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Troy Record: Fr. (sic) Rodino Supported by Parishoners
“Fr. Rodino Supported by Parishoners”
January 9, 2010
By Danielle Sanzone
The Record
WYNANTSKILL — It’s been more than two months since Rev. Salvatore “Sam” Rodino was suspended from his position at St. Jude the Apostle parish for alleged sexual impropriety, but his flock of loyal parishioners still support him and have been conducting its own investigation into the matter.
“I think they thought people would get over this after a couple of weeks, but that is not the case at all,” said Denise Ryan, a member of the Wynantskill parish. “We will never leave him. The support will not stop. They did this to him, so they did it to us as well.”
The St. Jude parish has contacted all of Rodino’s old positions and they have not found anything negative in his past, said Ryan.
“This did not just hurt him, it hurt hundreds of people,” said Ryan. “The kids’ hearts have been broken and the teens still cry about it. They cry like they just lost a parent. All of his old churches have been supportive of him. I do not think he did it. I stake my son’s life on it.”
The church has 1,100 families and a majority of them have been continuing to show support for Rodino. Some have purchased newspaper ads in support of the priest (See Page 12).
The Albany Roman Catholic Diocese said Rodino purportedly engaged in sexual misconduct with a teenager in the 1980s.
“It’s understandable that they have remained so loyal,” said Diocese spokesman Ken Goldfarb.
The official process with the Diocese started months before Rodino was suspended at the end of October. A review panel, with seven members, conducted an investigation and found that the anonymous accuser’s claims had reasonable grounds to be true.
Rodino has not been allowed to practice any of the holy sacraments or wear his priest garb in public since his suspension.
He has shown interest in appealing and that “could take a long time,” said Goldfarb, adding that the ultimate decision would come from the Vatican.
Ryan, a Sycaway resident, said she has known Rodino for nearly five years, since around the time her son started kindergarten at St. Jude, and when Rodino began as the church’s pastor. In the past several years, she described how Rodino connected the parish in more than a spiritual way and they became like a family.
“He has a way to get everyone connected,” she said.
Rodino, who was unable to be reached for comment, had also worked at La Salle Institute in Troy, Bishop Maginn High School in Albany, St. Patrick’s Academy in Catskill, and Catholic Central High School in Lansingburgh.
Rev. Anthony Ligato has since become the St. Jude’s pastor.
Danielle Sanzone may be reached at
270-1292 or by email at dsanzone@troyrecord.com.
A Prayer For Victims of Abuse
Perhaps we’ve gotten a little adrift of our mission, that is, to support the victims of clergy sexual abuse. Perhaps we’ve spent too much time focusing on the abuser, and not the abused. It’s an easy thing to do. The accused abuser here has a face and a name – his alleged victims are anonymous. THey could be anyone. Your brother. Your father. Your husband. Your boyfriend. Your son. Many, many women have been and are victims of clergy sexual abuse as well. Please pray for them – please pray for all victims of sexual abuse, regardless of the perpetrator.
A Healing Prayer for Victims of Abuse
God of endless love,
ever caring, ever strong,
always present, always just:
You gave your only Son
to save us by the blood of his cross.
Gentle Jesus, shepherd of peace,
join to your onw way suffering
the pain of all who have been hurt
in body, mind, and spirit
by those who betrayed the trust placed in them.
Hear our cries as we agonize
over the harm done to our brothers and sisters.
Breathe wisdom into our prayers,
soothe restless hearts with hope,
steady shaken spirits with faith:
Show us the way to justice and wholeness,
enlightened by truth and enfolded in your mercy.
Holy Spirit, comforter of hearts,
heal your people’s wounds
and transform our brokenness.
Grant us courage and wisdom, humility and grace,
so that we may act with justice
and find peace in you.
We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.
