Posted on 09/27/2002 1:53:02 PM PDT by NYer
MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) _ A Vergennes priest who had a long-running sexual relationship with a young man has resigned his post and asked to be allowed to retire from the ministry. In a letter to his parishioners at St. Peter's Church, the Rev. Donal Ward said that he was one of the priests referred to earlier this week by Attorney General William Sorrell, who cleared two priests of any illegal conduct.
Ward, who was suspended from his ministerial duties in May, said in his letter that he never engaged in pedophilia, but he did say he had been involved in a consensual sexual relationship with a young man. ``How these situations arise is not always easy to explain,'' Ward wrote in the letter released to his parishioners on Wednesday. ``I state openly, however, that it was in clear violation of my solemn promise of celibacy.''
In the letter Ward, 71, said he had asked Bishop Kenneth Angell, the bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington, to allow him to retire. The Addison Independent newspaper, which first reported Ward's letter, said he had planned to retire next year anyway. ``I ask forgiveness for all the wrong that I have done, of God, of my bishop, of the whole church that I have been ordained to serve, but especially of my dear, dear parishioners who have been so loyal and supportive,'' he wrote.
In a statement released on Friday, Angell said Ward's case would be discussed by the diocese's Misconduct Review Board. ``I'm so sorry that this has happened,'' Angell said. ``My heart goes out to all involved. I'm sorry for the young man, I'm sorry for the parishioners, and I'm sorry for Father Ward.'' Ward's suspension in May from active ministry came after the state began investigating allegations that six active priests and about 14 others had been involved sexually with children.
On Monday, Sorrell said the state's investigation into sexual misconduct by the clergy had cleared two priests of any criminal activity. But, without naming anyone, Sorrell said one of the priests had "groomed" a young man by paying close attention to him and then begun a sexual relationship when the youth was 17, above the age of consent.
In the other case that won't be prosecuted, Sorrell said the statute of limitations had expired and the state couldn't prove beyond a reasonable doubt that a crime had been committed. Ward said the state investigation focused on him because of a letter written by the parents of some boys who had been uncomfortable with nudity in a swimming pool locker room. That incident, which took place when Ward worked in Barre, was investigated by the state and the diocese and nothing came of it.
After his suspension in May almost 400 of the 500 parishioners of St. Peter's signed a petition in support of Ward. In his letter, Ward denied that he had groomed the youth for sex. The youth with whom Ward became involved had been sexually active with others from some time before he became involved with the priest. ``This is in no way to explain away my responsibility or condone the violation of my solemn promise of celibacy,'' Ward wrote. ``I remain very much at fault, and my parishioners have every right to feel betrayed and to express anger at my behavior.'' In his letter Ward did not say how long the relationship lasted. Sorrell on Monday said it went on for a number of years and that Ward paid for the young man's college education.
AP-ES-09-27-02 1547EDT
I wonder how they feel about the situation now.
I will NEVER allow my son to be alone with a priest.
Sorrell on Monday said it went on for a number of years and that Ward paid for the young man's college education.... at Bringam Young University ...
We...eeeeell???, OK. We'll see what we can do. I think that we might just be able to allow it!
It's funny what they leave out of these stories. Heard any more shrill catcalls from the PC sidelines that this doesn't involve the "H" word? Is the suggestion that sodomy, engaged in with a male homo sapiens under 18, is no longer "homosexual"? Just like to understand the reasoning and logic here...
Make it two...and BTW I do not believe him how about you?
Honest, but how much later?
What perks?
According to the story he did not commit a crime. If he were an employee of a corporation, he would be fired for breaking company policy. Is that sufficient cause for denial of pension?
Of course the archdioces is not a corporation and probably doesn't have to obey normal pension laws.
I need a drink.
If I were the young man's father, I'd need a gun. Of course, it's highly probable that the young man didn't have a father.
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