John Doe - Sexual Lawsuit against the Wheeling Charleston Diocese and Rev Charles E. McCallister
Once again another allegation has been made about a "man of the cloth" sexually abusing a young boy beginning in 2003 and lasting for three years. Personally this is just sickening. How many times does this need to happen before SOMEONE out there comes to the realization that this is a serious PROBLEM.
The interesting thing in this case is the fact that when the investigation initially began Rev Charles E. McCallister was immediately suspended and an investigation began, but now he is dead leaving this individual with really NO justice whatsoever. The Wheeling Charleston Diocese spokesman, Bryan Minor said "Because there are so many unanswered questions, our investigation continues. It never ended.", also went on to say According to Minor, the second sexual abuse investigation is now complete. He said no criminal charges were filed, nor did the church come to a civil settlement.
To me this sounds like typical BS and nothing will ever come of it. This I just another reason why abuse victims are afraid to come forward. Justice never gets served, but at least the Diocese extended the victim outreach program to the alleged victim and his family. Yeah like that will do a lot of good.
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MCCALLISTER, CHARLES E….. ORD. 1971…
1972 Clarksburg, WV Immaculate Conception, 126 E. Pike St. 3rd of 3 priests;
1973 Catholic University—on duty outside diocese/absent on leave;
1974-86 Wheeling, WV assistant chancellor;
1987 Wheeling, WV 1 of 3 vicars general; vice-chancellor;
1988-89 same as above 1 of 2 vicars;vice-chancellor In residence, St. Joseph’s Cathedral;
1990-1 same as above also listed for Webb Farm Residence, 667 Stone & Shannon Rd.;
1992-4 1 of 2 vicars; vice-chancellor Webb Farm Residence;
1995-9 absent on sick leave; Webb Farm Residence;
2000-03 Retired P.O. Box 1309, Elkins, WV 26241;
2004-5 Retired--Elkins Public Affairs Representative;
2006 Retired—Elkins;
McCallister was a priest at the Immaculate Conception Church in Clarksburg at the time. he died in 2007.
2007 no directory available
This information is taken from the Catholic directories. Judy Jones, SNAP southeastern Ohio
# Posted By Judy Jones
| 2/15/08 12:11 PM
I am confused about the statement from Bryan Minor. Is this the second case of misconduct by McCallister? or are they referring to another man of the cloth
# Posted By sleepy girl
| 3/24/08 5:14 PM
I know both parties involved. I believe that maybe the young man is having a hard time coming to terms with his own homosexuality. He also went far away to college and had a hard time being away from home. I hope he comes to realization and clears Father McCallister's name.
# Posted By anonymous
| 5/4/08 10:24 AM
I, too. know both parties. I can tell you that the young man is definitely NOT a homosexual. He does attend a college out of state. However, he is actively involved in campus life and doing extremely well academically. Perhaps if Bishop Schmidt and the diocesean officials has acted when the first allegations were made in the 1990's, this young man and his family as well as Father McAllister's family wouldn't have to go through this ordeal. My prayers go out to everyone involved.
# Posted By sleepygirl
| 5/4/08 10:47 PM
Press Release---Dec. 19..
--Clergy sex abuse group challenges WV Catholic bishop
--They want ‘aggressive outreach’ to others hurt by predator priests
--Self help organization is concerned about “those suffering in silence and shame”
--SNAP wants church officials to disclose & post names of credibly accused pedophiles
--It claims bishop is “ignoring the Pope’s admonition” to “do everything to help victims heal”
--Group praises 19 year old for his courage in exposing prominent predator through lawsuit
--Others with info on clergy sex crimes should “come forward, get help, and call police ASAP”
WHAT
At a sidewalk news conference, a nationally known clergy sex abuse victim and advocate will
--- publicly praise a 19 year old who filed a lawsuit against a pedophile priest earlier this year &
--- urge others who saw, suspected or suffered the clerics crimes to come forward and get help.
He will also prod West Virginia Catholic officials to
--- reveal the names and whereabouts of pedophile priests (proven, admitted & credibly accused),
--- post that information on the Wheeling-Charleston diocesan website, and
--- use church bulletins, pulpit announcements and the diocesan newspaper to beg victims, and witnesses of clergy sex crimes to speak up, expose predators, get help, call police & warn others.
WHEN
Saturday, Dec. 20, 11:00 a.m.
WHERE
Outside the Wheeling-Charleston Catholic Diocese headquarters, 1300 Byron in Wheeling (304 233 0220, 304 230 2075)
WHO
A Missouri man who heads the nation’s largest support group for clergy sex abuse victims, SNAP (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests SNAPnetwork.org)
WHY
In March, a Clarksville man filed a civil child sex abuse and cover up lawsuit against the late Father Charles E. McCallister and the Wheeling-Charleston Catholic Diocese. (Later, the Kiwanis Club and Key Club were added as defendants because McCallister allegedly molested the boy while the priest was an administrator of the Key Club at Liberty High School.)
