Companions In Hope
Comments, Questions, and Answers
The following are some questions and comments made to Companions in Hope and/or WeAreCATHOLICS.com as well as our responses. The most recent comments are posted at the top of the page.
Q = Question; C = Comment; R = Our Response
C: Companions in Hope, Thank you for updating us on all that has happened with St. Peter's Church and for the courage of Frank Bochte and other Geneva residents that stood up for and protected the victim instead of turning a blind eye and protecting the church. It is not easy to act in such a manner and for that I applaud you.
Please accept my sincere gratitude for giving those of us the courage and strength to continue to stand up for the truth and what it TRULY the right thing to do in this world, no matter what battle one may be facing.
C: I just learned of your website through an email I received about the Withholding Sundays. So much information. I am sorry for your parish and hope things begin to move in a better direction before long. We have had similar cases in our area but your story wouldn't be believed if it was a movie. Our thoughts and prayers are with Mark Campobello's victims and your entire parish community. May God have mercy on the priests and bishops who perpetuate this tragedy! Thanks for shining a light on the truth when all most of the bishops and cardinals do is lie.
R: Thank you. We have heard that so many times before. Between the child abuse, the murdering choir director, the allegations of extra-marital affairs, the trials, the phony documentary, the precepts, the cyberbullying of Jarmoluk's message board, the rants from the altar, the exodus of the flock, the 200+ newspaper articles and letters to the editor, the priest worship and the harassment of those who don't, the dramatic decline in donations despite the growth of the community, etc. etc. We are sorry to say that, as fantastic this all may seem, a lot of it is far too common in parishes throughout the country where there is a lack of leadership at the diocesan and parish levels and a complacency of the laity who keeps dropping envelopes in the basket. We cannot stress it enough - Catholics who want better leadership and a safer church must stop giving money to the unaccountable pastors and bishops who misuse those funds. Stop funding the church and we will eventually see better leadership and more openness. Don't Bail-Out the men who have driven this Church into the ditch it is now in. Demand they behave in accordance to Catholic teaching and civil laws or face the resulting consequences.
Q: Thanks for the info in the mail. You can believe we waved the usher on during Sunday's collection. We wondered if you knew anything about Jarmoluk leaving this month. We keep hearing from other parishioners that he's leaving very soon and so looking forward to his departure so maybe this parish and regain some sense of normalcy again. Can you confirm this. People keep asking me about it.
R: Leave it to the Catholic hierarchy - particularly Bishop Doran - to keep the laity in the dark. The only time Doran cares to 'enlighten' parishioners about anything is where the new Diocesan Appeal envelopes or Capital Campaign pledge forms are located. No, Doran would much rather Catholics in the pews get their information from the media or the rumor mill - just like Campobello's arrest, just like Pavone's arrest, etc. Like you and so many others, we have heard the pastor is scheduled to leave this month (November 2008). Apparently, he corralled the parish staff around the office and they all had to stop what they were doing to pray for him, similar to the many 'staff meetings' of 2004. Always the victim. Always the martyr. We suggest you contact the parish and/or diocese and ask for more information. It's no wonder why it is all so hush-hush. The departure of Msgr. Jarmoluk will lift a dark, heavy cloud from this parish and entire community but the healing process will have only just begun and the progress toward healing will largely depend on who replaces Jarmoluk.
Q: I received the mailing last Friday and was wondering where I could get more to send to my relatives in the Joliet Diocese and in Connecticut. I think every Catholic who still goes to Mass and gives money to the church should know about what's going on in secret behind the backs of the laity. The hierarchy is like the Two-Faced Greek god - say one thing, do the opposite. The Catholic church will not get another dime from me unless they open their books and "show me the money".
R: Thanks for your question. The flyers you received in the mail can be downloaded and printed off of our web site. On the home page, there are two links in Red. The first link will bring up the flyers that were included in the mailing. The second link focuses on Thomas Doran, the bishop of the Rockford Diocese. Feel free to also download and email this 7-page report or print out and use snail mail. The Withholding Sundays is a national campaign being advertised across the country. We, however, also felt the need to shine a brighter light on the many dirty deeds of Doran.
C: We just wanted to thank you for the mailing we received last week about Withholding Sundays. We haven't been in Geneva very long and had assumed the parish and diocese were being properly handled here. They sure do put on a good show, don't they? Not only did we divert our Sunday check to one of the local charities on your list, but we also decided not to honor the balance on our pledge to the Bishop's Appeal because, as your material points out, he has failed to honor the Charter and his stated (false) commitment to protect our children. Thanks again!
R: We believe Catholics in the pews can only make informed decisions on whether or not to continue funding reprehensible and indecent conduct - crimes against children - if they first have a truer picture of what is happening in their local courtrooms and parish and diocesan offices. Catholics need to understand one thing and it is something Jesus warned about over 2000 years ago. "Be aware of false prophets and wolves in sheep's clothing". Just because a man wears a Roman collar, it doesn't mean he doesn't lie, cheat, steal, do drugs, have extra-marital affairs, or rape children. Read Sacrilege, Lead Us Not Into Temptation, or Our Fathers. If men wearing Roman collars, pink beanies, and gold head-cones are capable of the acts described in those books and others, they are capable of anything. We encourage all Catholics to find out the facts through our web site and others linked on our site. There are books and videos linked on our Resources page. We find it hard to believe any Christian adult who knows the facts would choose to donate money to an organization that uses their funds to act in a way that puts children at risk, prevents justice for the abused, and protects convicted pedophiles and supports them with monthly checks. Thank you for participating in Withholding Sundays. If enough Catholics follow suit, we may actually see some progress for the good in the Catholic Church.
