No Trust, False Hope

By Kathy Kane

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia will ask the 17% of church-going laity to become missionary disciples. They hope these disciples will help bring back the 83% of non-attending members. I think it would be helpful for the Archdiocese’s newly employed marketing team to understand the reality they are facing. They named the initiative Trust and Hope. Trust, when lost, is hard to get back. It has to be earned. It’s not just a word for a slogan.

When my family of four moved from Delaware County to Chester County in 2000, my husband had recently converted to the faith. I was an RCIA sponsor at our former parish. I was selected to assist and mentor those in the RCIA program who were interested in joining our faith community. We were weekly churchgoers with a toddler and baby in tow. My husband was interested in becoming a Eucharistic minister. His new found faith even gave my own faith a refreshed outlook as a life long Catholic with 16 years of Catholic education. When we were house hunting, one of the first things that we did was check which parish the various homes were located in. We were not holy rollers or even devout, but we were young, present, and involved. We saw our future and our children’s future as part of the Church.

Our new parish had just opened a parish school, and parents camped out to secure a place for their child. The limit was 500 students and was quickly filled. There were waiting lists. Another parish school opened nearby and also was full to capacity. Twenty-five years later, my parish school is only 40% occupied. According to the Archdiocese statistics, the weekly parish mass attendance is 7%. We were a newer, booming parish only 25 years ago. What happened?

How the Archdiocese Deceives, Let Me Count the Ways

In 2000, when my son began Catholic school, more than 60 unknown predator priests were present in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Unknown to the parents, that is, very well known to the powers that be at Archdiocesan headquarters. Many of the predator names were compiled on a list. In 1994, under Cardinal Bevilacqua’s leadership, the list was shredded to protect the reputation of the Church. In 2002, my daughter joined her brother at the parish school.

When my daughter was 6 years old, I dressed her in her Irish dance costume to perform at our pastor’s retirement party. A few years later, we found out that he was a sexual abuser. The modular trailers where my children attended pre-school were just a few hundred yards from his rectory. My daughter danced for a predator.

When my daughter joined the parish Brownie troop, I volunteered to help out. I chaperoned a trip to Camilla Hall to take the girls to visit the elderly IHM nuns. The chaplain at the time was one of the most notorious abusers in the Archdiocese. Known to the Archdiocese, of course, not to the seven-year-old Brownies or volunteer moms who came to visit that day.

When the second grand jury of clergy sex abuse in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia was released in 2011, we were assured that law enforcement was wrong and there were no predator priests still in ministry. A quick reversal on that assurance when 26 priests were suspended just weeks later. One of the priests was assigned to a parish where I had chaperoned a dance the week prior. As a parent, I had to have all my background clearances to chaperone. Meanwhile, the priest at the parish was a known problem. Known to the Archdiocese, of course, not to the 13-year-old kids or the parents.

It was easy to keep my head in the sand in 2005 when the first Grand Jury Report was released. My kids were young, and I could just selfishly ignore a wound on the harmed souls of the Church. If it was all taken care of, my kids were spared.

When the 2011 Grand Jury report was released, my children were old enough to understand. I was no longer naive to the lies of the hierarchy. I joined Susan Matthews with her efforts to protect children. Catholics4Change became more needed than either of us ever imagined. I had to shake off any deference or submission to the Church. If we ask our kids to speak up if harmed, then how, as an adult, could I not speak up for their safety? I had to model the behavior I was teaching.

A craft drawer full of poster boards and markers my kids used for their Catholic school projects now served my efforts — making signs that read “protect children” that I carried at vigils outside of Archdiocesan headquarters.

It’s not always easy to speak up in the Church. The time I spoke up to protect the students at Bishop Shanahan was particularly difficult. The St John Vianney Treatment Center, located directly across the street from 1,000 Bishop Shanahan students, treats some of the most notorious clergy abusers from all over the U.S. After encountering a patient from St John Vianney Treatment Center on the school campus, I reached out to the principal. Sr. Maureen McDermott mocked my concern and refused to call the police. The school and the Vianney Center coordinated what I call a misinformation campaign to alleviate any parental concerns. The Archdiocese was well aware that Sr. Maureen refused to alert the police. A few years later she was promoted to Superintendent of Secondary Schools in the Archdiocese. Fr. James Flavin, then director of the Vianney Center, went AWOL from ministry a few years ago. He is 63 years old and is marrying his 30-year-old boyfriend in a few weeks. .

