Posted on 06/21/2002 7:15:35 AM PDT by Liz
Queens parochial school principal who angered Catholic Church leaders by accusing a priest of looting school coffers to pay for a gay lover has won the backing of a prominent local Catholic educator.
"Your courage in stopping this outrage, even at the risk to your own employment, has taught all of your pupils a lesson they will long remember," the Rev. Richard Van Houten, president of Archbishop Molloy High School in Jamaica, wrote to Barbara Samide.
Van Houten went so far as to hint in the letter that he would come to Samide's rescue if she is ousted as principal of St. Elizabeth School in Ozone Park.
"If we have an opening in your field, we would be honored to have a person of your integrity on our faculty," he wrote.
"Your actions — and the tragic inaction of the clergy — underscore the need to end the culture of secrecy and the lack of accountability in the church," he added.
Samide, 39, blew the lid off a simmering tale of alleged sin and theft of school funds in a lawsuit filed in Queens Supreme Court on Wednesday against Brooklyn Bishop Thomas Daily and the Diocese of Brooklyn, which also runs Catholic parishes in Queens.
The suit charges that the vicar for southern Queens, Msgr. James Spengler, repeatedly ignored Samide's complaints that the Rev. John Thompson stole thousands from St. Elizabeth School coffers and spent much of it on a 19-year-old male go-go dancer he met at a Greenwich Village nightclub.
In addition, the suit charges that Thompson used his church-issued American Express card to pay for trips to a Florida nudist resort and a weekly visit to a Village massage parlor.
Samide states in the suit that Thompson, 50, spoke openly about being a "sugar daddy" to a teenage "houseboy," and moved his lover into the St. Elizabeth rectory in January 2001.
Samide, who joined the school in September 2000, also charges that Thompson stole $14,000 in profits from a school candy drive.
Frank DeRosa, a spokesman for the Brooklyn Diocese, insisted yesterday that Samide's job is not in jeopardy, adding, "She is the principal of the school."
The Queens district attorney's office has empaneled a grand jury to investigate the charges of missing funds. Samide is expected to be the star witness before that panel.
DeRosa said the church will "fully comply" with prosecutors' request for the school's financial records.
Thompson resigned from the parish March 23 and is living with his family.
Same could be said about the "democrat" party. I'd like to say, this problem exists because the liberals have infiltrated EVERY American institution, including churches, Boy Scouts, Congress, etc., and they are freaks and perverts. Why wouldn't a homosexual seek out the Catholic church, in the same way they seek out schools, gym classes, the Boy Scouts, etc.? If they were just your normal freaks and perverts, you'd be hearing of all the raped women and nuns, but you don't hear about that too much...
LOL - I think he used to be the postman on Mr Roger's Neighborhood, but I'm not sure...
You can order a free copy by filling out the form on their website, the fist issue is free, maybe you can ask for the April 25th issue if they have it or call them on the phone.
This is more disgusting than the principal/Priest at the HS in Brooklyn who was shacking up with the 18 year old boyfriend.
How has my Dad's old Diocese in Newark doing? Down here in Miami, the house cleaning has only started.
The Dominican Sisters who staffed the school
at that time had a one word motto: Veritas. -- Truth.
The abuse of children,
sexual improprieties, financial mismanagement, and unvarnished theft will
only stop when every Catholic refuses to permit it or to overlook it, and
insists on truthful and accountable leadership. Sadly, we have a long way
to go before this ideal is realized.
With best regards,
Br. Richard Van Houten
President
Outstanding American High School - U.S. News & World Report
Exemplary School - Federal Department of Education
Accredited by the Middle States Association
Chartered by the Regents of the State University of New York
ARCHBISHOP MOLLOY HIGH SCHOOL 83-53 Manton Street Briarwood NY 11435-1697 (718) 441-2100
President@molloyhs.orgDear Ms. XXXXXX,
First, I want to clarify that I am not a priest, but a religious Brother - a detail that the newspaper got wrong. The article also didn't mention that I am a graduate of St. Elizabeth school, and very grateful for the fine education I received there forty years ago. The Dominican Sisters who staffed the school at that time had a one word motto: Veritas. -- Truth. The abuse of children, sexual improprieties, financial mismanagement, and unvarnished theft will only stop when every Catholic refuses to permit it or to overlook it, and insists on truthful and accountable leadership. Sadly, we have a long way to go before this ideal is realized.
Nonetheless, I am convinced that when enough Catholics - lay, religious, or clergy - refuse to accept "No Comment" as an answer, and refuse to cooperate with evil by ignoring it, that our Church can begin to be redeemed.
Thanks again for writing,
Br. Richard Van Houten
PresidentOutstanding American High School - U.S. News & World Report Exemplary School - Federal Department of Education Accredited by the Middle States Association Chartered by the Regents of the State University of New York
Dear Mrs. Lee,
Thanks for your e-mail. The newspaper article didn't mention that I am a graduate of St. Elizabeth school, and very grateful for the fine education I received there forty years ago. The Dominican Sisters who staffed the school at that time had a one word motto: Veritas. -- Truth. The abuse of children, sexual improprieties, financial mismanagement, and unvarnished theft will only stop when every Catholic refuses to permit it or to overlook it, and insists on truthful and accountable leadership. Sadly, we have a long way to go before this ideal is realized.
With best regards, Br. Richard Van Houten President
I would agree with you except the other article re Father Thompson cites this: Father Thompson was forced to resign as pastor of St. Elizabeth's on March 24. He took up temporary residence at St. Gertrude's parish in Far Rockaway, though he left there yesterday. He remains in good standing with the diocese, and is allowed to continue saying Mass.
Rodimer is my bishop. I want him OUT!
http://www.freerepublic.com/perl/profiles?location=82 You will have to choose NJ as your locale on your profile page.
I forgot to post the article regarding Rodimer vacationing with a pedophile priest (boys included) for the last 15 years. The boys were being molested with the bishop in the next bedroom, who would think. These two became friends before Rodimer was a bishop and while a priest.
Now see, good help isn't hard to find after all.
I wonder whether the Pope is still capable of leading the church. I guess there is no retirement system for popes, but there should be.
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