Q: I am wondering aloud about a strange and compelling phenomenon. Several years ago the Diocese of Rockford settled a lawsuit concerning the two victims abused and exploited by a former priest, Mark Campobello. They unwillingly admitted guilt in the matter and compensated the victims out of diocesan funds generated by parishioners from all over the diocese. They will say that the insurance companies settled for them monetarily, but of course the people of all the parishes paid the premiums.
So, we know they had a hand in Campobello's guilt by understanding the problem and keeping him in active ministry where he could continue to live a life of moral decay. Why does the pastor of St. Peter in Geneva, where one victim resided, continue to perpetuate the abuse cycle by blaming groups of parishioners who stood up to the diocese and inadvertently hurt his pastorship by exposing his neglect? He may believe that his leadership was undermined when others understood that he and other members of the clergy did not help report their brother priest to civil authorities so that justice could be served. Perhaps the pastor was destined to be promoted to "bigger" jobs or even a spot within the diocesan offices?
Regardless of the consequences of his actions, he is hurting his parish by carrying a grudge and becoming obsessed with revenge. Many people in the community discuss his homilies that often have strange undertones about persecution and justice. However, the content implies that HE was hurt by injustice. What does he mean? People are wondering if the bishop is aware of his deteriorating thoughts and mental condition?
Do dioceses monitor the health of their personnel? Is the shortage of priests part of the problem? Do diocesan personnel have programs available for addictions to alcohol or the internet and are they as adamant about helping their priests as they are about rooting out abusers? If that is how they address the problem, then parishioners in this diocese are in trouble.
Just wanted your thoughts on this persistent problem.
Concerned Parishioner
R: Thank you, Concerned Parishioner, for your interest, comments, and questions.
"Persistent problem" is an understatement. The problem is deep, far-reaching, and long-lasting but there is light at the end of the dark and dreary tunnel called St. Peter Parish.
Several things will help alleviate the deep pain and suffering experienced by current and former members of the parish as well as the wider Geneva community which this problem has negatively affected. The removal of pastor Jarmoluk is scheduled to occur this November, according to sources close to the parish. Jarmoluk himself has quietly made this announcement to his staff, no doubt in an attempt to gain sympathy for himself and, once again, play the tortured victim. Jarmoluk's removal will be a first step in a long, long progress of healing that must begin immediately for the many people you have referenced who have been hurt by his verbal tirades, emotional abuses, and spiritual exploitations. Anyone who has sat through any of his homilies for the past 5 years will probably need therapy, especially the students at the Friday children's Mass.
One of the reasons for his outbursts and uncontrollable anger may be touched upon in your comments. Based on the information we have collected from newspaper articles, court documents, first-hand accounts, and comments from Jarmoluk's paid mouthpiece, James W. Grice otherwise known as ctlnyc.net's Rocky, it seems Jarmoluk called the diocese after teacher Barbara Houston reported to her suspicions that Campobello was abusing a student. Doran sent attorney Ellen Lynch, vicar for clergy Eric Barr, and another vicar of some sort named Kagan to Geneva to 'investigate'. (That is, instead of calling the cops which none of them ever did.) The Three Amigos admitted, at the time, of knowing about the student/victim at Aurora Central Catholic High School. It seems Rockford decided to transfer Campobello around until a spot opened at St. Luke's Medical Facility in Maryland. After being released from St. Luke's, Doran gave him his own parish and school in Belvidere without warning parishioners of his problem. After Campobello's arrest, Doran and Lynch went to great lengths to keep their file on Campobello from prosecutors. They were held in contempt of court, paid a fine, appealed to a higher court, and lost that ruling. However, since Campobello pleaded guilty before the court ruling, another judge ruled the file a mute point. In the civil case, Lynch anxiously got out the diocesan checkbook, just so long as she didn't have to expose the file. The case settled for $2.2 million for two victims but members of the Rockford Diocese, whom you properly identify and the actual payers of this settlement, still do not know who knew what and when and what they did or didn't do about it.
Jarmoluk probably feels like the blame has all been pinned on him. The settlement happened almost immediately after he was deposed in the case. He probably feels he did everything the diocese told him to do - "Keep Quiet and Cover Up" and now Doran and Lynch are hanging him out to dry. Who knows what promises were made or what his ambitions were but it's worth noting his dog's name is "Bishop". He can kiss that idea goodbye. The diocese needed a Fall Guy and Jarmoluk is it. Though he is not totally blameless for mishandling the Campobello allegations, he is not the only one who screwed up, either. Instead of asking, "What would Jesus Do?", he asked the bishop, "What should I do?" Of course, he should have stood up to the bishop, called the cops, and demanded - on behalf of the parish - that the bishop cooperate with the civil authorities search for truth and justice. Instead, he kissed Doran's ring and started lashing out at innocent parishioners, many of whom have left the parish, left the faith, or left organized religion altogether. He somehow got messed up with slimy, grimey characters named Serrini, Grice, and Rice. He has spent his time interviewing for a fake mockumentary about himself and blogging anonymously to plead his case. To no avail. Parishioners are counting the minutes before he is gone. Every time he opens his mouth, evidence of some sort of disturbance is revealed. His physical appearance ages him several decades. It is not a pretty sight.
Jarmoluk is not the first priest Doran has allowed to self-implode. We believe it is less a numbers problem than a leadership problem of Doran's. He is incompetent and negligent. He is their spiritual advisor yet they are so far gone down a path of self-destruction that innocent bystanders are being caught in the spiritual and emotional devastation. It's very possible that Doran has secrets of his own that he's willing to protect at any cost. One can only guess why he would allow a large and prosperous parish to be decimating by a single figurehead. For the recovery of the parish, its members, and even Jarmoluk, we continue to urge Bishop Thomas Doran to release to the public his file on Campobello and the Jarmoluk deposition. Cardinal George and Cardinal Mahoney are two bishops that have released their own depositions. Doran needs to follow suit and, until he does, anyone who continues to fund this corrupt diocese should be ashamed of doing so.
