New York Jesuits Accused of Hiding Names of Abusive Clergy

A new investigation reveals that Jesuit officials are still hiding the names of accused abusers. It’s another reminder that secretive institutions can’t police themselves and that parents and parishioners must stay vigilant and demand change.

Public records obtained recently by the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle show that McQuaid school

• had received at least three independent accusations against former teacher John J. Tobin,
• the school eventually admitted to a reporter that it had in fact fired Tobin for what was described as "incidences of inappropriate behavior" during a class trip to Europe,
• yet Tobin was still omitted from a list of accused clerics and staff recently put out by the the Jesuits.

The newspaper also reports that additional accusations against two other Jesuit teachers at the school had been reported to Brighton police in 2003.

This story is more proof that Catholic officials are incapable of investigation themselves and being open and honest about clergy sex crimes. That is why we believe grand jury investigations and statutes of limitations reform are needed, and why victims, witnesses and whistleblowers must keep calling police, prosecutors, therapist and support groups like ours – so the truth can be revealed and so that the children can be protected.

Contact: Zach Hiner, Executive Director (zhiner@snapnetwork.org, 517-974-9009)