NY Times - April 29, 2004
Catholic Priest Who Aids Church Sexual Abuse Victims Loses Job
By DANIEL J. WAKIN

Twenty years ago, the Rev. Thomas Doyle warned the nation's Roman Catholic bishops about the church's looming sexual abuse nightmare. Since then, he has become a hero to the victims, speaking out on their behalf and helping them in legal cases in recent years.

In doing so, Father Doyle also became a thorn in the side of the church hierarchy.

In the latest chapter of his turbulent career, Father Doyle was quietly removed from his job as an Air Force chaplain in a clash with his archbishop over pastoral issues.

He lost his endorsement as a chaplain from the Archdiocese of Military Services in September, a decision that until now had not become public. The leader of the Archdiocese of Military Services, Archbishop Edwin F. O'Brien, said Father Doyle had flouted his guidelines about requiring daily Mass for Catholics on military bases and other pastoral issues.

But the demotion has outraged abuse victims and their advocates, who point to the last several years of scandals as affirmation of Father Doyle's longstanding concerns. They say they suspect he was reassigned in retaliation by the church hierarchy. And it has produced a messy coda to a military career that Father Doyle said he loved deeply.

Father Doyle had served as an Air Force chaplain since 1986. He was at Ramstein Air Force Base in Germany from 2001 until September, when he was transferred to Seymour Johnson Air Force Base near Goldsboro, N.C., where he now provides drug and alcohol counseling services but does not serve as a chaplain.

Speaking from Bamberg, Germany, Archbishop O'Brien rejected suggestions that he was punishing Father Doyle. He said that since he became archbishop seven years ago, he had tolerated the priest's criticisms of the hierarchy even if they were sometimes "over the top."

He also said he could have waited until Father Doyle retired in August and avoided the turmoil. "But I can't abdicate my pastoral responsibility because of what some others who are rather deeply involved in the sex-abuse issue would conclude," he said.

Father Doyle declined to characterize his reassignment as punitive. "I don't think it would be fair for me to say yes it is, no it isn't," he said. He said he did not want to "pick a fight" with his archbishop and was neither angry nor bitter. However, he acknowledged that his role as victim's advocate "has not been received well by many bishops."

His dismissal stemmed from a memorandum he wrote for two superiors at Ramstein interpreting the archbishop's expectations for how Catholic base personnel should be ministered to. On several points, he appears to contradict the written guidelines of Archbishop O'Brien.

For example, the archbishop had said that base chaplains were expected to celebrate Mass daily and that Catholics at installations with assigned priests "have the right to attend Mass regularly."

Actually, Father Doyle wrote, Catholics do not have a right to daily Mass, according to church law. Daily Mass is a strong custom, but not "an essential element of the practice" of the faith. He also contradicted Archbishop O'Brien by saying the archbishop's permission was not needed to substitute a communion service on Sunday for a Mass if no Catholic priest was available.

Father Doyle said his memorandum came to the attention of the archbishop when an employee of the Catholic ministry at the base found a copy. The employee, believing that it meant she would lose her daily Mass, sent it to the archbishop's office.

Archbishop O'Brien said Father Doyle's positions had caused him to lose confidence. "There is nothing more important to our priests and our people than the Eucharistic celebration," he wrote in terminating the priest's chaplaincy. "Your refusal to accept that and your attempt to provide an alternate authority on that issue is unacceptable."

For his part, Father Doyle said that he was giving his opinion on church requirements at a time when there was a shortage of priests to cover Ramstein and two nearby bases. He said he completely accepted the central role of the Eucharist and the archbishop's authority.

Father Doyle is a member of the Dominican order, and his superior, the Rev. Michael Mascari, wrote a letter of support to the archbishop, relaying the priest's apologies and explanations and asking the archbishop to reconsider.

Father Doyle's supporters are convinced he himself is now a victim.