Q. When is Father Joe leaving? It is long past time for him to go. Why did the bishop renew his contract when he was clearly over his head and unable to effectively handle all of the problems at St. Peter then? Doesn't the bishop get it? Why do people keep sending money up to Rockford when Bishop Doran has left us to deal with Father Joe and all of his personal problems and deficiencies? They have both brought scandal to our parish.
R: The Rockford Diocese has offered little to no help to the parishioners of St. Peter but plenty of excuses such as, "The bishop can't remove him because of canon law", "The bishop can offer Monsignor Jarmoluk help but he can't force him to accept it", and the most ignorant of all, "If Bishop Doran removes Monsignor Jarmoluk, then parishioners at other parishes will think that they can tell the bishop what pastor they want or don't want". It's obvious this particular bishop does not speak the language of reason and common sense. That should be apparent to anyone who has ever read any of his columns or writings. Habit, ignorance, 'Catholic guilt', are probably some reasons why some St. Peter parishioners continue to support Doran financially. Many, however, have refused to do so hence the fact that the parish could only afford to pay half of the annual diocesan taxes the past two years. We encourage you and all parishioners to voice your opinions directly to the diocese through the vicar for clergy, Monsignor Eric Barr, @ 555 Colman Center Drive, Rockford, IL 61125 or email vicarforclergy@rockforddiocese.org or call 1-815-399-4300.
C: On Saturday February 2, 2008 I received in the mail an invitation to your web site and could not find it at www.WeAreCATHOLICS.com. The invitation was accompanied with a "James W. Grice Fact Sheet" containing a lot of information that appeared to be referring not only to the true identity of an individual but also connecting that person to a documentary and Msgr. Jarmoluk. It was very unprofessional to say the least. What makes it seem morbid is that it was sent to my house with no signature or identity other than your web site and email address.
Knowing that, I have come to the conclusion that the person who wrote it is ashamed of what they had to say, has pinned it on you, and likes to live in the dark. My only regret is that it associates the Catholic Church with this kind of secret, hidden, and immature behavior.
The facts page has nothing to do with the true meaning of "Catholics for accountability, truth, healing, openness, lay input, compassion, and sincerity because even the sender remains hidden. If it (sic) not your document you might want to look into the matter and pursue the sender. I will keep it in my archive files.
John N. Lamperis, DRE, YM (of St. Peter), Joyful Hope Presentations, Pres.
R: Thank you for your comment. We cannot explain why you were unable to bring up our web site unless you have some sort of virus or something you might want to get checked out. Had you properly logged onto www.wearecatholics.com you could have read our introduction on the home page explaining who we are and also our mission statement to which there is a link on our home page.
Instead, you accuse us with your subject heading of "Anonymous Mail" and charge us of "secret, hidden, and immature behavior". First of all, you are a staff member and parishioner of St. Peter parish so it should be of no surprise that you would receive an invitation to visit our site which focuses on that parish. Both the flyer and the James W. Grice Fact Sheet you received identified the name of our site, our mailing address, and our email address. Would you consider your telephone bill an anonymous mailing just because it doesn't include the name and autograph of the person who licked the envelope?
As you will see, the majority of the content on our site is well-cited. That being the case, do the identities of the individuals who present that information really matter so long as it is truthful and factual? We noticed you did not take issue with anything specifically on either the flyer or the James W. Grice Fact Sheet. You simply decided to dismiss them because you wanted first and last names - like your boss. And do you know what pastor Jarmoluk does to the people who happen to find their names on one of his 'lists', Mr. Lamperis? You certainly do. Why, you even allow yourself to be a tool in his vengeful retaliation against those on his 'list'. Past experiences make us wonder if he didn't instruct you to "get a list" of names so that he could deliver it to his lawyer, Canice Timothy Rice, so that Rice could, in turn, threaten the individuals with a lawsuit. Nice try!
Do you want to talk "morbid", Mr. Lamperis? How about a web site - truly anonymous - on which the operators and anonymous bloggers (at least one of which may have been Monsignor Jarmoluk) repeatedly assault, mock, stalk, threaten, and lie about victims of child sexual abuse, the elderly, African Americans, the developmentally disabled, children, and others? Have you no denunciations for that kind of behavior? We find it extremely hard to believe that you have not visited Monsignor Jarmoluk's web site called ctlnyc.com. The site is filled with hate, lies, and personal attacks - ANONYMOUSLY. You are one of the presenters of the "Protecting God's Children" class, are you not? Why have you not publicly denounced that site, Mr. Lamperis? Does it not fit your description of "very unprofessional, secret, hidden, and immature behavior"? There is no "signature or identity" on that site other than Jarmoluk's photograph on the home page and "Jarmoluk file" stamped on the posted documents. It's been well covered in the local media. Why not use this opportunity to take a position against that site if you have such strong feelings against ours? Or, might you lose your job?
You could not be more wrong in your assertion that we are ashamed of what we say or that we like to live in the dark. There is one truth and we are proud servants happy to answer the call to spread it. You probably give out greeting cards without knowing the identity of the person who wrote the poem inside. Are the Hallmark employees ashamed of what they write? We feel what is important is the message, not our personal identities. Besides, contrary to our Christian faith, we have sadly found that many Catholics hold predisposed prejudices that interfere with their ability to hear the real message. It is possibly an effect of a highly prejudicial hierarchy. Nevertheless, as our acronym indicates, we are all about openness, transparency, and healing. As you know, St. Peter is in a morbid state - to use your word. Like a cancer, the wound of the abuses that have occurred at the parish was left untouched and so it has massively and aggressively grown into a monster that has caused great damage to many innocent individuals and to the entire Geneva and Catholic communities. Healing won't come without addressing the wound. Healing won't come without the truth.
