EXPOSING CTLNYC
Who is James W. Grice
and What is his Connection to St. Peter in Geneva?Note:
The web site supported by St. Peter pastor Joe Jarmoluk and parish staff members, ctlnyc.com, has recently been changed to ctlnyc.net. Though the name is changed, it continues to slander and defame victims of clergy sexual abuse and other innocent people. It also continues to spread hate and encourage harassment of St. Peter parishioners. Bishop Doran continues to ignore the violations of the written Rockford Diocese Code of Conduct by Jarmoluk and his followers who are either employed by the parish or volunteer for it.
In June, 2006, a group of people stood outside the Kane County Courthouse. Three of them were parishioners of St. Peter parish (Bill Pott, Kim Koechley, and Cat Richter). Two of the group held large cameras on their shoulders. One in the group was Robert Serrini. Serrini claimed he and his 'crew' were at the courthouse to film footage for a documentary about the Catholic Church and the Mark Campobello case. There was no business at the courthouse that day directly regarding the Campobello case. There was court business, however, regarding former St. Peter teacher Alison Ward and her lawsuit against the Rockford Diocese.
Two women, one a parishioner of St. Peter Parish (Kate Bochte) and the other a parishioner of St. John Neumann in neighboring St. Charles (Mary Lu O'Halloran) went to the courthouse after hearing at a nearby coffee house that something was going on at the courthouse regarding the Campobello case. Serrini requested an interview with them and they agreed, based on the information he had given them which turned out to be a blatant misrepresentation of his 'project'. Serrini and a young unidentified woman interviewed Bochte and O'Halloran on camera. To one of the women, Serrini's questions had a familiar ring to them as she had received several letters from Canice Rice, personal attorney of St. Peter pastor Monsignor Joe Jarmoluk. Richter stared at the women during the entire interview and even during the 'breaks' from camera time. Pott stared and made faces and hand signs to form a cross during the interview. Koechley yelled out during filming that Campobello was a friend of the victim's family.
After the interview, Serrini gave Bochte and O'Halloran his 'business' card and said to them, "These people are nuts", referring to Pott, Koechley, and Richter. Serrini's 'business' card had on it CTLNYC which stands for Cross the Line New York City. The address on the card stated 511 Avenue of the Americas, Suite 531, New York, NY 10011-8436. The web site address listed on the card was ctlnyc.com.
Later that day, after researching the information on the 'business' card Serrini gave Bochte and O'Halloran, they realized that any film being made was not about the Catholic Church or Mark Campobello, as Serrini had claimed. Instead, Serrini was advertising a 'documentary' called Forsaken about St. Peter pastor Monsignor Joe Jarmoluk. Serrini was advertised as the "director", Tom Taddeo as the 'producer', and the ctl 'attorney' gave his name as "Tom Farnsworth".
Click here to see the description of the 'Forsaken Documentary' from the CTL web site on June 6, 2006.
A short time later, the wording on the web site changed, removing and replacing the word 'bishop'.
Click here to see the before and after text listing the people alleged to be involved in a "calculated conspiracy".
Shortly thereafter, an advertisement was found on craigslist for "On Camera Personalities" to assist with a "potentially groundbreaking documentary". The temporary job was for up to 4 hours on Tuesday, June 6th (the same day as filming at the courthouse) for a "flat rate of $150.00 plus meals copy and credit".
Click here to see a copy of the craigslist ad.
Several weeks later, select parishioners received a letter in the mail from 'Cross The Line' requesting an interview. The letters are signed by Tom Taddeo, the 'producer' of the 'Forsaken Documentary'. A message board is set up on the ctl web site and parishioners log on anonymously and start attacking the victims, their families, and their advocates. Most of those posting on the message board repeatedly praise Monsignor Jarmoluk and CTL.
Click here to see the letter sent to select St. Peter parishioners.
In the meantime, another web site is found with the involvement of Robert Serrini, Tom Taddeo, and an associate named Michelle Vergara. This web site was called proletariatfilms.com and was dismantled in December after Serrini was exposed.
Click here to read parts of the biographies of Robert Serrini, Michelle Vergara, and Tom Taddeo.
In July, several articles written by Serrini are found on the internet in which Serrini describes the filming of his pretend pornography movies in Los Angeles.
Click here to read Serrini's article about the filming of 500: One Man's Journey into Porn. ***WARNING***: Some may find content offensive. View at your own risk.
Click here to read Serrini's article about the filming of Smoke.
***WARNING***: Some may find content offensive. View at your own risk.Click here to read Serrini's description of his video contests called Midnight Run.