"I think the hierarchy has been gunning after him for a long time," said Jason Berry, an author of "Vows of Silence: The Abuse of Power in the Papacy of John Paul II," which includes a sympathetic portrait of Father Doyle. "He has probably done more damage to the Catholic hierarchy of any priest in America."

Jeff Anderson, a lawyer in St. Paul who has brought such cases for 22 years and often involved Father Doyle, said the priest's help was often crucial in forcing dioceses to settle cases. "He's the guy in the inside that knows how it works and how they work," Mr. Anderson said, referring to the bishops.

The priest's involvement in the abuse issue dates to the mid-1980's, when he was an aide to the Vatican representative in Washington and helped write a confidential report, often cited now, about the dimensions of sexual abuse by priests and dealing with the problem legally and pastorally. He grew increasingly vocal in his support for abuse victims, speaking to many personally as well as giving talks and testifying.

"He is far and away the single greatest ray of hope for many, many victims," said David Clohessy, national director of the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests.

Father Doyle complicated his position after losing his endorsement by seeking to replace it with one from the Holy Orthodox Catholic Church, a small body unrelated to the Roman Catholic Church. The priest called that endorsement a bureaucratic fig leaf to keep chaplain status so that he could stay on past his required retirement in August, when he turns 60, and receive a better retirement package. He now calls that decision a mistake and has renounced it.

But the damage was done. A group of priests on Long Island who had invited Father Doyle to speak earlier in April withdrew the request because of rumors he was an apostate.

Priest Who Aided Sex Abuse Victims Ousted
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Filed at 7:34 p.m. ET
The Rev. Thomas P. Doyle, the most ardent champion of priestly sex abuse victims among America's Roman Catholic clergy, has been fired by his archbishop and is currently forbidden to lead public Masses.

Doyle said Thursday that Archbishop Edwin O'Brien of the Archdiocese for the Military Services withdrew his endorsement of Doyle as a U.S. Air Force chaplain last Sept. 17. Doyle remains a priest, but cannot celebrate sacraments until his career as an Air Force major ends this summer.

The stated reason was disagreement over providing daily Catholic Masses at military bases with few priests. But victim advocates see payback for Doyle's 18 years of activism and sharp criticism of the hierarchy's handling of molestation scandals.

Asked about this, Doyle said ``I certainly would hope not, but I have no way of knowing for sure because I had no opportunity for dialogue.''

The archdiocese's chancellor said only O'Brien could discuss the situation and calls to his office were not returned.

This is Doyle's second career disruption. In 1986, the Vatican embassy in Washington ended his employment after Doyle became immersed in the molestation issue and co-authored a then-confidential memo that went to all

U.S. bishops, warning that abuse was a problem of epidemic proportions. Doyle had been the staff canon lawyer who processed confidential data on U.S. bishop candidates.Doyle then joined the Air Force. He also has provided many victims pastoral counsel, legal advice and court testimony in suits against the church.

"O'Brien can deny it all he wants,'' said Jason Berry, a journalist who has covered Catholic abuse cases for two decades, and whose new book Vows of Silence depicts Doyle's career. "There's not a doubt in my mind that this is retribution for the stand (Doyle) has taken.''

David Clohessy of Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests called retribution "the only reasonable conclusion.''

"Most Catholics will see this as a very sad step backward,'' he said, adding the National Review Board, a lay watchdog panel, should intervene on Doyle's behalf.

The ouster mainly involved O'Brien's directive that priest chaplains "are expected to celebrate Mass daily,'' though the archbishop acknowledged this "is not feasible'' everywhere.

Doyle was assigned to Germany's Ramstein Air Base, the Air Force's largest overseas facility, and three nearby bases as one of three Catholic priests -- though one is usually deployed elsewhere. Chaplains minister to 15,000 residents and wounded troops, airlifted from the Mideast almost daily.

Colleagues asked Doyle for advice on chaplain staffing under church law, in which he holds a Ph.D. from the Catholic University of America.O'Brien objected to Doyle's Aug. 16 memo on the subject, which said daily Masses are "a strong Catholic custom'' and "strongly recommended'' by church law, but not mandated.