That's where we come in. The leadership at the parish stinks. In other words, there is none. As the youth minister and director of religious education, we'd like to know what you have done to help heal the parish. You work with children? What has been done to help the children of the parish understand and come to terms with the fact that not only was a priest arrested, convicted, and jailed for molesting a student, but the choir director who taught children was arrested, convicted,and jailed for killing a disabled man. Anything?
In your business, you must understand that these types of events can have a traumatic effect on children. We hear personal accounts of children being terrified to enter the school building, children confusing the molester with the murderer, and of nightmares of both along with the "angry pastor who is always yelling". We wonder what the director of religious education has done to educate the parents on how to respond to the fears and questions of their children. Public schools do it all the time in response to tragic events. Or is the sexual abuse of a student not tragic enough at St. Peter? There are specific positive things children and adults can do to begin the healing process after such traumatic events based on scientific research by professionals in the field of psychology. Are you aware of what they are? We are - not because we are in the field but because we looked.
We did our own research because we knew the hush-hush attitude of the St. Peter administration was harmful and could be deadly. The parish's attempt to sweep these scandals under the rug in order to keep the money flowing hasn't worked. In fact, it's backfired. Collections have suffered, as you well know, and we are now deeper in debt than ever. But, that's just the financial health. The spiritual condition of St. Peter parish could be described as a Code Blue. What about the gazillion ministries and the fact that the lights are still on, you ask? Not exactly a true measure of spiritual health, is it? But, in the interest of objectivity, we strongly encourage your pastor-boss to hire a reputable outside agency - NOT James Grice or Canice Rice - to survey past and present St. Peter parishioners in order to find out what they're thinking, why they left, why they stopped donating, why they defaulted on their pledges, and what are their concerns and then share the RAW results with the public. At the same time, pastor Jarmoluk needs to make public the deposition he gave in the Campobello case that he and Rice fought so hard to suppress. You know, the deposition that led the bishop to write a check for $2.2 million. No, we don't like to live in the dark. We shine the light of truth upon dirty deeds done under the veil of secrecy. Why don't you join us in urging your pastor-boss and your bishop-boss to do the same?
You are correct in suggesting that secrecy is contrary to what the Catholic Church represents, Mr. Lamperis. It is that very fact that led us to launch our web site. Re-try www.wearecatholics.com to better understand our actions and motivations which we are confident are consistent with Catholicism as well as Christianity. In fact, many members of the Catholic clergy and religious have encouraged us in our mission. Monsignor Jarmoluk is certainly not one of them.
p.s. You might want to take your flyer and James W. Grice Fact Sheet out of your archives and place them in your active files. The scandals aren't over and the healing has yet to begin. More specifically, you might want to file them in the same folder as your copies of the letters you wrote to the moms who volunteered to teach RE before you cruelly denied them that opportunity.
The following message was sent to wearecatholics.com on June 6, 2007 from the email address of Lynn Wilson, Director of Liturgy at St. Peter Parish in Geneva, Illinois:
C: What are you talking about? I never sent any comments to your website! The only website that I made my views known was to ctlnyc which is the only website that holds the truth but which you continue your negative , untrue, and undocumented harassment! If you want to help those who have been victimized, please seek justice by calling for answers from higher up and also from the parents of the victim #1 as ctlnyc has done. If you havn't (sic) been to the adoration chapel yet, I advise you that it would be a good idea. Only God can forgive and give you peace. You'll need it soon. And by the way, I have no interest or plan on ever participating on your website.
R: Ms. Wilson, you must be forgetting about the following comment you emailed to wearecatholics.com on April 2, 2007 with the subject heading of "Fr. Max" and from the same email address you used to send your June 6th comment:
C: I have to say that I was surprised to read the response about Fr. Max's transfer. I truly would like to know where you are getting your information. To make a statement against a priest's character and post it where everyone can read it, is stunning. Do you have documented truth behind this statement or is it 2nd or 3rd hand knowledge which would be gossip and damaging to a person's reputation? Curious
R: First of all, we find it extremely disturbing that a paid employee of St. Peter Parish and/or the Rockford Diocese would 1) voice support of such a hateful and deceitful web site as CTLNYC.com; 2) point fingers of blame at parents of a clergy abuse victim, and 3) make rash judgments and threats ("only God can forgive you and give you peace. You'll need it soon.") against fellow Catholics.
However, Ms. Wilson, both of your comments are extremely helpful in explaining why St. Peter Parish is in such turmoil, eight years after the abuse occurred, as well as proving just how far the Church has yet to go in educating Her members - employees or not - about clergy sexual abuse of children.
As a parish employee and volunteer, you must have attended one of the 'Protecting God's Children' sessions in the recent past. Did you sleep through it? You might go back and rerun the video or review your workbook, especially the part about the grooming process and the methods perpetrators use to gain the trust of children and other family members. If you had bothered to do the least bit of research on the subject, you would realize that Mark Campobello's victims and their families are no different than the other tens of thousands of clergy abuse victims/survivors and their families.
You are a Director of Liturgy. Do your homework before you start making accusations against others. There are plenty of resources listed on our web site. Unfortunately, your ignorance seems to be commonplace in parish and diocesan offices nationwide and there doesn't seem to be much progress.