SNAP wants Wheeling-Charleston Bishop Michael Bransfield to “aggressively use his considerable resources to find and help anyone who may have been assaulted by McAllister or other current/former diocesan staff/volunteers.” Roughly 15 US dioceses have posted on their websites the names of proven, admitted and credibly accused pedophile priests. For the sake of “protecting the vulnerable and healing the wounded,” SNAP wants Bransfield to do that too.
Last spring, during his visit to the US, Pope Benedict repeatedly addressed the church’s on-going child sex scandal, telling bishops at one point to ”do everything possible” to help heal the wounded. SNAP maintains that nearly all US bishop are essentially ignoring the Pope’s admonition, having made no changes in how they approach child sex abuse reports. SNAP will challenge Bransfield to be more forthcoming with information and more pastoral toward victims.
McCallister died in October 2007. Because she’s in charge of his estate, Barbara Jane Arbogast (304 229 0776, 304 592 3542) is also a defendant in the child sex abuse lawsuit against him.
McAllister’s victim is represented by attorneys Alan Perer of Pittsburgh (412 281 1970) and Michael Simon of Wierton (304 723 4400).
http://www.wvrecord.com/news/209193-clarksburg-man-says-priest-abused-him
http://www.dailymail.com/News/statenews/200802080260
For 20 years, Clohessy has been SNAP’s national director. He and three of his brothers were abused by a Missouri cleric in the 1960s/1970s. One of his brothers went on to become a priest and molest kids himself.
http://www.rickross.com/reference/clergy/clergy136.html
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9501E1D71630F931A25756C0A9649C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all
(Clohessy will do another news conference about a different predator priest at 12:30 Saturday in Steubenville.)
CONTACT
David Clohessy of St. Louis, SNAP national director 314 566 9790, Barbara Dorris of St. Louis, SNAP outreach director 314 862 7688 home, 314 503 0003 cell
# Posted By Judy Jones
| 2/12/09 6:34 PM
SNAP Leader Posts Allegations On Diocese Doors
By ANNIE DIMMICK
Staff Writer
WHEELING: When Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses on the door of Wittenberg,
Germany's Castle Church in 1517, his intention, according to historians, was
to object to Catholic church practices, not to confront the church directly.
The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests posted its own objections to
church practices on the door of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston's office in
Wheeling on Saturday, but the group further intends to confront the diocese
in court over its handling of clergy sex abuse allegations.
"We want them to address this kind of horrible trauma," said SNAP National
Director David Clohessy. "Any truly caring shepherd would care for his flock."
Clohessy said the group wants Bishop Michael J. Bransfield to be aware of
allegations concerning the late Rev. Charles E. McCallister. So, the documents
he posted outlined organization members' concerns.
According to Clohessy, a Clarksburg teen filed a civil child sex abuse and
cover-up lawsuit against McCallister and the diocese in March. The teen claims
McCallister committed at least 50 acts of sexual abuse while serving as a
priest at Immaculate Conception Church in Clarksburg four years ago.
McCallister was retired and was not serving as pastor of the parish when the
alleged incidents occurred. The allegations were first made in March 2007,
Clohessy said.
According to The West Virginia Record, a publication of civil proceedings in
West Virginia courts, documents in the suit claim McCallister had a history of
sexual abuse of minors prior to 2003. Further, the suit indicates officials in
the diocese had received at least one report on McCallister
regarding "inappropriate conduct" with a minor, but did not conduct an
investigation.
"We're worried about the other people who may have been molested by Father
McCallister," Clohessy said through tears. "History, psychology and common
sense all tell us the predator rarely strikes once. The bishop is doing what
he and his predecessors have done for years, which is basically nothing."
In his 2008 pilgrimage to the United States, Pope Benedict XVI met with clergy
sex abuse victims in Washington, D.C., an event that reportedly marked the
first meeting between such victims and a pope. According to a papal spokesman,
Benedict prayed with the victims and offered encouragement. Before landing in
the country, Benedict told reporters on his plane, "We will absolutely exclude
pedophiles from the sacred ministry."
But Clohessy said the church has done little, if anything, to enforce
Benedict's vow.
"Which is tragic," Clohessy said.
He noted that is one reason SNAP is requesting that Bransfield, as well as all
bishops across the country, not only reveal the names of pedophile priests but
also post that information on their diocesan Web sites and use church
bulletins, pulpit announcements and the diocesan newspaper to reach out to
victims and witnesses of clergy sex crimes, encourage them to come forward,
get help and warn others. SNAP requests that the names be posted regardless of
whether the accused priests have admitted their crimes, been convicted or are
being credibly accused.
Clohessy also praised the alleged Clarksburg victim, as well as all who come
forward.
"Because of him, many others have been spared," Clohessy said, noting
McCallister was suspended from his duties after the allegation.
