Grand Island, NY 14072. During the meeting,Wes Aarum Jr., a Circle C board member and Wayne Aarums brother,called the allegations horrific. Fellow board member Daryl Dekalbexpressed reservations about the process andsaid they couldnt truly respond without Wayne Aarum being present. The report, issued Thursday, lists one priest in the Grand Island diocese by name. Grand Island, NY, 14072 Crime Rates and Crime Statistics Welcome to the Town of Grand Island! Some victims have accused Monsignor Placa, who is also a lawyer, of placing the concerns of the church ahead of the possible victims -- and of being less than forthright about his dual roles. A marina on the island, which has seen only two murders in several centuries. Thats what the church should be about, Hanefeldt said. Only one of the two individuals was in a volunteer role at that time, and it was a lay-counseling role. Contact Sarah at STADDEO@Gannett.com. A complete examination of the files of over 200 clergy members and diocesan employees, as well as the supplemental material requested in subpoena requests. Inever meant to make you feel uncomfortable.. Clergy sex abuse investigation reveals hundreds of credible allegations Nebraska Sen. Rich Pahls said, "The report documents 258 victims of sexual assault, but did not generate any new prosecutions to respond to the needs of these victims. After the 2006 crime in Kearney, Maresh pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of public indecency. Women say New York pastor Wayne Aarum abused them as teenagers Above: Carolyn McDonald, Michelle Poulsen, Rachel Horvath, Jessica Spiesz, Ashley Scibilia, Joy McCullough Wayne Aarum was the first. For example, in one of the cases, a man in his early 20s hired as a lay religious educator was alleged to have engaged in a sexual relationship with a high school girl. Cornerstone Church | Home It was 1997, and Aarum was her youth pastor. Was there more to this story? Aarums breath was hot,his mouth inches from hers. What we really need to focus on in the church is not just prevention and the work weve been doing since the Dallas Charter, which the attorney general mentioned, Hanefeldt said. Grand Island, New York 14072. This podcast unpacks Kait's tragic story of sexual abuse and alleges that her abusers were involved in her sexual trafficking. (716) 773-7647. Read, the chief of police for Shelter Island, who is now in his 35th year with the department, said that the case was still very much active and open, and that he remains committed to seeing it through. Canon Paul Wancura led a quiet, privileged life. Jeffrey Swinger for the USA TODAY NETWORK. There was simply no way of corroborating the allegations. Several authorities, includinglocal police andthe Cattaraugus County Department of Health,have received reportsaboutAarum. The USA TODAY Network attempted to obtain any relevant reportsfiled on Wayne Aarum fromtheOffice of Children and Family Servicesunder the Freedom of Information Law. A break-in across the street about two weeks after the attack supports this theory, though nothing was taken. This podcast unpacks Kaits tragic story of sexual abuse and alleges that her abusers were involved in her sexual trafficking. You will find a warm, friendly, and relaxed congregation. Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Drew Silleman relayed this news via email on Feb. 9, 2021, to a group of women who gave statements to the agency. You can reach her on Twitter @gsilvarole or by email at gsilvarole@gannett.com. Kaitlynn Gannon of Lewiston and her former therapist, Laurie Krull, allege Kern was among dozens of men who paid her father to have ritualistic sex with her. He was definitely grooming me I didnt realize how absolutely brainwashing it was.. The MinistrySafereportgiven tolocalChild Protective Services in2021 outlined that the company hadfoundevidence of an ongoing pattern of manipulation and intimacy between Aarum and teenage girls. Individuals canalsotext LIGHT to 741741 for crisis support with a trained counselor, 24/7 and free of charge. Im not prepared to leave the police force until this case is solved.. Above: Carolyn McDonald, Michelle Poulsen, Rachel Horvath, Jessica Spiesz, Ashley Scibilia, Joy McCullough. Abusers mayrelyonthat societal perceptiontocreate an environment in which theirabuse can continuein plain sight, she said. But I want justice.. During the investigation, the Department of Justice determined more information was needed to complete the report. Michelle Poulsen and Joy McCullough allege Wayne Aarums physical and verbal behavior toward them was inappropriate and abusive while they were youth group members at The Chapel in the late 1990s. We provide many occasions to learn and work together. The investigation revealed 258 victims reported credible allegations of sexual abuse and misconduct across three dioceses in the state. Get the latest news, events, and information for Nebraska, sports, crime, politics and education. You can share anonymously or with your name. You will find this to be more of a traditional worship service with a relaxed feel to it. At 6-foot-2 and 300 pounds, with a salt-and-pepper beard, Mr. Crispin is an imposing presence, even through a computer monitor. Communion is served on the first Sunday of each month in this worship service. A review of 12 hours of recorded interviews with those reporting sexual abuse. Grand Island (New York) - Travel guide at Wikivoyage Trinity Church Grand Island. Upon receiving the allegations in April of 2021 via email, we made the decision to suspend the accused parties (who were part of our church) from any volunteer ministry service. Bible Presbyterian Church 1650 Love Road just off Beaver Island Pkwy. Calvin Kern of Grand Island has filed a defamation lawsuit against the hosts of the podcast. Nebraska Medicine will build a state-of-the-art cancer treatment center at University Village. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). Mr. Crispins lawyer filed a motion opposing that argument. Maresh worked at St. Leo's Church in Grand Island for four years, up until July 1, 2020, Hanefeldt said. The road leading to Father Wancuras home on Silver Beach. Sarah Taddeo is an Enterprise reporter for USA Today Network's in New York, covering consumer affairs and statewide news. Cattaraugus CountySgt. Joseph Hanefeldt, bishop of the Grand Island Diocese, said hed rather stress the need for healing. After the meal, he started talking with one of the guests, a therapist based in Stony Brook. Nineteen years later, in 2016, ata Christian children'scamp in Western New York,16-year-oldLaura Snell straddled a bench facing Aarum, whowas nowthecamp's president. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. Richard Neal, Transition Pastor. Others have expressed suspicion, nonchalance or patent disbeliefregardingwomens stories on social media, or in person at church meetings. He has struggled with substance abuse and problems controlling his anger, plus bouts of depression and homelessness. I cant make sense of it, said RichFerchen, 52, who worked with Aarum at both The Chapel and the Ranch for decades. A Kenyan bishop will visit to say. The therapist, who asked not to be identified because she still lives in the area and occasionally attends services at Caroline, confirmed the encounter. This former priests home in Shelter Island, N.Y., became a murder scene in 2018. He demanded details and full eye contact. We felt strongly that we must act on the victims behalf, and though there were firm denials of any wrongdoing by the accused when we confronted them, we still suspended them indefinitely from any volunteer ministry activity of any kind. The priest, Msgr. Circle C Ranch wouldultimately determinethe initial allegationswere false through its own internal investigation. We better understand why that is so, and a member of our pastoral staff has offered a personal apology to Kait for his contribution to her hurt along with his commitment to make changes that will serve victims more carefully and caringly in the future. The crime could boil down to a burglary gone wrong. In a May 7, 2021, email, Aarum said there were occasions, such as when problems arose at the Ranch, when he wouldhaveto enter a space where a female counselor is present.. ), The complaint also makes the unsubstantiated assertion that Father Wancuras killing in March 2018 was probably an act of retaliation. Within a year, however, she said she would go to the police to report heruneaseabout thehabitsshed seen develop betweenWayne Aarum and teenage girls at the camp. That email launcheda series of events, including atleast two separateinvestigations into Aarums conduct,and the involvement of law enforcement and state camp licensure officials. Harbor Lights Fellowship Churches & Places of Worship Interdenominational Churches Website 18 YEARS IN BUSINESS (716) 773-7900 1821 Grand Island Blvd Grand Island, NY 14072 CLOSED NOW 2. Wayne Aarum was the first man Joy McCullough ever held hands with. Charles McCarron, an Episcopal priest on Shelter Island, discovered the Rev. would be empaneled for the sole purpose of hearing evidence related to the growing scandal on Long Island. The event shocked Shelter Islanders, who were accustomed to only petty crimes, and who hadnt seen a murder since 1998. Worship is held in the church sanctuary. Scandal on a Wealthy Island: A Priest, a Murder and a Mystery 2 men charged with human trafficking on Grand Island Gillissaid he brought the concern tohis Chapel colleagueWes Aarum Jr., Wayne Aarums brother, who said hed handle it from there,Gillis said. Please join us in praying for healing for victims of abuse, for their families and all in our communities who are touched by the evil of sexual abuse., St. George Orthodox Christian Church parishioners have huge hearts. It wasnt until this year that I saw (these moments)for the evil that they really are, McDonaldsaid in a recording of the meeting. We have made our own public disclosures of offending clergy, the bishops statement says. Carolyn McDonald alleges Wayne Aarum physically and emotionally abused her, including touching her crotch over her clothes and barging into her bedroom while she was in her underwear, while she was on staff at Circle C Ranch from 2006 to 2008. She said she was the only one in the neighborhood when the break-in occurred that killed the priest. if you live in New York or across the U.S., the following centers and hotlines can connect you with counseling, information and support: Bivona Child Advocacy Center in Rochester, New York works on child abuse response, healing and preventionwith a model that leverages collaboration between law enforcement, medical personnel, and child