Do you want to talk about "stunning", Ms. Wilson? Stunning is that any reasonable and mature adult could possibly express adulation for a vulgar and sinful web site as is the one you applaud in your comments to us. One of your fellow Church employees has rightfully described the web site's message board as "the devil's playground". Just about every local newspaper has expressed condemnation of the vitriolic contents of the web site which seems to be nothing more than a public relations scam to save Msgr. Jarmoluk's badly tarnished reputation. We understand that Jarmoluk's staff may not be at liberty to freely speak against that site. However, we find it nothing short of outrageous - and quite telling - that a St. Peter staff member would admit to supporting ctlnyc.com.
You claim that ctlnyc.com is "the only website that hold the truth". How do you know what is the truth, Ms. Wilson? It is very possible that ctlnyc.com is the only outlet repeating what you have heard from your employee and/or his attorney, Canice Timothy Rice, but how do you know that is the truth? Do you honestly think that anyone who has knowledge of the facts and a desire to make them known would reduce themselves to making personal attacks and randomly pointing fingers? The behaviors of those behind ctlnyc are consistent with individuals who try to divert attention away from the facts; i.e. throw mud and see if anything sticks, mock those who spread the truth in an attempt to discredit or intimidate them into silence, and point fingers at everyone else in place of accepting responsibility for one's own actions. The attacks by ctlnyc toward clergy abuse victims/survivors and their families only show the lack of decency of the people who operate and support it. It is a shame that you are among that group.
Now, regarding your comments and questions about Fr. Max:
1) The majority of the content on wearecatholics.com is already documented and cited, as is;
2) Because of the large numbers of individuals who contribute to wearecatholics.com, most of the remaining content is either first- or second-hand accounts of actual events and experiences. None of our contributors would have any problem whatsoever being deposed or cross-examined under oath to the facts that are described on this web site (unlike your employer). The ones with the problems might be those who lack the ability - or the desire - to discern and accept the truth. Your time before the Blessed Sacrament could certainly help you in this regard but only if you first humble yourself and place the Holy Spirit about your own personal wishes and desires.
3) Obviously, you are biased in your judgment of posting statements against one's character "where everyone can read it". That is exactly the modus operandi of your favorite web site, ctlnyc.com. We don't judge the states of others' souls, such as claiming they are 'evil' as your ctlnyc friends have done arrogantly and repeatedly. That right rests only with Our Creator. We do, however, report and judge actions and conduct which is our right and even our duty as Catholic Christians. You, Ms. Wilson, as a parish director of liturgy, ought to know the difference. In countless letters to local editors, Paul Schneider judged the character of Msgr. Jarmoluk by calling him a "good and decent man". Is that acceptable to you as long as you are judging the priest to be of good character? What about the pedophile priests, Ms. Wilson, and the bishops who transfer them from parish to parish, supplying child molesters with a fresh supply of innocent victims? Are they all of good character solely because they are priests? The character of our President is attacked on a daily basis. In this country, people have a right to express their opinions even if others disagree with them. It so happens, most of the content on this site is fact, not opinion, but any opinions expressed by us are based on the facts and our acceptance of the truth, contrary to ctlnyc. We can back up our claims, they can't. Our Catholic Mandate page may be of further assistance to you on the subject.
Ms. Wilson, we find it very unfortunate that you, as an employee of a parish at which a student was molested by a priest, did not care enough to educate yourself on the effects such abuse has on a youngster, her family, her classmates, her friends, the parish community, and the wider community. The parish at which you are employed failed to provide appropriate efforts of outreach to those who have been affected by the betrayals of Mark Campobello. The Recommendations in Response to Allegations of Abuse that are posted on our web site have not been adhered to, to the detriment of the entire Geneva community. There was a petition circulated at Masses in support of Jarmoluk but there was nothing of the like for either of Campobello's victims. There was even a protest against the 'healing service' during which some parishioners - parish volunteers and, likely, employees - instead spent the duration in the very Adoration Chapel you have advertised in your comments. One of the most offensive deeds was a post on the ctlnyc message board in which an anonymous blogger claimed that "Monsignor jarmoluk is Truth". That statement ought to outrage any Catholic Christian. There is but one Truth and His name is Jesus. Ms. Wilson, should not staff members of a Catholic parish always place the truth before any human being - including those wearing Roman collars?
Lastly, Ms. Wilson, there is one fact you cannot deny. Shortly after Jarmoluk gave his much-resisted deposition in the case against Mark Campobello and the Rockford Diocese, Bishop Doran wrote a check for $2.2 million. No reasonable individual can dare to believe he did so because it was all the parents' fault. It's time you give ctlnyc's 'Rocky' the boot, for your own good. He's making you look foolish and that is not a good look for any Catholic Director of Liturgy.
(Comments sent to mail@companionsinhope.com are posted anonymously unless requests are made to include the author's name. In this case, comments were sent from an email address identified as being that of Lynn Wilson. Because of Ms. Wilson's position at St. Peter Parish, it is important that she be identified as the author of the above comments which were posted unedited and in their entirety.)
Q: I have a question that needs answering. Why would the pastor and others of this parish (who are in support of him) try to say that viewpoints and comments that he does not agree with must be the work of
a. Satan
b. VOTF
c. SNAP
Does he not realize that resorting to that tactic displays an inability to analyze data and honestly debate differences?
Do priests need college educations when they enter the priesthood? Are they ordained directly after some training, or do they receive some additional education? It seems as if they (priests) are sometimes misinformed.
I do not mean to be disrespectful about the priesthood. I am just wondering about some of the things we often hear from that group.
Thank you.R: Asking the questions and concerns you have brought up is in no way being disrespectful of the priesthood. In fact, many Saints that have gone before us have made clear that these questions need to be asked - by the laity - in order to protect the dignity of the priesthood.