From the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
Finally, a Facebook group to support victims
Below is a link to a new group on Facebook, “Visit RodinosVictims.com.” After viewing Mr. Rodino’s support group on Facebook, we thought it was time for parity. We encourage all those who visit this site to join the group and help promote this website so that those long-silenced voices can at long last be heard.
http://www.facebook.com/search/?flt=1&q=rodino&o=69&sid=14000230.964380654..1#/group.php?gid=218538105659
Car Magnets
The following message was posted on Facebook earlier today:
I SUPPORT FR. RODINO CAR MAGNETS WILL SOON BE AVAILABLE FOR $5.
EMAIL ME WITH ANY ORDERS! (Editor’s Note: E-mail address omitted.)
We are not posting this in an effort to promote this new merchandise. Our intention is to remind readers that people continue to express their “support” for Mr. Rodino in inappropriate ways. Car magnets are for expressing support for our troops, political candidates, and cultural viewpoints.
At first glance, a car magnet saying “I Support Fr. (sic) Rodino” seems inoffensive. However, we should ask ourselves: what does that statement logically imply? The answer is offensive, because it implies that Mr. Rodino’s victim is lying. (”If I support Fr. (sic) Rodino, then his accuser must be lying.)”
While we doubt these magnets will be best sellers, we must remain vigilant and be prepared to defend the victims of clergy sexual abuse against all insults, however disguised they may be.
In the end, however, it doesn’t matter if a few of Mr. Rodino’s friends continue to express their support for him. What matters is that the Bishop and the Diocese does not support him. They have decided his accuser is telling the truth.
If these magnets are produced and displayed on cars belonging to Mr. Rodino’s former parishioners, we will write a formal letter of protest to Bishop Hubbard requesting that he remind those parishioners that the Church does not support public attacks against victims of clergy abuse and that disciplinary action be taken against diocesan employees that display such magnets until they are removed.
Op-Ed by John Aretakis
For The Record
All must act responsibly
I write in response to the Nov. 2 letter by Jim Baldwin regarding Father Sam Rodino. At first glance, it appears admirable and charitable to support a priest who has been found credibly accused of sexual abuse of a child by his own employer, the Diocese of Albany. But the most important issue has to do with the compassionate treatment of the two victims by all of us.
A lot of online chatter in The Record suggests that the victim may have come forward for some easy money. That is not true, as the church so far as been successfully hiding behind the Statute of Limitations defense that does not allow a lawsuit to be filed by a victim who is over 21 years of age. Secondly, the few settlements paid have been done for token amounts. Does anyone have any idea how much quality therapy costs for a victim of childhood abuse?
The data and statistics tell us that one out of every four girls is sexually abused as a child and one out of every six boys. We also know that false accusations are extremely rare. Do you really think a 40 year old wants to come out and tell the world that his first sexual experiences in puberty were with a man three times his age? Can you grasp how hard it is to keep this terrible and lonely secret for most of your life? Can you grasp how shameful and embarrassing it is to admit that your first sexual encounter was with a priest?
As children, we are taught not only to admire the priest, but calling him “Father” means he has a parent-like power over us, along with his religious and spiritual power of being “another Christ” on earth.
This gets us to the major point. The public outcry of support for this priest has the effect of scaring other prospective victims and witnesses. Who would dare come forward when a lynch mob of 200 people gathers to shout that Father Rodino’s removal was some sort of conspiracy by Bishop Hubbard?
Don’t get me wrong. I believe the Bishop has mismanaged and mishandled the clergy sexual abuse crisis. I don’t know why he or his hand-picked panel recommended removal of Father Rodino, when I have given the bishop dozens of other accusations that have not been acted on. And most people don’t even know Bishop Hubbard’s policy of refusing to cast guilt on any deceased priest who molested children.
Catholics, even supporters of Father Rodino, must act responsibly as their own religion teaches. And most importantly, Bishop Hubbard must follow his own guidelines; that is, to tell all of his flock to not say a bad work about those who accuse priests.
