August 2011
Dear Brothers and Sisters:
May the Lord give you peace!
I feel compelled to write this letter to you, members of the Sts. Simon & Jude faith community, in order to discuss a number of issues regarding allegations of sexual abuse and our commitment to the protection of children and youth. This information is intended to provide you with a clear understanding of where we are today and move us forward as a vibrant, faith-filled community.
In light of the approaching civil trial of Fr. Alex Manville, OFM, and Gus Krumm, I have been prayerfully reflecting over the last several months upon one of the most difficult times in our Church. I will not be commenting on the case in which the plaintiffs charge that abuse happened in this parish – a charge the defendants adamantly deny. Rather, I will restate what I said as quoted in the Orange County Register, “We pray for all participants in this case and trust that the court system will provide a just resolution."
For those members of our community who joined us after 2000, Fr. Alex Manville, OFM, and Gus Krumm are names that are only described through the media as it has covered the civil charges regarding sexual abuse brought against them. I wish to provide here a brief history of the events as I know them, and provide information on the actions we took as pastoral leadership in response to what we learned.
Fr. Alex Manville, OFM, served this community as Pastor from 1982 to 1994. Years later he retired and returned to live in residence with the Friars in Huntington Beach. Gus Krumm served as parochial vicar from 1988 to 1998. After his assignment here, he was named pastor of Ascension Parish in Portland, Oregon and served from 1998 to 2002.
In May 2002, a press report outlined allegations made against Gus Krumm regarding inappropriate sexual conduct with minors in 1980 or 1981 when he was in Santa Barbara. Gus initially denied the press report that appeared in newspapers in Orange County and Portland, Oregon. However, on May 21, 2002, Gus admitted his wrongdoing to the Provincial and was immediately removed from ministry.
When I first arrived at Sts. Simon & Jude in 2000, I remember being extremely excited and on fire, ready to explore all that my formation, education and experience had prepared me for to lead this community. When Bishop Brown installed me as Pastor on January 1, 2001, it never occurred to me that in a very brief period of time, I would be presiding over a community of suffering and wounded people who felt betrayed by the revelations regarding Gus Krumm. The dark cloud that had gradually been enveloping other dioceses and church communities came to rest directly above our Sts. Simon & Jude community of faith. We were forced by circumstance to face openly - and look deeply at - sexual abuse of children and youth by the clergy - one of the most infamous and egregious epochs in Church history.
Our own experience put us in touch with the unbelievable indifference and malaise by many in Rome and some in the American Catholic hierarchy. We could see that since the crisis had been unfolding, little had been done to ease the suffering of victims or answer the many unanswered questions of a stunned, disbelieving and overwhelmed Catholic community. Many just walked away from the Church because they could not get their heads and hearts around what had been unfolding for years.
In May 2002, the pastoral leadership of Sts. Simon & Jude created a process to walk with our community during those difficult days. The process provided outreach and attempted to heal a wounded community. It was a painful process of awareness for all of us: facing our fears, grieving, calling victims to come forth, and offering support for individuals who came to us in need. We learned and took on the task of building and implementing uncompromising programs for the safety of children. The following exhibits provide detailed information on what we did and are doing as a parish:
- Exhibit A – Brief History of Actions taken by Pastoral Leadership
- Exhibit B – Additional Procedures Implemented at Sts. Simon & Jude Parish
- Exhibit C – USCCB Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People
- Exhibit D – Diocese of Orange Covenant with the Faithful
- Exhibit E – The Conference of Major Superiors of Men (CMSM) 25 National Standards
In retrospect, a great deal of my tenure at Sts. Simon & Jude has been dedicated to the renewal in the Church of uncompromising safety for the protection of children and young people and coming to terms with the fallout that took place when the revelation about Gus Krumm at St. Anthony’s Seminary came to light.
Recent newspaper articles remind us that in the next several weeks, a trial will begin involving Fr. Alexander Manville, OFM, and Gus Krumm. The press coverage does not invite a process that assumes one is innocent until proven guilty, or require disclosure of all of the facts before passing judgment. In the coming weeks leading up to - and during - the trial, we may have visitors from Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests (SNAP) and other groups standing on the sidewalks handing out material stating their point of view. I invite you to be polite, but also know that you are not required to talk to them or accept their material.
In the weeks ahead if it becomes necessary, the parish will hold meetings where members of the parish can express their feelings about any facts that come out through the judicial process - including the trial itself. I have asked the Pastoral, School and Finance Councils to advise me about the need or desire for such events.
I hope that this information has been helpful in assuring you that we have been steadfast in our commitment to providing the safest environment for children, youth and all people who come to our parish and our school. It is my firm belief that priests, religious, lay employees, ministers and volunteers must maintain appropriate boundaries with others in order to preserve the integrity of the ministerial relationship.
Moreover, as pastor, I call upon those with knowledge of inappropriate behavior – whether past or present – to come forward with this information so that innocent victims may be spared from further harm, and so that victims receive the help they need from the Diocese of Orange or the Franciscan Friars. The contact information for both these organizations is on the parish website, www.ssj.org.
I ask everyone to join with us to protect the safety of children, youth, women and men. For the innocent victims and their families we must also promote healing where there is pain, and reconciliation where there is separation.
Finally, I sincerely believe that when the upcoming court case is completed and judgments rendered, there will still be important and sacred work to be accomplished: the Gospel demand to forgive.
Dag Hammarskjold, former Secretary-General of the United Nations, and the only person to have been posthumously awarded a Nobel Peace Prize, said it most profoundly: “With forgiveness is the answer to the child's dream of a miracle by which what is broken is made whole again, what is soiled is made clean again.”
Sincerely in Christ,
Reverend Michael L. Harvey, OFM
Pastor