The terms 'Satan', 'VOTF', and 'SNAP' have been tossed around the parish lately in an attempt to discredit those who support openness and transparency. The pastor even 'warned' one parishioner who was speaking with several of those supporters because, as he claimed, "They belong to Voice of the Faithful and they want women priests". The pastor didn't know what he was talking about. Neither of the parishioners he was referring to were members of VOTF and, whether they were or not, the parishioner he was trying to intimidate was simply too wise to be swayed by the pastor's inappropriate attempt to ostracize others.
Statements made at St. Peter regarding VOTF and SNAP demonstrate a gross ignorance of the purposes and missions of these two organizations. In the near future, we will post statements by a representative of each organization describing what they are about as a way to dispel many of the myths being told at the parish. In the meantime, visitors may find more information at www.votf.org and www.snapnetwork.org. When people don't have have the facts to support the claims they make, they throw out accusations like the many you hear at St. Peter. Those with the truth behind them stick to the facts. The others try to divert attention away from the facts any way they can. They know that, in an intelligent and analytical debate, they'd have no way of winning. So, rather than participating in an adult dialogue, they resort to childish name-calling, lies, and personal attacks.
Some priests have higher educations and degrees from colleges and universities throughout the country. However, many young men enter the seminary directly after high school. The many problems in some of the nation's seminaries are well-documented. The Catholic Church is in need of serious reform and that includes the institutions in which future members of the priesthood are prepared. Preparation should, indeed, include challenging academic curricula. However, becoming a servant worthy of the calling requires more than just 'book smarts'. Many Saints were uneducated. But, they were humble and gave their lives to God - not to material possessions and worldly ambitions. Their humility allowed the grace of the Holy Spirit to fill them with all the knowledge they needed to proclaim God's love through their words and actions. Intelligent priests can be valuable to the Church, but without humility and a good heart, they do little to serve the needs of the people or the purpose of the Lord.
Additional training and continuing education can also help a member of the clergy better serve the people. Almost all professional industries have such requirements in order to ensure a sharp, motivated, and up-to-date workforce. What seems to be the more urgent need in the priesthood, however, is regular examinations of physical, mental, emotional and spiritual wellness by competent professionals. Many professions in which lives depend on the health and well-being of the employee have stringent requirements in this regard. The Catholic Church is lagging far behind in this area. As a result, many priests are not getting the help they need in a timely and effective manner and therefore they are at risk along with the people they are responsible for serving. Though nothing demonstrates this fact more than the current clergy abuse scandal, there are also many priests who, though not pedophiles, are suffering from depression, addictions, and other serious conditions. Bishops who don't address these problems are responsible for all of the souls negatively affected by them.
C: Visited your website today. Thank all of you for carrying the message in support of us survivors. You can't imagine how encouraging it is.
C: Wow! This website is terrific! Thanks for doing this! What an incredible resource. Glad to know these docs are all available! I'm really impressed and grateful! (from a survivor)
C: I was recently told about 'their' website. I took a peek and could not believe my eyes! Who has the time to put together a website like that? Who has the fortitude to stomach all that garbage?? The twisted fairytale they have developed is absolutely unbelievable!! I think someone has lost touch with reality!.... They make statements that must come from someone living in a total fantasy world. Or maybe they are just delusional!!! The fact that they say and do with (sic) such conviction does NOT mean it is right. Get a grip on reality people.
R. The above comment was posted on the Jarmoluk web site on May 4, 2007. Notice that the anonymous blogger who calls himself/herself 'parishioner' questions the credibility of our web site yet fails to cite a single example to back up his/her claim. We are about facts. A few, however, are still in deep denial.
C: I just went to wearecatholics.com. It is excellent...excellent...excellent. It is positive, informative, educational, most helpful.
C: First off, I LOVE the website and wish all Catholics in the universe would read it. My question is this....why would a bishop in any diocese allow a priest to act in such a manner? Do all bishops act in such a negligent way? Why would this particular priest be able to continue to lead a parish while involved with such a shady organization as ctl???? Doesn't the priest realize that folks in town think he is cracked?
R: Lord only knows why Bishop Thomas Doran of the Rockford Diocese continues to allow Monsignor Joe Jarmoluk to continue his unpriestly behaviors as the pastor of St. Peter Parish in Geneva, Illinois. We do know this: Bishop Doran is well aware of all that has been documented on this web site. Bishop Doran has claimed that Canon law prevents him from removing Jarmoluk. Bishop Doran has claimed that if he removed Jarmoluk then Catholics would think that they are the ones who decide what pastor they get. Bishop Doran has suggested that Jarmoluk has been offered assistance but has refused it. Bishop Doran has placed several precepts on Jarmoluk but Jarmoluk is back to his old tricks with no apparent consequence from the bishop. This is not the first time St. Peter has struggled and become divided under an ineffective pastor and a negligent bishop. It is also not the first time Bishop Doran has allowed an ill-equipped pastor to destroy the vitality and health of a parish in deference to his own self interests, despite passionate pleas from parishioners for the bishop to take action. Holy Angels Parish in Aurora has still not fully recovered from the poor leadership that Bishop Doran failed to properly address not long ago. Feelings of betrayal, lost faith, broken friendships are all consequences of a negligent bishop. When dealing with lay members of the Church, Doran can claim all kinds of excuses. On Judgment Day, not one of them is going to fly.