Neither Bransfield nor diocesan spokesman Bryan Minor could not be reached for
comment Saturday. However, in an official statement issued following the
filing of the lawsuit, the diocese denied any cover-up, noting it reported the
allegations to law enforcement immediately.
"The documented response of the diocese in this case is clearly not
accurately and factually reflected in the allegations of the complaint," the
diocese stated. "The complaint alleges facts which are substantially
embellished, exaggerated and inconsistent with diocesan policies, diocesan
action in the case, the details and investigation of this claim and the actual
conduct and history of the alleged victim."
The case is still pending in Ohio County Circuit Court. McCallister died in
October 2007.
# Posted By Judy Jones
| 2/12/09 6:36 PM
Doubts linger in priest case; What should happen next?-------
At first glance, it seems like just another accusation of child sex abuse against a Catholic priest, one of hundreds that have surfaced over the past five or six years. But closer examination shows some particularly disturbing recent facts that make the case involving a West Virginia cleric more disturbing than many.
We’re referring to the civil lawsuit filed earlier this year against Fr. Charles (‘Chuck’) McAllister, who died just days before he was to be formally charged with molesting a boy as recently as 2006 at a Clarksburg parish. While that lawsuit is still pending, questions remain about what exactly McAllister did and what West Virginia’s Catholic officials are not doing.
Some of the accusations are painfully familiar. Among them are allegations that:
-- church officials knew McAllister had been accused of molesting years before,
-- the crimes took place on at least 50 different occasions, sometimes on church property, and
-- the youngster’s trauma and pain led to depression, hospitalization, and even suicide attempts
Other unresolved charges and questions, however, are more unusual. Among them:
-- McCallister had agreed to plead guilty to third degree sexual abuse, but then backed off,
-- Despite a severe shortage of priests, for no apparent reason, McAllister wasn’t assigned to any parish for roughly six years (1991-97. )
-- In 1985, when Bishop Joseph Hodges died, McAllister briefly was in charge of the diocese, and presumably had access to records involving sexual scandals involving other priests.
Bishop Michael Bransfield has been largely silent about the McAllister case. And the priest’s untimely death precludes any criminal proceedings that might reveal more information.
So while these issues fester un addressed, what happens next? If history is any guide, Bransfield will do little or nothing. Hiding behind defense lawyers, church insurers and public relations consultants, he will avoid public comment and quietly drag out the civil process, raising every legal objection and exploiting every legal loophole he can. Eventually, he’ll either end up getting the case tossed on some technicality or he’ll pay a quiet settlement to the victim.
In either case, the most crucial question: What did church officials know about McAllister’s crimes and when did they know it will likely then never be answered?
And what should happen now? Bransfield should break with the long-standing passive, hurtful and self-destructive patterns that most church officials still maintain. He should act like a true shepherd, personally visit each parish where McAllister worked, and beg anyone who was hurt to come forward and get help. He should prod his parishioners to recall and track down former church members who suddenly stopped attending mass and parochial school students who quietly transferred elsewhere without explanation (Those families are even more likely to have a child who was ‘groomed’ or molested.)
Furthermore, Bransfield should emulate the 15 bishops across the country who have posted on their diocesan web sites the names of the predator priests in their respective dioceses. This is perhaps the most simple and inexpensive step church authorities can take to both protect the vulnerable and heal the wounded.
There are, however, some hopeful signs in this grim picture. It’s encouraging that this brave teenager was strong and wise enough to disclose the source of his horrific pain quickly. (Most who are molested as kids can’t begin to address their pain until much later in life, if ever.) He and his family apparently cooperated law enforcement officials, not church officials (For decades, Catholic authorities have worked very hard to quietly mollify victims with offers of counseling or settlements, while dodging or stonewalling police and prosecutors). The state police and Harrison County district attorney took the boy’s report seriously and investigated it thoroughly.
Sadly, when in comes to child abuse allegations, the Catholic hierarchy seems to be stuck in old, self-protective patterns. But if victims, their families, and law enforcement continue to deal aggressively and forthrightly with these devastating crimes, healing and prevention can sometimes prevail, even when church authorities do little or nothing.
--- Judy Block Jones heads the Southeastern Ohio chapter a nation-wide support group for clergy sex abuse victims called SNAP (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests – SNAPnetwork.org).She can be reached at snapsteubenville@gmail.com or 636-433-2511
# Posted By Judy Jones
| 2/12/09 6:37 PM
I was unaware that any of the charges against Rev Charles E. McCallister were ever proven. What ever happened to innocent until proven guilty? How do you know that Mr. John Doe isn't just a big liar? I think if Mr. John Doe is making such a claim, his true identity should be disclosed. Seems like a good way for somebody to make a large sum of money without alot of effort.
# Posted By Noname
| 4/28/09 6:17 PM
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# Posted By buy wow gold
| 4/2/10 3:34 AM
Did any other victims come forward? They called and asked me if I had any complaints, but I did not... Father McAllister was always a positive influence in my life....
# Posted By Arty
| 5/3/10 4:36 PM
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