John A. Aretakis
Troy
Reprinted from the Troy Record, November 28, 2009.
http://www.troyrecord.com/articles/2009/11/28/obituaries/doc4b10b57a63e80356605810.txt
Mr. Rodino’s Statement
Many of our readers may be aware of a Facebook group titled “Support Rev. Rodino.” Recently, it has come to our attention that the group has a new member, namely, Mr. Rodino himself. We were not aware that Mr. Rodino had a Facebook account, and, in truth, we were more than a bit disturbed — Mr. Rodino found himself in quite a bit of trouble while he was Chaplain at LaSalle because of his activities on the Internet. Back then, it was on AOL and AIM (AOL’s Instant Messenger). Now, Mr. Rodino is on Facebook. He appears to have established his Facebook account before the recent allegations against him became public. The question arises: why does a middle age Roman Catholic priest need to be on a website marketed to teens and college students?
Since Mr. Rodino has now joined the Facebook group created by his “supporters,” we feel it appropriate to post his recent wall post on that group. In effect, it serves as his first public statement since he was placed on leave. Below is the text of his Facebook wall post:
How does one begin to say thank you to so many? I had to join this group in order to get a message out. Please know how much my mom and I appreciate your support at this difficult time. We miss you all very much. Together may we continue to grow and share in the love and life offered to each of us through Jesus Christ!… Anne and Sam Rodino
Other comments on the “Support Rev. Rodino” Facebook group essentially laud his praises and recount favorable memories of him as a priest. Once again, however, we are forced to remind his supporters that just because one person, two people, or a thousand people had a positive experience with Mr. Rodino does not mean that “reasonable grounds” did not exist to believe he sexually abused a minor years ago. Nor does the testimony of many of Mr. Rodino’s “supporters” negate the reports of disturbing conduct he exhibited while in contact with high school boys in his capacity as Chaplain at LaSalle.
Please continue to pray for all those involved in this scandal. Mr. Rodino’s family certainly needs our prayers, as do his accusers, as do the witnesses, and all those who have had their trust shattered. Our Faith in Jesus Christ demands prayers for all…even those we think our enemies.
Bishop Sighting!
Today, for the first time since he placed Mr. Rodino on administrative leave, His Excellency, Bishop Howard J. Hubbard of Albany appeared on television. Was it to comment on this scandal? Of course not. He appeared in a puff piece on Capital News 9 about the restoration of Albany’s Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. [ http://capitalnews9.com/capital-region-news-12-content/top_stories/487436/albany-cathedral-undergoing-renovations ]
We’re very glad that the restoration of the Cathedral is going so well, and we look forward to its completion. However, it’s sad that this was the first time the bishop has publicly shown his face on television (to our knowledge) since making a controversial decision regarding one of his priests.
The Cathedral represents the Bishop’s authority over the Diocese. It is the home parish of all Catholics in the Albany Diocese. We applaud Bishop Hubbard for his efforts to ensure the Cathedral undergoes needed restoration, but we wonder if he knows that the people of his diocese need restoration as well.
Bishop Hubbard has served as the leader of the Albany Diocese for nearly thirty years. At first, he was dubbed “the Boy Bishop,” a young street priest who was concerned with the people, his people, God’s people. Indeed, his first pastoral letter was entitled “We Are His People;” his second, “We Are God’s Priestly People.” Bishop Hubbard, your people still need you. Those who have known Mr. Rodino in parishes and schools throughout this diocese need to hear from you. We, God’s Priestly People, need you to answer this simple question:
What did you know about Mr. Rodino, and when did you know it?
Your Excellency, it is the answer to that question, not only about Mr. Rodino but also about many of your other priests, not the restoration of the Cathedral, that will define your legacy.
We pray that the Holy Spirit grants you the courage to answer.
“Know for a Fact”
Some of our readers may be aware that a Facebook group exists to support Mr. Rodino (entitled, creativly, Support Rev. Rodino). In reading through some of the posts people have written there, it’s sad to note that so many people have been hurt by this. However, it’s disturbing that on the Facebook group, on news blogs, and in the papers, many of Mr. Rodino’s supporters have said something to the effect of “I know for a fact that this isn’t true.” Well, we take issue with that.