As far as other negligent bishops, please follow link below:
www.bishop-accountability.org/resources/resource-files/databases/DallasMorningNewsBishops.htm
According to a study done in 2002 by the Dallas News, roughly two-thirds of American bishops had maintained in ministry at least one priest who had been accused of sexual abuse. It seems negligence and corruption in the Catholic hierarchy are closer to the norm than the exception, sadly enough. With the natural courses of death and retirement approaching for many of the older bishops, we hope and pray that their replacements will more often choose to follow the example of Jesus as a humble servant to the poor, wounded, and sinners over the cushy Cathedral thrones, fancy fuchsia hats, and beach-front condos - the never-hungry lifestyle chosen by many modern-day bishops. The current diocesan attitude of get billions in collections, protect the billions at all costs, build more buildings, start more ministries, and recruit more volunteers is not the way of Jesus. In fact, it's gluttony, pride, arrogance, ambition, greed, envy, and lust. Catch a Catholic bishop in the middle of a battle over statute of limitations legislation and you'll see plenty of wrath, as well. Catholics certainly know what that kind of lifestyle can do to one's eternal future. Several visionaries have already warned us that many priests, bishops, and Christians will suffer the excruciating pains of hell. Yet, they continue.The folks you refer to include Catholics and non-Catholics alike. This is bringing scandal to the Church. Jarmoluk and his followers like to blame those who expose the scandalous behavior. Clearly their thinking is warped and out-of-sync with Church teaching. No matter what, the responsibility of Jarmoluk's behavior belongs to Jarmoluk, himself. The effect it has had on the parish, individual members, and the wider community is on the head of Bishop Doran.
C: The website is fantastic.
C. For the parishioners of St. Peter it has ALWAYS been about the children. We have always supported victims. You, however, have chosen to hide behind your false support. I pray that God may soften your heart, and may He protect your children, and may He forgive you.
R. If you are truly concerned for the safety of children, you would join us in demanding change in the Rockford Diocese and St. Peter parish where those who hide abuse are rewarded and those who expose abuse are shown the door. Clearly, that practice cultivates a very unsafe environment for children, other victims who have yet to come forward, and those victims who have already courageously done so.
You might be interested in knowing that many Catholic priests have encouraged our efforts and urged us to continue. Survivors of clergy abuse from many different dioceses have done the same. Yes, may God forgive our sins, and may He also give everyone the courage to face the truth when the light is shone upon it.
C: Just took a very quick look through the site. I LOVE the Catholic acronym. This site was originally called WeAreCATHOLICS.com, which stood for We Are Catholics for Accountability, Transparency, Healing, Openness, Lay Input, Compassion and Sincerity.
Q: Why do you think having your own Web page will change the truth? We at St. Peter are ON TO YOU. Sad that you feel the need to vilify faithful Catholics on your site. What are you afraid of??? Why can't you see beyond the nose on your face??? A legitimate Web site would allow for public feedback but you choose to hide, again, what are you afraid of??? It only proves that you are no longer taken seriously by the press or anyone else.
R. We do not respond to threats or personal attacks. Please express your concerns by citing specific examples and please do so in a charitable manner. You may have missed the Viewpoints section of the web site in which the public can submit commentaries or testimonies that are related to the subject of the web site. Only reasoned and mature submissions will be considered for posting. Needless to say, those who worship other human beings need not bother.
For your information, the web site supported by Monsignor Jarmoluk does not allow for any dissenting viewpoints on its message board. Only posts that declare love and devotion to Monsignor Jarmoluk, a mere mortal, are posted. Would you agree then that www.ctlnyc.com is not "legitimate"?
C: I LOVE this website and will send it to all my family and friends.
C. I looked over your document and headline sections and did not find anything pertaining to the letters of Frank and Kate Bochte sent out to Fr. Joe and select parishioners. For your convenience I have included the listings of the various rantings of Frank and Kate, also the ctl link for you so can (sic) link it to this website, since I believe it would help open some eyes as to truly how some "clergy killer" parishioners/dissidents have treated a fellow human being for years.
R. Regarding the CTL web site, we have recently added information about that site via a link on the left column of our homepage titled, CTL Exposed. We hope you will take the time to review that. You might be interested in knowing that we have heard from many St. Peter parishioners who are otherwise uninvolved in this but have read parts of the CTL message board out of curiosity. They tell us they were "sickened" by it, that they found it "disgusting", and that it was "bad for their spiritual health" and so they stopped reading it. They were not proud that fellow parishioners of theirs would be so cruel with personal attacks, insults, and mockery, especially towards victims of child abuse. It was a big turn-off for them.
Our web site is worlds away from the garbage of CTL. Once you finish reading and viewing our information on CTL, you will understand that we mean that literally as well as figuratively. Though some of the information on our site may make you and others uncomfortable, it is not due to any cruel personal attacks as there are none (except those excerpted from CTL). When we go on a genuine search for truth, we must leave our 'comfort zone'. Those who refuse to leave their 'comfort zone' rarely find the truth. Discernment is often difficult but God gives us the grace - and the Holy Spirit the guidance - to find and accept what we need to know.
As far as Frank and Kate Bochte's letters to which you refer, we will certainly consider posting them on our site but not without first receiving their permission to do so. Two of the ones on your list are letters to the editors and are already found in our Headlines. At least one letter seems to be a personal correspondence between a parishioner and a pastor which Msgr. Jarmoluk obviously shared with CTL. Similarly, the internet broadcasting of voicemail messages to Jarmoluk and Fr. Simon Akan from Kate and Frank Bochte, respectively, certainly calls into question the ethical standards of these two priests. Both priests may be in violation of some sort of privacy or communications code by sharing 2 1/2 year phone messages by parishioners to be broadcast on the internet without their permission. What's next, private confessions on youtube? In any case, the postings of the personal note and the voicemails certainly prove Jarmoluk and Simon's involvement and cooperation with CTL and it is good for all parishioners of St. Peter and St. Patrick to keep that in mind when they click on CTL Exposed.
