September 2003

Archbishop Summons Indicted Priests to Return to Phoenix

(Sept 17) In May of this year, a Maricopa County Grand Jury issued indictments against Fathers Patrick Colleary and Joe Briceno for sexual misconduct with a minor. Ongoing efforts by the Maricopa County Attorney to return the priests to Phoenix to stand trial have gone slowly because of protocol issues. In an attempt to expedite the County Attorney’s request, Archbishop Michael Sheehan has sent letters to both men through their attorneys urging them to the return to the Valley to clear their names or accept the judgment determined by the legal process.

The Diocese of Phoenix is working closely with the County Attorney’s office to implement the agreement the two organizations entered into on May 3, 2003. Key components of the agreement include the Diocese working with the County Attorney’s office to revise the current sexual misconduct policy, create a new sexual misconduct training program and co-host a diocesan wide symposium on sexual misconduct.

If you have any questions, please contact: Mary Jo West - Public Information Officer for the Diocese of Phoenix at 602-354-2121.

Diocese Releases Latest Financial Details Regarding Clergy Misconduct

From: Archbishop Michael J. Sheehan:

(Aug 10) "At the Diocese of Phoenix, we are continuing our efforts to implement the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. In releasing this information about the financial implications of clergy misconduct, we are being
open with the community in cooperating with the media which have an important role in informing our community. While one is too many, we have had only one case of alleged sexual misconduct involving a minor in the last decade.

As apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Phoenix, with the limited amount of time that I have, I must try to use it more for apologizing to victims and meeting the basic, urgent needs of the church here, right now. My role is a
pastoral one.

Our hearts and prayers go out to the victims of sexual misconduct by clergy and I want to assure victims that counseling is available. Moreover, we pledge our ongoing efforts to create safe environments so that on one else is
victimized."

The following amounts have been expended to defend and settle instances of sexual abuse against minors:

A. There have been fourteen claims settled for a total of 1.8 million dollars.

B. Lawyers fees to defend or arrange settlement of these cases totals $438,000

C. Counseling fees to aid victims has been $77,700

D. Amount paid to County Attorney to defray expenses of investigation $100,000

E. Amount paid to County Attorney Victim's Assistance Fund $300,000

These figures have been rounded and the total amount is $2,715,7007.

Putting that in context, it averages $80,000 a year that the Diocese has been in existence.

The following is a list of priests who have had allegations of sexual misconduct with minors:

George Bredemann
Joseph Briceno
Patrick Colleary
John Doran(deceased)
Laurence Florez(deceased)
John Giandelone
Harold Graf
Mark Lehman
Joseph Lessard
Lan Sherwood
John Sullivan(deceased)
James Rausch(deceased)

Religious Order Priests serving in the Diocese when alleged abuse took place:

Henry Perez, SM (deceased), Joseph Henn, SDS, Paul LeBrun, CSC, Karl LeClaire, SDS, Larry Lovell, CMF

Priest from another Diocese working in the Phoenix Diocese when the alleged abuse took place:

Sung Lam (Diocese ofPhnom-Penn, Cambodia)

To put things in perspective, there have been 1,097 priests assigned to ministry here in the almost 35 years the Diocese has been in existence. That translates into 1.6% of the priests who ministered here have had allegations or
sexual abuse of a minor.

Again, while one is too many, there has been only ONE CASE of alleged abuse to a minor IN THE LAST DECADE. We are working hard with adhering to the Dallas Charter and working with the County Attome/s Office in the hopes that no one is ever hurt again by sexual misconduct in the Diocese of Phoenix.

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September 2003