Dioceses differ on support

Saturday, May 15, 2004
By BILL ZAJAC
wzajac@repub.com


SPRINGFIELD - If sex offender Richard R. Lavigne were a defrocked priest in the Diocese of Belleville, Ill., he would not be considered a candidate for financial help.

The Diocese of Metuchen, N.J., the Archdiocese of Boston and some other dioceses would likely cut financial ties to him as well.

But he might get help in the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C., and elsewhere.

In the Springfield Diocese, where Lavigne spent 25 years in ministry, it is uncertain whether he will receive the financial aid he is seeking.

Recently installed bishop the Most Rev. Timothy A. McDonnell is weighing whether to sever the Springfield Diocese's last tie to the Chicopee man who has been accused by more than 40 people of sexually abusing them as minors when he was a priest.

Past and current financial help to Lavigne has created a firestorm of criticism from alleged clergy sexual abuse victims, their families and many lay people. The issue has pitted a East Longmeadow priest, the Rev. James J.
Scahill, against past and current diocesan leaders.

McDonnell, who has stated that Lavigne has done much harm to the diocese, cited canon law as binding him to offer charity to Lavigne.

McDonnell and his predecessor the Most Rev. Thomas L. Dupre, who resigned amid allegations of sexual abuse of minors, point to canon law 1350, which states "the ordinary (bishop) is to take care to provide for a person dismissed from the clerical state who is truly in need because of the penalty."

The Rev. James E. Margason, vicar general of Belleville, doesn't agree with McDonnell or Dupre.

"Canonically, there is no longer any fiduciary obligation if a priest is laicized," said Margason, adding that he wants to see what unfolds in Springfield.

The Diocese of Belleville, Ill., the home diocese of United States Conference of Catholic Bishops president Wilton Gregory, has severed financial ties to two non-defrocked abusive priests who have jobs and support themselves.

None of Belleville's 14 clerics who have credible sexual abuse accusations against them have been defrocked.

Several parents of clergy sexual abuse victims are so upset that McDonnell is considering charity to Lavigne that they said they would decline the diocese's invitation to serve on the board of directors of a victims' fund if the diocese helps Lavigne in any way.

Sandra L. Tessier of Springfield, who is among seven or so parents invited to oversee the victims' fund, said she is outraged that McDonnell is considering helping Lavigne.

"It's not the right thing to do, but I'm going to stay with the victims'
fund because it is going to help those who have not received the type of help Lavigne himself has received from this diocese," said Tessier, adding that she has been told by diocesan officials that McDonnell plans a significant contribution to the victims' fund.

In Metuchen, all financial help to priests stops once sexual abuse is admitted by the cleric or an accusation is determined to be credible in a civil court or by the diocese's review board.

In Metuchen, 18 priests and one deacon have been taken out of ministry because of credible accusations of sexual abuse.

The Springfield Diocese has paid a monthly stipend and health benefits to Lavigne and all other priests removed from ministry. Lavigne is receiving a $1,030 monthly stipend and $8,800 in annual health benefits. He has received benefits since he was arrested in 1991 on molestation charges.

When Lavigne's defrocking was announced in January, Dupre said Lavigne's stipend and health benefits would cease May 31. Dupre said Lavigne would have to ask for charity and suggested that any charity would come from a newly created fund, which was comprised of about $100,000 from several donors who wanted to help abusive priests.

The fund, which was also highly criticized by alleged clergy sex abuse victims and their supporters, was dissolved by McDonnell this week. The money will be used instead to help pay the Catholic school tuition of needy children.

A diocesan spokesman said the dissolution of the fund doesn't remove the possibility of Lavigne being helped financially by the diocese.

A decision by McDonnell on Lavigne could be announced within days.

The Archdiocese of Boston cut financial ties last week to Paul R. Shanley as it simultaneously announced his defrocking.

The Archdiocese of Washington, D.C., supports several priests who have been sexual abusers and have been defrocked. The priests live in a church-operated retirement home.

"There is value in keeping a relationship with the person. It protects the community, knowing he is in a more controlled environment," said Susan Gibbs, spokeswoman for the Washington Archdiocese.