When my daughter was a senior at Bishop Shanahan in 2017, she received a friend request from a Legion of Christ priest stationed in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. This violated the Standards of Ministerial Behavior and Boundaries, which the kids aren’t even taught. My daughter only knew about the Standards because of my efforts in child protection in the Archdiocese. The priest had Shanahan students and many other minors as Facebook friends. Despite knowing this, the Archdiocese never informed parents of the violation he committed against their children. They simply allowed him to delete them from his page. Leadership continued to allow him to be around kids even after his violation was found credible. Then, he violated another rule regarding technology use. It couldn’t be proven because he deleted his account before it could be investigated. Even after that incident, he was still given access to kids in the Archdiocese.

When my children were seniors in high school they attended the overnight weekend Kairos at the Malvern Retreat House . This retreat has always been special to my family. We have a bench dedicated to my father on the grounds. Years after the 2011 safety clean up, my daughter’s Kairos retreat took place a few months before Fr. John Meyers was permitted to stay on as rector of the retreat while the Archdiocese secretly investigated child sex abuse allegations. During this time, he allegedly committed a boundary violation against a minor. This is their idea of child protection.

Problem Priests and Cover Ups Persist

Many priests are allowed to stay in ministry while under investigation for child sex abuse. It is a practice unique to the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Other dioceses actually suspend the priest and protect the children during the investigation. Fr. Christopher Lucas was allowed to stay on at Hallahan High School in 2019 as chaplain while under secret investigation. Were the parents and students told that their chaplain was being investigated for sex abuse allegations? Of course not.

Many priests are allowed to stay in ministry while under investigation for child sex abuse. It is a practice unique to the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

Fr. William Dean was allowed to stay on at Camilla Hall in 2019 while being investigated for child sex abuse allegations and minors are employed at the facility. There are online photos of him with the kids at the Christmas party. These incidents are all current within the last few years, post grand jury reports.

How many others are being secretly investigated? Child protection is performative in the Philadelphia Archdiocese. A big show is made of requiring volunteering parents to have background checks. Meanwhile, suspected priests continue to have access to kids.

After every scandal breaks in the Archdiocese we are told that everything is now better. Problematic priests are gone. Psychologically healthy and devout priests remain. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Chester County: Case Studies In Earning Distrust

Receiving an assignment at a Chester County parish is often looked at as a type of trophy for clergy. Many think that we are receiving the best of the bunch. Let’s take a look at some Chester County arrests and incidents with clergy in the past few years.

1. Msgr. McLoone of St Joseph’s ,Downingtown. He pleaded guilty to two charges of mismanaging money in October 2021. The sexual details surrounding his case are too graphic to print. The parish was kept in the dark for many long weeks after his initial removal. Finally, someone printed out all the financial and sexual allegations and placed the printouts (without permission) into the church bulletin. The local D.A. only learned about possible criminal thefts from local news reports. The interim pastor later wrote a letter in the parish bulletin. He depicted Msgr McLoone’s situation as similar to the parable of the Good Samaritan. Oddly though, McLoone was portrayed as the victim and not the robber. Parable 101 needs an overhaul in the seminary.

2. Msgr. Gregory Parlante, St Cornelius, located on the Delaware and Chester County border. A mysterious delivery that turned out to be illegal drugs was reported by parish staff. He was arrested for two misdemeanor charges. These include knowing or intentional possession of a controlled substance and use or possession with intent to use drug paraphernalia. Felony Charge of unlawful taking or disposition. In January 2018, Parlante entered into the ARD program for first-time offenders. He was assigned 64 hours of community service, one-year probation, and financial restitution to the parish. Catholic Philly, the official news source of the Archdiocese, allowed comments on their article. The comments called for the staff who reported Parlante to be fired. Those comments advocating for the cover-up of a crime were approved by the Catholic Philly staff.

3. Fr. Mark Haynes, St Simon and Jude, West Chester. He was sentenced in February 2016 for child sexual abuse and exploitation. Posing as a 10-year-old girl, he used the internet to entice a minor to engage in sexual conduct. He transferred obscene material to a minor, distributed child pornography, and destroyed or concealed evidence. He was sentenced to 240 months in federal prison. Many who commented on social media were thrilled the Church actually cooperated when the FBI showed up at the rectory. ( I don’t think there is a choice when the FBI shows up). Personal note: Haynes banned my nephew from Confirmation a few days before the sacrament. He deemed my nephew’s answer to a question unsatisfactory.

