Abbey’s Statement: More Spin

Abbot Giles Hayes is at St. Vincent’s Archabbey in Latrobe, Pennsylvania this week, leading a monastic retreat on Pauline Mysticism. As a distracted and disorganized Abbot Giles reflects on Colossians and Ephesians in poorly attended retreat sessions on Tuesday, the public relations team back at Saint Mary’s Abbey was busy spinning the latest chapter in the abbey’s downward spiral.

On Tuesday, the abbey released a statement. It read, in part:

“The program of education, monitoring and prevention has now been in place for a decade. Unfortunately, abuse allegations continue to be disclosed through internet blogs and in the media, sometimes before they are reported to competent authorities. This limits the ability to investigate thoroughly or respond fairly, particularly when misconduct is alleged to have taken place years ago.” – St. Mary’s Abbey on June 5, 2012

Let’s take a closer look:

1. “The program of education, monitoring and prevention has now been in place for a decade.”

The Abbey admitted earlier this year that the program wasn’t working as planned. [ View ]

2. “Unfortunately, abuse allegations continue to be disclosed through internet blogs and in the media, sometimes before they are reported to competent authorities.”

Since January, Abbey leadership misled the parish and the school communities where Rev. Benedict Worry worked [ View ]. There is little doubt that Rev. Benedict likely felt some stress after allegations of misconduct were made to the abbey in January. But to mislead the entire community, claiming “health reasons” when he was actually ” under strict supervision” is dishonest and sends a terrible message to the community.

Masses were said for Rev. Benedict, for Pete’s sake! Were any masses offered for Rev. Benedict’s victims?

If Internet blogs and the media don’t hold the Abbey and its offending monks accountable, who will? Certainly not the abbot and definitely not the members of a review board.

3. “This limits the ability to investigate thoroughly or respond fairly, particularly when misconduct is alleged to have taken place years ago.”

Investigate? The abbey’s review board has been investigating Rev. Luke Travers for almost a year. [ View ]

More soon…