TRR photo by David Hulse The head of the college that was to have associated with the Society of St. John in Pike County has made serious charges about immoral and illegal activities that have allegedly taken place within these gates at the society’s wooded enclave in Shohola Township. (Click for larger image)

Scandal rocks society of priests

Sexual abuse charges made

By TOM KANE

SHOHOLA — Two priests of the Society of St. John, a religious community dedicated to the traditional Catholic Latin liturgy, have been temporarily removed from active priestly duties by the Bishop of Scranton.

Allegations have been made that the priestly pair sexually molested one youth, and perhaps others. The two priests, Father Carlos Urrutigoity, Superior General of the Society of St. John, and Father Eric Ensey, one of his advisors, were ordered to leave St. John’s but to remain in the Scranton Diocese while an investigation is conducted. The two priests were unavailable for comment.

Action came after the diocese was contacted by the Apostolic Nuncio in Washington, D.C., who had the name of the victim who made allegations of sexual misconduct against the two priests. The call to the nuncio was placed by the father of the youth.

“We tried to reach the young man and his family but were not very successful,” Auxiliary Bishop John Dougherty of Scranton said. “At least they know that we are ready to help. We will seek some kind of psychological assessment of the accused, and assistance so that this kind of thing won’t happen again,” he said.

In conformity with a diocesan policy, adopted a few years ago to handle such incidents, the diocese first attempted to assist the victim, and then to deal with the accused.

It is possible that the priests could be defrocked (termed “laicization”), said Dougherty, although that conclusion has not been reached.

“The diocese will maintain a primary concern for the victim and his family,” said Dougherty. Bishop James Timlin, the head of the diocese, was away and could not be reached.

The nuncio received his information largely through the efforts of Dr. Jeffrey Bond, the former president of St. Justin Martyr College that was to have been the educational arm of the society’s project. Bond said he became disaffected with the society when he learned of allegations of abuse.

Bond alleged that the two priests had the practice of sleeping with young men under their charge, although no overt sexual activity resulted, according to Dougherty.

	TRR photo by Tom Kane Dr. Jeffrey Bond

“It certainly was a reprehensible practice,” Dougherty said. “As soon as Bishop Timlin and I heard of it, we met with the priests and insisted in the strongest terms that the practice cease.” Bond said the priests claimed to have been instructing youths in the “art of male friendship,” attempting to counteract a male macho image that can hinder spiritual and human development.

There were questions about the Urrutigoity’s expulsion from a seminary in Argentina. Dougherty said, “to my knowledge, Father Urrutigoity was expelled from the seminary in Argentina because he disagreed with the authorities there on a church matter. The same was true of his expulsion from the seminary in Winona, MN,” where allegations of sexual misconduct were made. Timlin and Dougherty traveled there to interview the youth involved. “The evidence in the case, when presented to the clerical review board in the diocese—an independent group of clergy and lay professionals—proved to be insufficient,” Dougherty said.

Following that investigation, the society secured the property in Shohola and was given permission by Bishop Timlin to establish a religious foundation there.

Bond, who was a party of the Shohola venture from the beginning, said the group was also guilty of serious financial mismanagement, spending money lavishly. Bond said the group has raised at least $5 million from Catholic donors all over the country, and claimed that a number of donors will file a class action suit against the society.

“They purchased the property in Shohola for $2.9 million when it was worth much less,” he said. “They were poorly advised.”

Bond said the society spent $136,000 on furniture, and $400,000 on a television promotion program. These allegations were denied by Father Daniel Fullerton, a member of the group. Fullerton said the three houses on the property were devoid of furniture and equipment, including kitchen and dining facilities. Fullerton further stated that approximately $80,000 was spent on the television project, not $400,000.

Bond, who accused Bishop Timlin of gross negligence, said the bishop was trying to cover up the affair because the diocese is financially responsible for the debts the society incurs. But “the diocese is not at all responsible for the debts incurred by the society,” Dougherty said. “They are a separate entity with their own board of directors.”

Bond and a national group of conservative Catholic laity, called “Roman Catholic Faithful,” are asking for Timlin to resign because of his failure to properly investigate the allegations and to remove the priests sooner.

“To say that the diocese refused to take action is simply not true,” Dougherty said. “Bishop Timlin and the Diocese of Scranton have done all they can to investigate this case and to be fair to all sides. What we need is proof. In a number of instances, we don’t know what happened. We can not condemn someone until we have proof.”

“They’ve had plenty of proof,” Bond said.