A laywoman sent the memo to O'Brien, who informed Doyle he was dismissed immediately due to "written contradiction of my expectation'' and "your attempt to provide an alternative authority.''

That happened just after Doyle went on leave pending reassignment to Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in North Carolina, where he now works with the medical group on substance abuse counseling and other assignments.

Caught just short of the possibility of early retirement (he turns 60 on Aug. 3), Doyle arranged temporary chaplain endorsement from another denomination, the Holy Orthodox Catholic Church, in what he termed a technicality to retain benefits.

Doyle still is a priest in the Dominican order's Chicago province. His superior, the Very Rev. Michael Mascari, hoped for mediation and asked O'Brien to meet him and Doyle, to no avail.

In 2002, O'Brien was also upset by Doyle's criticism of a "magical notion of the sacraments'' in a tough speech to the first meeting of Voice of the Faithful, a Catholic lay reform group.

Doyle said his Dominican colleagues formally praised his "prophetic work'' in "advocating the rights of victims'' last June and the worldwide leader, Superior General Carlos Azpiroz, endorsed this. Doyle has received several Air Force commendations and laudatory evaluations from commanders.

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For immediate release:
Friday, April 30, 2004

For more information:
David Clohessy of St. Louis, National Director (314) 566-9790 cell
Barbara Blaine of Chicago, President (312) 399-4747 cell
Mark Serrano of Leesburg VA, Board Member (703) 771-9606, (703) 727-4940 cell

Sex Abuse Victims Ask Board To Intercede On Behalf Of Fired Priest

Leaders of the nation's largest support group for clergy molestation victims are asking a national lay Catholic lay panel to intervene in the firing of a nationally-recognized priest who champions for the sexually abused.

In a letter to Anne Burke of Chicago, interim head of the USCCB National Lay Review Board, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests says that failure to act "will deepen the frustration and hopelessness that many victims feel."

"Doyle is a true hero, and it's tragic that he's essentially been fired for the most flimsy and transparent reason and without even a hearing," said Barbara Blaine of Chicago, SNAP's founder and president. "If your board ignores this bald-faced intimidation a very chilling message will be sent to victims and their allies everywhere: 'keep your mouth shut or face the consequences.'"

"It is tragic that the only time the U.S. Catholic heirarchy seems to act swiftly is to defend themselves and punish those who speak out against clergy sexual
abuse," said SNAP national director David Clohessy of St. Louis.

The text of the letter is below.

April 30, 2004

Hon. Anne M. Burke
Interim Board Chair
National Review Board for the Protection
of Children and Young People
Chicago IL

Dear Justice Burke:

Restoring confidence. It is one of the stated goals of the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops (USCCB) when addressing the clergy sexual abuse crisis. The recent firing of Rev. Thomas Doyle, one of the most compassionate voices for clergy sexual abuse survivors in the church, does nothing but hurt already untrusting survivors. We learned a long time ago that speaking the truth on this crisis will get you in trouble. Rev. Doyle knows this lesson better than most.

We, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) urge the National Review Board to use everything in your power to help Rev. Doyle be restored to his position as Air Force chaplain. Further, it is imperative for survivors' trust that the National Review Board take leadership on this issue and publicly criticize the military archbishop for punishing Rev. Doyle for his outspoken advocacy for survivors.

Surely, you can see the absurdity of this situation. Bishops, who covered-up sexual abuse for decades face virtually no consequences for their actions. Yet the one priest who has most steadfastly supported victims and has endlessly worked to prevent future abuse has now been punished twice.

This injustice can not be allowed to stand. Failure to act will deepen the frustration and hopelessness that many victims feel. Please do the right thing in this matter.