In August, 2006, Serrini started a myspace.com web page and began to journal about the 'Forsaken Documentary'.
Click here to read Robert Serrini's myspace comments.
***WARNING***: Many may will find content offensive. View at your own risk.CTL starts broadcasting a podcast 'radio show' on Sunday and Wednesday nights. The 'host' of the show pretends to be Bret Hamilton, the in-house announcer for the Philadelphia Flyers hockey team and calls himself "Rocky". One of the targets of "Rocky's" hate and the hate of most of the anonymous posters on the ctl message board contacts the Philadelphia Flyers to file a complaint against Bret Hamilton. The real Bret Hamilton claims to his employer that "someone is using my name".
In November, Serrini posted photographs from his recent vacation to Europe with Michelle Vergara and Tom Taddeo. This is supposedly during the middle of filming for the supposed "Forsaken Documentary".
****WARNING*******: Some of Serrini's photo captions and some of the photos themselves are extremely offensive. View at your own risk. In the interest of truth and accuracy, these photographs and captions are unedited. Responsibility of these photos and captions rest with their creator, the director of the 'Forsaken Documentary' about Monsignor Joe Jarmoluk, Robert Serrini.
Click here to view photographs and captions from the recent European vacation of Forsaken director Robert Serrini, Forsaken producer Tom Taddeo, and Michelle Vergara.
Click here to read Serrini's explanation of why he shut the doors of his Proletariat Films and ended his association with CTLNYC.
Click here to view the myspace.com page of CTLNYC.
Into the new year, 2007, the CTL message board continued posting hateful comments by parishioners of St. Peter parish. An outraged and concern Catholic from outside the diocese called the parish office to inform parish administrators about some of the above information that was found regarding Serrini, Taddeo and CTL. The woman at the parish center told the caller that she was certain that "Father Joe isn't posting [on the ctl message board] anymore". Moderators of the ctl message board stopped posting any dissenting opinions on the blog and only published comments from anonymous posters who vowed their love and support for Father Joe, Rocky, and CTL.
In February 2007, CTL changes its web site home page to feature a full-page photograph of Monsignor Jarmoluk, a description of the 'Forsaken Documentary' with "in Theaters 2007" and background music.
Click here to see a photograph of the new ctl home page featuring a large headshot of Monsignor Jarmoluk.
Finally, a resident from New York travels to 511 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY to take a photograph of the "CTL Headquarters". The address turns out to be nothing but a MAIL BOXES, ETC. with bags of trash left out in front. "Suite 531" turns out to be nothing but a mail box rented by CTL. No one at MAIL BOXES, ETC. had ever heard of CTL. In fact, there is no record of CTL in the New York business directory and there is no record of a "Tom Farnsworth" in the New York Bar Association.
Click here to see a photograph of "CTL Headquarters"/MAIL BOXES, ETC.: 511 Avenue of the Americas, Suite 531, New York, NY, 10011.
Who was it that brought Serrini and Taddeo to Geneva in June 2006? Who was is that hired "Rocky" to join in on the scam on the parishioners of St. Peter Parish and the residents of Geneva?
In August 2006, Bishop Doran placed a precept on Jarmoluk directing him to stop production of the documentary supposedly being made about him. Bishop Doran would only make such a directive if he had firm knowledge or good reason to believe that Jarmoluk had hired or was behind "CTL". Jarmoluk claimed in a letter to parishioners that he requested "CTL" stop production of the film. Yet, the "CTL radio host" often reveals the continued cooperation and participation of Jarmoluk and/or his personal attorney working on his behalf, Canice Rice. Jarmoluk has never denounced the "CTL" - the web site, the radio show, the message board, or the documentary - from the pulpit or in any other communication with the parish community.
In 2004, a parishioner mailed a hand-written note to Jarmoluk of which no other copies were made. In 2006, that note was posted on the internet by "CTL". The only way "CTL" would have gotten that note was for Jarmoluk to give it to them. Jarmoluk supplied "CTL" with a personal message sent to him by a parishioner and Jarmoluk is now aware that the note is now posted on the internet.
Additionally, in 2004, a parishioner left a voicemail message for Jarmoluk at his parish office extension. In 2007, "CTL" posted on its web site's homepage a link to that voicemail message. The only way "CTL" could have gotten access to that message was from Jarmoluk who, for some strange and unknown reason, saved it for almost three years. Jarmoluk supplied "CTL" with a personal message left for him by a parishioner and Jarmoluk is now aware that the message is now posted on the internet. (Fr. Simon Akan also saved a 2004 voicemail message left for him by a parishioner and has shared it with "CTL" who has since posted it on the internet.)
