Detroit — The results of a full, voluntary and independent audit regarding sexual abuse in the Capuchin Franciscan Province of St. Joseph detail how the order and its leaders failed to protect young people from abuse over the years, but also represents a transparent effort by the order to “learn from the past to make our present and the future better,” said Fr. John Celichowski, the Detroit-based order’s provincial minister, in a news release June 18.
The audit, which the Capuchins commissioned last year to be conducted by a group of outside experts, included a detailed examination of its 1,093 records — including all available policy and personnel files for current, former and deceased members of the province — dating to the 19th century. Although much of the information uncovered was already public, such as revelations of abuse at St. Lawrence Seminary High School in Mount Calvary, Wis., that took place over several decades, the audit is significant for its detail and thoroughness in documenting past abuse allegations, context and subsequent actions taken by leaders at various levels in the province.
Of the 1,283 friars who were members of the Province of St. Joseph since the 19th century, when records became available, auditors identified 46 friars over the years against whom there had been allegations of abuse of minors, half of whom — 23 friars — had confirmed reports of abuse. Names of each of the friars with confirmed reports of abuse were listed in the report; seven are current members of the province.
According to the final audit report, each of the seven current members with confirmed reports of abuse are required to have a supervision plan reviewed annually by the Provincial Review Board, a local supervisor and are placed in communities away from minors and do not have parishes or schools, performing tasks such as caring for retired members of the province.
Although the audit lays bare the province’s failings, Fr. Celichowski said it is necessary to help the Capuchins move forward in their mission of bringing the Gospel to those in need, and also to help those hurt by abuse to continue to heal.
“For those who have been abused by members of the clergy and religious, their suffering is spiritual as well as physical and emotional,” Fr. Celichowski said. “We can’t fear to bring this abuse into the light. Trusting in God’s grace and the power of the truth and striving to be true to who God has called us to be and how we have vowed to live are the best hopes that we have to overcome it and to help those who have suffered abuse to heal.
Fr. Celichowski said it was important to recognize what went wrong in order to correct mistakes and prevent abuse from happening again.
“We must recognize that to be true to our Franciscan and Gospel values, it is necessary to examine our past as well as our future. We cannot change the past. We can, however, change how we respond to what has happened,” he said. “The audit report will show our failures; but it will also show that we have made significant progress over the years in responding to and preventing abuse.”
The province currently has 169 friars ministering in social service, schools, chaplaincy, retreat houses and parishes across 10 Midwestern states.
Read the report
To read the full audit of the Capuchin Province of St. Joseph, visit www.TheCapuchins.org and click on the “Safe Environments” button on the left side of the page.
Report sexual abuse
The Capuchins and the Archdiocese of Detroit take seriously all allegations of sexual abuse of minors. To report abuse, call the archdiocese’s confidential hotline at (866) 343-8055, or report online at www.aod.org/safeenvironments. Those who have experienced or are reporting abuse are also urged to call local law enforcement.