Lastly, in order for someone to be a "dissident", they must dissent from something. From what are you claiming the Bochtes have dissented? Catholic Doctrine? Public Opinion? Whatever your answer, please provide specific examples to your accusation. Your "clergy killer" name-calling is not even worth a response other than it is clear that you are ignorant of the Catholic Catechism if you find the letters you referenced as "various rantings" of "clergy killers". If they were inappropriate, it would be the responsibility of their priests to correct them in charity and with love, not by name-calling, demands for retraction, and lawsuit threats. If you are still confused, please seek out a priest of integrity to review their letters and, if deemed inappropriate, he ought to take that up with the Bochtes directly. Their phone number is in the parish directory. Read the Catechism and learn the protocol. Name-calling and rash judgments are wrong.
C: I would be honored to be any part of this website....... It is a BEAUTIFUL website. Bravo, Bravo, Bravo!..... We are not alone any longer! (from a survivor)
C. As for the sudden transfer of Fr. Max by Bishop Doran to St. Mary's in Woodstock, that is a no-brainer...Fr. Jim is recovering from heart surgery. He needs assistance and Fr. Max will now be able to assist him. It is amazing to me how by wording a statement you can make it sound so negative and desperate. Fr. Max will be missed by many.
R. You may accept Fr. Max's transfer as nothing out of the ordinary, but we understand how the Church hierarchy operates. Last year, Fr. Parker from Holy Cross was suddenly transferred to replace Fr. Huber as pastor of a small parish with a school in the diocese. Parishioners of Fr. Parker's new parish were told via a statement from the diocese that Fr. Huber's transfer was due to a personal situation. The fact is, complaints of sexual misconduct involving minors had been made against him and an investigation had been conducted by DCFS. In fact, despite all of Bishop Doran's claims, Rockford knew of allegations against Fr. Huber years before the DCFS investigation and still had him with a parish and school and parishioners left in the dark. Only after DCFS got involved did the bishop remove Huber from the parish. It is the Church's pattern and practice to keep parishioners in the dark, especially when it comes to clergy misconduct. You may believe Fr. Max from struggling and suffering St. Peter just happened to be the best choice to help Fr. McLoughlin. We understand a complaint of conduct unbecoming of a Catholic priest was reported of Fr. Max just weeks before the transfer. You may miss Fr. Max. Others, however, see no need at St. Peter for yet another priest who turns a blind eye to cold-hearted attacks on the innocent and vulnerable. The term "suddenly", in our description of the transfer, is accurate and will remain.
C: Just had a chance to browse this site - Wow is all I can say! It's the most rational thing I've seen in ages!
Q. What is your definition of a "Priest of Integrity?" The Websters Dictionary definition of "integrity" is: Integrity: "firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values: INCORRUPTIBILITY"... "Uncorruptible" incapable of being bribed or morally corrupted.
R. We do not have our own definition of "integrity". Our interpretation of Webster's definition, however, might be different from yours. Specifically, priests of integrity do not call out individual parishioners from the pulpit and call them sinners. They don't hide from the press and instruct their receptionists to lie to reporters. They don't hire personal lawyers to harass parishioners, local newspapers, and local law enforcement agencies. They don't pressure parishioners to retract correct information they've shared and they don't threaten to sue them unless they do. They don't pay their personal lawyers to write letters on their behalf to help recover their tarnished public image. They don't lie to parishioners. They spend more time in prayer and in service to parishioners than with their attorneys. They reach out to the wounded - those they like and those they don't like. They prepare for homilies by prayer and study, not by watching the latest DVD from Blockbuster. They don't fire their entire pastoral council because they suggested truth-telling and then leave the parish for years with no parish council whatsoever. They respond to parishioners who contact them to ask questions or share concerns regarding the church as is their right according to the Catholic Catechism. They would never refuse or neglect to preach Catholic doctrine from the pulpit in fear of offending certain parishioners with deep pockets. They would never post hateful and prejudicial insults anonymously on an internet blog. They would never hire filmakers with a background in pornography to make a documentary about themselves in order to improve their public image. They would never use the alter or pulpit to push their own personal agenda in an attempt to save their own reputation. They would never make themselves out to be the victim thereby taking the focus off of the real victims. They would never support fundraisers for their own personal use in order to retain legal counsel when they have no reason for legal defense. They would never demonize men and women who hold them accountable and allow parishioners to call them evil. They would never broadcast on their own web site voicemails left for them by parishioners without permission. They would never post on their own web site written communications addressed to them by parishioners without permission. They would never attempt to get out of giving a deposition as a witness or to intimidate an employee from answering a court-ordered subpoena. They would never promote themselves as the "captain of the ship" or the "commander". In short, they would try hard to follow the Ten Commandments, the Beatitudes, and Matthew 25, and when they fell short, they would follow the Christian process of repentance and reconciliation. For, he who saves his life will lose it, and he who loses his life will save it. There are many priests of integrity in the Catholic Church. Unfortunately, they are often bypassed by bishops when it comes time to giving promotions and handing out titles. Priests of integrity don't play that game. They follow Christ and do not allow arrogance and ambition to get in the way of that.
C. What a wonderful web site! This will really help. I am really impressed, grateful, and appreciative. As much as I pray, it's nice to see these answers to my prayers. (from a survivor)
Thank you to all our visitors who have submitted comments or questions, even those who are critical. Respectful dialogue is a very important part of the process toward understanding. We welcome all respectful comments or questions. Please submit them to our e-mail or Post Office addresses below. Essays will be posted on our Commentary page. Thank you!
Companions in Hope
P.O. Box 638
Geneva, Illinois 60134