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 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

http://www.facebook.com/search/?flt=1&q=rodino&o=69&sid=14000230.964380654..1#/group.php?gid=218538105659

RodinosVictims.com will continue to allow anyone – supporters of Mr. Rodino included – to voice their opinion, raise questions, etc, as long as they do so in a manner that is respectful to victims of clergy sexual abuse.

Car magnets that read “I Support Fr. (sic) Rodino” are offensive to victims.  The logical implication is that the “supporter” has become an accuser – they are accusing the victim of lying.  The Bishop and officials of the Diocese disagree – they found reasonable grounds to believe Mr. Rodino’s accuser.

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.

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

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.

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.

http://www.troyrecord.com/articles/2009/11/10/opinion/doc4af8abf778c76079871378.txt

Truth is in his heart

Nice letter to the editor about Father Rodino from Jim Baldwin, but it still doesn’t suffice the fact that he’s on leave for sexual abuse. Only Father Rodino in his heart knows the truth.

Leave it to the justice system

I just finished reading Jim Baldwin’s Pulse of the People regarding Father Rodino. What a wonderful man he was, what a wonderful man of faith he was. Well, that’s fine, Mr. Baldwin, but you weren’t one of his victims. We will let the justice system, not the public, take care of the evidence.

Sound Off, Troy Record, November 10, 2009

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.