If you “know for a fact” that the allegations against Mr. are false, then prove it. We’re serious — prove it. We’re confident you can’t, because, logically, you cannot prove a negative.
Logic and reason are hard to refute. Pope Benedict has often said that Christianity is faith and reason together. In this sad case, we think it’s important to review the logical flaws in what so many of Mr. Rodino’s supporters are saying. For example, many say something like “He is such a good priest, he helped me through a difficult time.” That doesn’t mean this allegation is false. Or, “He married me, baptized my eleven children, and has always been kind to our family.” That statement also doesn’t mean these allegations are false. One last example: “I’ve asked my children if he ever abused them and all five of them said he never did.” Once again, the logic of the “if…then” statement gets in the way. Just because X didn’t steal from Y, doesn’t mean that X is not a thief. X could have stolen from Z.
Class dismissed.
Enjoy the weekend.
The Grey Area: Where does unethical behavior end and Illegal behavior begin?
The Diocese of Albany has found “reasonable grounds” to believe that then-Fr. Salvatore Rodino sexually abused a male teenager 27 years ago. Consequently, Mr. Rodino has been placed on administrative leave and removed from the active ministry.
Many of Mr. Rodino’s supporters have commented on the apparent lack of “due process” in this investigation — they claim that Mr. Rodino was denied “due process” during the investigation and that the diocese should not have placed Mr. Rodino on leave based on a 27 year old claim of abuse.
“Due process” originates in the United States Constitution. Article Five, as well as Amendment 14, guarantee that the right to due process of law shall not be denied a defendant in a United States court. However, Mr. Rodino’s accuser claims the abuse happened 27 years ago, Mr. Rodino cannot be brought before a civil court to face those charges because the statute of limitations on the alleged crime has expired.
This is not unusual. Most people who are victims of sexual abuse as children do not report their abuse until they are much older (well past date the statute of limitations expired). Therefore, the Church, following a policy adopted by the US Conference of Catholic Bishops and approved by the Vatican, is responsible for investigating a claim of sexual abuse and, if reasonable grounds are found to believe the abuse occurred, to appropriately discipline the offending cleric.
Bishop Hubbard placed Mr. Rodino on administrative leave. Therefore, Mr. Rodino no longer allowed to function as a priest. The Bishop’s actions are in accord with a provision of Canon Law that allows bishops to remove priests from ministry for a variety of reasons. Among those reaons is a violation of the Sixth Commandment — in this case the sexual absue of a minor. Priests and deacons can also be placed on administrative leave because of psychological or mental illness, or a variety of other reasons.
Consider the following scenario. What should a Bishop do with a priest who is exhibiting signs of a psychological instability or, in the extreme, a form of dimentia. This priest may be a victim of mental illness, and for his own good, he should be relieved of his priestly faculties. The Church doesn’t want psychologically unstable or mentally ill priests in ministry. Would you like to make a confession to a priest who no longer understands that he is bound by the seal of the confessional never to reveal what you say.
In addition to the diocese’s investigation that determined “reasonable grounds” existed to believe Mr. Rodino sexually abused a minor years ago, several other stories have emerged that suggest Mr. Rodino has crossed enough ethical lines to warrant his removal from ministry.
What do you do with a priest who talks to his underage students over the internet, who allegedly has taken pictures of high school boys in the locker room sans clothes, who encourages his students to reveal personal (sexual) details of their lives to him in journal entries, and who invites minors to the rectory while he is alone? These accusations have been floating around about Mr. Rodino for years, yet it appears none of them cross that line between unethical and illegal. It is unethical for a teacher (let alone a a priest) to cross boundaries with his students by communicating with them late at night over the internet, by encouraging them to reveal the details of their sexual experiences, and inviting them over to the rectory? Each one of these actions crosses a boundary, and most reasonable people would consider them to be unethical. Mr. Rodino’s actions, while unethical, may not be illegal. But should the diocese allow a priest with this history of unethical line-crossing to continue to serve in the active priesthood? Absolutely not.
