Small World Afterall!
Last Thursday (March 5th) I was contacted by Bill Casey from Voice of the Faithful (VOTF). He informed me that he had been contacted by a victim of clergy abuse who is now located in Florida, but was abused in Boston. He asked if I would be willing to speak with him etc. Naturally, I agreed.
I sent this person an email with a link to my webpage (and blog.) I was IMMEDIATELY contacted by email so I asked for his phone numbr and promised to call when I got home from work. I called and we spoke for almost an hour. It seems that I gave him his First Communion and trained him to be an Altar Server when I was stationed at St. Philip Neri Parish in Waban, MA (1973-76.)
He told me that he had approached the Archdiocese of Boston and related all that he could remember from that time period. He said he had been abused by a "Fr. O'Brien" who taught him in CCD (Sunday School) classes in the church basement. This was after I had been transferred from the parish -- and we have yet to find any record of a Fr. O'Brien. All I can think is that he was a friend of another teacher or the CCD Coordinator and was "helping out." In relating his story to the Archdiocese the victim mentioned my name as well -- all with glowing comments of course! The Archdiocese, and in particular Fr. John Connolly, told him that everyone he mentioned was DEAD! Now, John Connolly was in the room with Cardinal Law and myself when I sat with them in May 2002 and told them my story. He knew that I was NOT DEAD! Not by a long shot!
I have been able to recollect the names of perhaps six or seven families who are still in Waban, and have written to see if they can recall anyone by the name of O'Brien. I learned that after I left the CCD Coordinator had SEMINARIANS helping with Sunday School classes, and they dressed in clerical shirts etc. To a young child they would "look like" Father -- so perhaps it was a Seminarian named O'Brien.
If anyone reading this blog is familiar with the story, or with a "Father O'Brien" PLEASE contact me so that I can help this young man find peace of mind. He is suffering DEEP depression, is homeless and has no medical insurance so he cannot receive any assitance. The Archdiocese has ignored him. I PROMISE to keep any informaqtion you give me as CONFIDENTIAL as possible!
I sent this person an email with a link to my webpage (and blog.) I was IMMEDIATELY contacted by email so I asked for his phone numbr and promised to call when I got home from work. I called and we spoke for almost an hour. It seems that I gave him his First Communion and trained him to be an Altar Server when I was stationed at St. Philip Neri Parish in Waban, MA (1973-76.)
He told me that he had approached the Archdiocese of Boston and related all that he could remember from that time period. He said he had been abused by a "Fr. O'Brien" who taught him in CCD (Sunday School) classes in the church basement. This was after I had been transferred from the parish -- and we have yet to find any record of a Fr. O'Brien. All I can think is that he was a friend of another teacher or the CCD Coordinator and was "helping out." In relating his story to the Archdiocese the victim mentioned my name as well -- all with glowing comments of course! The Archdiocese, and in particular Fr. John Connolly, told him that everyone he mentioned was DEAD! Now, John Connolly was in the room with Cardinal Law and myself when I sat with them in May 2002 and told them my story. He knew that I was NOT DEAD! Not by a long shot!
I have been able to recollect the names of perhaps six or seven families who are still in Waban, and have written to see if they can recall anyone by the name of O'Brien. I learned that after I left the CCD Coordinator had SEMINARIANS helping with Sunday School classes, and they dressed in clerical shirts etc. To a young child they would "look like" Father -- so perhaps it was a Seminarian named O'Brien.
If anyone reading this blog is familiar with the story, or with a "Father O'Brien" PLEASE contact me so that I can help this young man find peace of mind. He is suffering DEEP depression, is homeless and has no medical insurance so he cannot receive any assitance. The Archdiocese has ignored him. I PROMISE to keep any informaqtion you give me as CONFIDENTIAL as possible!
Posted by bostonpadre at 7 Mar 2009, 12:03 PM 
Categories: Clergy Sexual Abuse
Tags: Waban St. Philip Neri clergy sexual abuse
Categories: Clergy Sexual Abuse
Tags: Waban St. Philip Neri clergy sexual abuse
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