's Records Ordered, by Kathleen A. Shaw, Telegram & Gazette (6/13/03)

Gauthe

• Manchester NH Resources – August 2002 (8/02)

• Anatomy of a Cover-Up: The Diocese of Lafayette and Its Moral Responsibility for the Pedophilia Scandal, by Jason Berry, Times of Acadiana (1/30/86)

• Fr. Kelley Sentenced to Jail Again, by William T. Clew, Catholic Free Press (10/3/03)

• Victim's Dad Speaks out: 'I Am No Longer a Catholic', by Matt O'Brien, Lowell Sun (10/2/03)

• Priest's Past Haunts Pacifica Parish: Father Lenczycki, Who Served at St. Peter, Was Accused of Child Molestation in Illinois in 80s, by Chris Hunter, Pacifica Tribune (8/28/02)

• MacRae's Psychological Evaluations (3/3/03)

• Forever Altered, by Stephen Nohlgren, St. Petersburg Times (3/22/03)

• 2 More Say Messier Assaulted Them - Suit Filed against Priest, Worcester Diocese, by Kathleen A. Shaw, Worcester Telegram & Gazette (9/4/02)

O'Donoghue

• Misconduct by Priests Is Alleged: Diocese Lacked Rules for Sex, by Dianne Williamson, Worcester Telegram & Gazette (5/19/96)

Paquette

• 'May Our Lord Forgive Me': How One Problem Priest in Vermont Kept Getting Another Chance, by Kevin O'Connor, Rutland Herald, Vermont (4/23/06)

• Letters Detail Charges of Abuse by Priest, by Bill Zajac, The Republican, Springfield MA (7/3/06)

Provost

• Jury Clears Harrington and Diocese, by Gary V. Murray, Worcester Telegram & Gazette (1/30/96)

Rapp

• Oklahoma City – Rapp (5/21/02)

• Records Show Priest's History of Molestation Judge Allows Public Release of Information, by Bobby Ross Jr., Daily Oklahoman (6/4/02)

• Abuse in the Church; Sexual-Abuse Lawsuits Target Former Inland Priest: Men Feel Lost in the Shuffle; They Blame Dioceses for Transferring Problem Cleric, by Michael Fisher, Press Enterprise, Riverside (1/22/04)

• Document Letter from Banks, Boston's Vicar for Administration, to Huber at the Webster Groves House of Affirmation, Replying to a Request for Information (June 3, 1986)

• Files Reveal Accusations against Crusader Priest, by Robin Washington, Boston Herald (1/7/03)

• Accused Priest Faced an Earlier Complaint, by Jay Weaver, Miami Herald (6/11/04)

• Blinded by Faith? Long-Secret Documents Reveal That Fort Worth Bishop Was Aware of Priest's Troubled Past, by Darren Barbee, Star-Telegram, Fort Worth TX (11/28/06)

• Blinded by Faith? Part 1: Long-Secret Documents Reveal That Fort Worth Bishop Was Aware of Priest's Troubled Past, by Darren Barbee, Star-Telegram (6/5/05)

• Bishop Hired 2 Priests after Suspensions: He Defends Their Work since Joining FW Diocese, by Brooks Egerton, Dallas Morning News (8/12/98)

• Shreddin'! Other Catholic Diocese Have Destroyed Incriminating Priest Personnel Files. Why Not Orange? by Gustavo Arellano, Coughlin Case (4/24/05)

• The Problem of Sexual Molestation by Roman Catholic Clergy: Meeting the Problem in a Comprehensive and Responsible Manner (6/9/85)

• Dallas Litigation, by Thomas P. Doyle (5/16/96)

• The Sexual Abuse of Children in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston [PDF p. 34]

• Guidelines, by Michael R. Peterson, St. Luke Institute (12/9/85)

• Diocesan Policy and Practice: The Church’s Response to Clergy Sexual Abuse, in Suffolk Grand Jury (2/10/03)

• Accused Priests Who Worked in Rockville Centre Parishes and Schools: Riordan (4/16/07)

• Salt for Their Wounds, by Leslie Payne (2/97)

• Preliminary Expert Report: A. W. Richard Sipe (96)

• Suit Claims Priests Ran Sex Ring - Children Were Shared by Clergy at Center, by Kathleen A. Shaw, Worcester Telegram & Gazette (7/24/02)

Please send suggestions for adding documents to staff@bishop-accountability.org.