In removing Mr. Rodino from ministry, Bishop Hubbard, we trust, was not only equipt with the existance of “reasonable grounds” to believe Mr. Rodino sexually abused a minor years ago, but was also considering all the reports of Mr. Rodino’s unethical behvaior the diocese has recieved.
We pray for the victims of Mr. Rodino’s abuse. We pray for those two men who reported sexual abuse to the diocese. And we pray also for all those who were victimized in a different way: those that were duped, those who placed their trust in a man who was cunning enough to hide his past abuses and indiscretions and involve himself in people’s lives. God sees the pain and suffering that has been caused by this incident — the pain of the victim, and the pain of those who for years trusted Mr. Rodino. We pray to God that for all these victims, He will bring healing, justice, and peace.
The Passion of the Sam
Readers might be interested to read a letter to the editor in today’s Troy Record (a paper that, we should point out, has not carried the story of a second victim having come forward in the 1990s, and has not reported on SNAP’s reasoned, logical plea for compassion for victims).
Here’s the link: http://www.troyrecord.com/articles/2009/11/02/opinion/doc4aedd93381504327326491.txt
The author actually goes so far as to compare Sam Rodino to Jesus Christ. This comparison will surely please Mr. Rodino, as he routinely compared himself to Christ several years ago after viewing the movie, The Passion of the Christ. With a paranoia that can only be described as Nixonian, Mr. Rodino compared himself to Jesus, and his “enemies” (aka students that disagreed with him) to the mob and Roman authorities.
Below is the text of the letter, courtesy of the Troy Record, Monday, November 2nd 2009 edition:
For The Record
Will proudly bear witness
The Passion of Sam Rodino. I met Father Salvadore Rodino more than 14 years ago at a Mass at St. Bonaventure’s Church in Speigletown. I had been baptized Catholic, but only had attended Masses for weddings and funerals as I grew up. At 25 years old, I was at a point in life where I was ready to leave my childhood behind, and become a man. Not a man in the sense of “being over 18” made me a man, but more in the sense of responsibility and doing the right things to help the world around me. I was dating a girl who brought me to my first Mass at St. Bonaventure’s who is now my wife of 13 years. After meeting “Sam,” I was awestruck at a man who truly fit the mold of pastoral strength and guidance. His aura was one of an unconcealed personality that shone with a vibrant love of serving God. After attending a couple of more masses and having heartfelt conversations with Father Rodino, he directed me on my path to adulthood. In a year, I not only got engaged, but made my First Holy Communion, First Reconciliation, Confirmation, and celebrated the Sacrament of Marriage as well. Over the years, his word and homily’s were celebrated and lived by many devoted parishioners who grew to love and adore him, both as a person and a priest.
Now, as the Catholic Church approaches the season of Advent, preparing to celebrate the birth of Jesus, the accusations and reports surrounding Father Rodino seem to mirror the death of Jesus, the Passion. One of the most respected priests in the entire Diocese, Father Salvatore Rodino and his reputation are under attack, and he now has to carry a cross he didn’t ask for, a stigma that will stick regardless of an investigation’s outcome.
At the same time, the media, which carries the same power as a Roman Army, uses the sharp pointed tips of their misguided information to poke and jab at him, scarring him with undeserving marks of an innocent man.
Even our own Diocese, like Apostle Peter, with its cold sounding letter to the Masses, is in a sense, denying Father Rodino.
What are we to do as Parishioners, as followers of both past and present, of his? Of course many of us are angry, frustrated, maybe confused. During a time of economic woes, threats of wide spread disease, and political miscalculations, faith and prayer will be what sets our hearts in the right direction. When asked what we truly feel, we will not deny or yell “crucify,” but we should stand firm behind Father Rodino, as his friends and his disciples.
For the man that guided me into adulthood and helped me find responsibility and faith; the man that married my wife and I and baptized all three of our children; I pray for him in my heart, yet publicly I will proudly bear witness to his character and faith without regard to what is thought of me. It’s what he would do for us.
Jim Baldwin
Troy