Barbara Blaine
President, SNAP
Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests
Chicago IL
312 399 4747

David Clohessy
National Director, SNAP
Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests
7234 Arsenal Street
St. Louis MO 63143
314 566 9790 cell, 314 645 5915

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To The Editor:
Father Tom Doyle seems to me a classic example of a prophet without honor only in his own home. Almost twenty years ago, Fr. Doyle began warning bishops about the extent and devastation of sexual abuse of minors by clergy. He urged them to take the necessary steps to prevent such abuse and to respond to the victims and their families in a pastoral manner. His early warnings were largely ignored and his promising career in the church ended. However, he continued to speak out and has probably done more than any single person to force the hierarchy to come to grips with the problem. In this sorry chapter of church history, Fr. Doyle stands out as an example integrity who spoke the truth to power and gave the victims hope.

Loretta Shea Campbell
Waldwick, N. J.

To the Editors: Like his role model Jesus of Nazareth, Fr. Tom Doyle has been sacrificed at the altar of power. But also like Jesus, Fr. Doyle's truth will live on in those who have heard him - and they are legion.

Maria Cleary
Parsippany, NJ

To the Editor-
Fr. Thomas Doyle, O.P. (Military Chaplain 4-28) may have lost his Church endorsement to the Military Services but the loud and supportive endorsement of thousands of Clergy Sex Abuse Survivors is perpetual. The characterization of Doyle as a "Ray of Hope" is an understatement indeed, for as scripture testifies, "Those who lead the many to Justice shall shine like the stars forever"! How paradoxical he was removed over an issue involving the Eucharist since he has been the very Icon of the Eucharistic Christ for victims of Clergy Sexual Abuse. Courage, Honor, Bravery, Valor, all military words of Honor, all belong to this soldier of God.

Rev. John P. Bambrick Manalapan, NJ 

To the Editors:
The firing of Fr. Tom Doyle and the Catholic Church hierarchy's attempt to silence him sends a very clear message to those of us in the pews: We should be listening to what he has to say.

Ann Zouvelekis
Whippany, NJ 07981

To the Editors:
We see here in stark review both the vindictiveness and hypocrisy of the hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church. Anyone who speaks out the truth in the Church is going to be put down by whatever method. The bishops are not really interested in the people receiving the Eucharist. If they were they would have changed their Man-Made Law of Mandatory Celibacy in order to allow Catholics the Eucharist once a week. I had to laugh at Archbishop O'Brien's remark that he could not "abdicate my pastoral responsibility". What did he think the bishops have been doing as they transferred pedophile priests to new unsuspecting parishes.
We know the bottom line in this story--punish the man for speaking out on the sex abuse story. Punish him by making sure he doesn't receive his pension from the military. How sad! Jesus of Nazareth gave his strongest condemnations for hypocrisy. So should we all.

Theresa Padovano
Morris Plains, NJ 07950

To the Editors:
I doubt that Fr. Tom Doyle's firing by military Archbishop Edwin O'Brien (Priest Who Aided Sex Abuse Victims Ousted - April 29) will silence him.  Doyle has been a brave and outspoken advocate for clergy abuse victims for nearly 20 years.  As a priest "on the inside", he warned of a looming abuse crisis in the 1980's.  Victims suffered for an additional two decades as Church leaders ignored Doyle.  Hopefully, Fr. Doyle's dismissal will bring him a wider audience as he continues to speak out in support of clergy abuse survivors and against the wishes of a corrupt hierarchy.

William J. Curtis, Jr.
Bound Brook, NJ

Dear Editor:
Regarding the article appearing on April 29, 2004 by Daniel Wakin "Catholic Priest Who Aids Church Sexual Abuse Victims Loses Job" I would like to voice my support for Father Tom Doyle.

It certainly is a sad event when a man loses his job because he has continuously done the right thing. Tom Doyle has been an outspoken advocate and supporter of victims of clerical sexual abuse for a long time. I applaud his bravery, courage and conviction. I can only hope that his dismissal from the church sheds an even brighter light on the secrecy and lies the hierachy struggle to maintain.

Sincerely,
Karen Polesir, Horsham PA