In 2006, a phone call was made to the St. Peter Parish Center to express concerns about the "CTL" web site, Serrini's history of filming pornography and the damage it could do to the parish and diocese. "Lisa" at the parish center assured the caller that she knew "for a fact that Father Joe isn't posting anymore". Since no one ever posted on the "CTL" message board using the name "Father Joe" or "Monsignor Jarmoluk", any and all postings made by Jarmoluk were made under anonymous (literally) pseudonyms. As has been noted by several local newspapers, the majority of the postings on the "CTL" message board are hateful, derogatory, and "unchristian". All of the postings are now from 'supporters' of Jarmoluk.
In 2007, evidence came about that CTLNYC was indeed not a "Media Company" at all but a scam being operated by a con man who has done time in prison on convictions of fraud, theft, and deceptive practices - pretending he is someone or something he is not and bilking "investors" out of millions of dollars. James Grice has an 'associated name' of Thomas Farnsworth, which is the name given as the CTLNYC 'producer' and 'attorney'. The question remains as to whether Jarmoluk is part of the scam or if he and his followers are the ones being scammed. Either way, Jarmoluk continues to defy the orders of Bishop Doran, to whom he has taken a vow of obedience, which command he disassociate with CTLNYC, fire his attorneys, and apologize to all of the parishioners he has offended.
In his September 6, 2007 column, "Forthcoming documentary defends Illinois priest", journalist Matt C. Abbot questions the source of financing of the supposed movie about St. Peter of Geneva pastor Joe Jarmoluk. On October 29 2007, in a guest column of Wesleyan Christian Advocate, Rev. Randy Kanipe wrote the following:
"Watch the movie Forsaken to be released nationwide in November. The movie, a social documentary about clergy killers in the church is produced by CTLNYC Media Productions (an investigative documentary film company) highlights the actions of destructive people and groups driven by the spirit of evil. It illustrates what these people are doing to our clergy, our churches, and most importantly, our collective Christian witness. The movie will also be on PBS with Bill Moyers."
On Saturday, November 3 2007, Fred Martinez posted the following headline on his blog:
"Beware of CTLNYC Media's 'Forsaken Documentary".
Martinez also writes, in part, "I just learned from a friend that a group called CTLNYC Media which is supposedly making a film about VOTF and SNAP activities is not to be trusted. A spokesperson for the film was 'fabricating his identity' and 'behave[d] erratically'. As my friend said, 'All in all, it's a three ring circus and something stinks about it and if I were you, I'd steer clear of it'.
Martinez then posts a note from an anonymous 'friend' which, in part, states:
"I think I can shed some light. About a year and a half ago, I got a phone call from somebody who told me he was making a film about VOTF and SNAP activity who were unjustly accusing a monsignor of hiding, aiding and abetting a pedophile who I believe was the parochial vicar in the parish. At some point, [the] parochial vicar admitted to abusing the young girl to the monsignor....
The person making the documentary that contacted me I later realized was fabricating his identity .....
...I called the 'producer' and told him I was aware he was not who he said he was and I had known that for a long time, that I was still supportive of the project but in no way could I let a meeting take place with other people unless he was going to reveal his true identity. At that point, the man started to behave erratically. His behavior got wildly caustic and accusatory and I and my colleagues exited, stage right."
A subsequent comment to Martinez defended the "Forsaken Documentary" and was signed "Kenneth E. Cowley, friend of small media". Based on the pattern of behavior of those behind CTLNYC, it was no doubt someone else pretending to be Cowley.
Click here to read the entire comments on Martinez's blog on the subject of CTLNYC.
The "CTL" web site has been referred to as "the devil's playground". Several parishioners who logged onto the web site out of curiosity said they were so sickened and disgusted by the message board they would never go on again. Others have claimed that reading the "CTL" message board was bad for their spiritual health and that they would never go on again. Still others were saddened and outraged that several of their own fellow parishioners who call themselves "Friends of Father Joe" could be so mean, cruel, and hateful to blog such demeaning and derogatory posts without the decency to at least sign their real names. Hate, lies, deception, harassment, stalking, and cowardice. The Devil's Playground it is.
".....the release of voicemails that are communication between a parishioner and their pastor contradicts every ethical and moral standard we promote at the USCCB." -a representative of the USCCB legal department
Companions In Hope
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Geneva, Illinois 60134