4. Fr. Lawrence Kozak, pastor of St Thomas More, South Coventry. He was arrested on April 25th, 2024, and faces felony theft charges. He allegedly used $40,000 in parish money to fund his online gaming habit and personal expenses. The court case has been postponed a few times. We know of no resolution at this time.

5. Fr. Joseph Dieckhaus, pastor of SS. Philip and James, Exton. He allegedly ran over geese with his car on school property in front of parents and children. This story even made it to the evening news with a reporter outside of the Church. Dieckhaus entered a guilty plea to charges of taking possession of game or wildlife in July 2022.

6. Fr. Michael Fitzpatrick, pastor of St Peter’s, West Brandywine. He was removed from the parish in July 2024 for violating the Standards of Ministerial Behavior and Boundaries.

Aside from these cases in Chester County, there are many clergy living alone in rectories with alcohol, porn, or gambling addictions. There are many DUIs among the clergy and many unhealthy lifestyles. The seminary claims to have improved screening of candidates for the priesthood. One of those carefully screened seminarians ordained a few years ago makes his living as an author of horror erotica. Can’t make this stuff up.

Damage Beyond Repair

It is a shame that Archbishop Perez resides in a 14-room renovated mansion (Who paid for the renovation?) rather than one of the many empty bedrooms at a local rectory. Maybe he could live at one of the “hubs” that will spring up around the Archdiocese? According to the Trust and Hope plan, each county will have 10. The hubs will serve the missionary disciples as they work to bring back the 83% of laity who neither trust nor hope. What better location for the Archbishop to live than at one of these hubs?

My children were not only exposed to predator priests. They have also heard my daytime and late-night phone calls with local survivors and fellow laity needing help. They heard from those ignored by the Archdiocese.

I went from being a parish RCIA sponsor to protesting outside the Archdiocese and the Bishops Conference. I regret the money we have donated. I have seen and heard about more corruption in the Church than in any corporation. My Irish immigrant grandmother sold sandwiches from a local tap room back in the early 1900s to help fund a new parish. Look at the state of the Archdiocese her great-grandchildren have been left with…. but, hey, just trust and hope.

The media campaign to bring back the 83% of non-attendees will focus on the good the Church does locally. As a social worker who worked with the homeless in Philly for 10 years, I know the good work that is provided. But an act of service does not cancel out an act of endangerment. It is twisted and dangerous thinking. We are about to be inundated with positive messages in an attempt to bring people back to the faith. Everyone knows the Church has done good work; everyone knows the Church has committed horrible crimes.

Archdiocesan Future Is Hopeless

There has been no change in the culture of the Archdiocese. Clericalism reigns. Priests are kept in ministry when they commit acts that would have a child expelled from school or a Catholic school teacher fired. We have secret investigations into child sex abuse, unlike other dioceses that make everything public to protect their children.

We have an Archbishop who seems to like the finer things. He chose a large private residence in a time of downsizing. Many priests live unhealthy or unethical lifestyles. These actions are not criminal. Still, it will only be a matter of time until they do more damage to the laity. Young priests hang out with older child-abusing priests who have been removed. They socialize with child predators. Some priests knew of the decades-long child abuse cover-up. Others were actually part of it. Now, they are Monsignors who run parishes. They are in charge of the safety of hundreds of children.

I have met some good priests over the years. I have befriended priests and had good interactions. They know I am just a Catholic mother who spoke up to protect her children. I then got swept along into uncovering the rampant deception in the archdiocese. Now, I know the truth. The truth is not what they will market over the next few years.

If someone had told me 25 years ago that the Archdiocese would need missionary disciples to bring back people to the faith, my husband and I would have signed up. That was before my Church endangered my children. That was before I saw the lies, the spin, and the manipulation that are closer to politics than they are to the Gospel.

When studying to be a social worker the term “growth through pain” was a constant. Many have suffered individually in our Archdiocese, most especially the survivors who saved our children from harm. The pain has not been collective, and the hierarchy always seems to escape it the easiest. Jesus did not need marketing professionals to bring people to him. His suffering was his sacrifice.