protective services. He was a visible island character, Father McCarron said. It is clear that the hurt is still felt, even if the abuse was perpetrated many years ago. 1871 Whitehaven Road, Grand Island, New York, 14072-1803 USA 716-773-6789 Wevebeen conditioned to think that abuse is the man in the trench coat in the bush, but often its someonewho would never beconsideredcapable of that behavior,Denhollander said. Sandwiched between Long Island's North and South Forks, it's the kind of place where people seem to know one another, where car doors are often left unlocked and where, for some 20 years, the . All of these memories were in the cloud of deception that Wayne had manufactured through a careful grooming process.. When I first came on, I was in awe of theAarums, said Smith, referring to Wes Aarum Sr. and his wife, Margaret. This resulted in subpoenas issued to the liability insurance company which represented the dioceses to collect more information. St. Timothy Lutheran Church Official Web Site. The USA TODAY NETWORKreached out to Wayne Aarum, his son Josh Aarum, andboard members Daryl Dekalb and Wes Aarum Jr.for comment specifictothis matter. The action, which was reported yesterday by Newsday, raises questions about whether Monsignor Placa served as an honest broker between accusers and Roman Catholic priests while serving on the diocesan panel, which was dismantled in April. Each diocese had a different system for evaluating reports of abuse or misconduct. SCANDALS IN THE CHURCH: A NEW YORK CASE; Priest - The New York Times And despite repeated attempts to reach the attorneys representing Caroline Church, they never responded. Howard Hubbard made admission during a deposition last year as part of a response to dozens of claims filed in New York. We acknowledge with sadness that so many innocent minors and young adults were harmed by Catholic clergy and other representatives of the Church. If true, the actions of the lay educator would have constituted sexual abuse. Most of the incidents had never been reported to law enforcement. Mark Maresh, who is still working in the diocese, exposed himself to a woman and her two young children in Kearney in 2006. Grand Island, NY - Churches - Isledegrande.com Father Davis died in 2005. That is why I am bringing legislation to address this egregious and unacceptable state of affairs. In 2009, Ferrante, now a program director at camp during the summers,spoke toWayne Aarum's father, Wes Aarum Sr., abouthis concerns. Some calls were from parents or siblings who were told about incidents of sexual abuse from the victim. The Rev. Leadership at both The Chapel and Circle C Ranch, and also Aarum himself, have beenconfronted withconcerns abouthisconductat least 20 times since 1997, according to excerpts from Aarums employee personnel file at The Chapel, andinterviews with youth group members at The Chapel,Circle C staff and pastors in the Western New York area. In December Mr. Semprevivos law firm filed a motion to dismiss the case, arguing that Mr. Crispin and his attorney hadnt presented a sufficient case. To donate to our church: https://www.ststephenswny.com/giving He adds this isn't just a problem in the Catholic Church but churches of all denominations and any organizations that serve children, such as schools and youth sports. St. Marys Episcopal, Father McCarrons church on the island. When he stared at you, it felt like he was looking through you.. In another case, a woman contacted the diocese claiming she had been sexually abused by a seminarian sometime in the early 1980s when she was 12 years old, according to the attorney generals report. He walked into the unlocked home and called out for his colleague. The effects of Aarums actionshave grown, spawning a black hole that consumedthewomenslives, they said,andrippedapart personal relationships and church alliances in the close-knit Christian community in Western New York. Please subscribe to keep reading. St. Timothy Evangelical Lutheran Church of Grand Island, NY Sandwiched between Long Islands North and South Forks, its the kind of place where people seem to know one another, where car doors are often left unlocked and where, for some 20 years, the most bothersome problem has been Lyme disease-carrying blacklegged ticks. The report concludes with impressions gathered from the Grand Island Diocese. In early 2021, The Chapelheld a members-only meeting to sharesome of the findingsand to announce the church wassuspendingall activities and financial ties to Circle C Ranch. Howard Hubbard made the admission during a deposition taken last year as part of a response to dozens of claims filed under New York states Child Victims Act. Hubbard testified he didnt report the allegations to law enforcement because he didnt feel he was required by law to do so, and instead kept the allegations against Bentley, and others, secret out of concern for scandal and the respect of the priesthood. Pastors at The Chapel spent most of last yeararranging orsupportingmeetings between Chapel staff, Aarum orCircle C board members,and the growing number of women alleging Aarums abuse. As local residents have tried to make sense of the violent crime, a recent allegation of sexual abuse has added a layer of uncertainty to the unsolved case, which continues to baffle Father Wancuras former parishioners and the police alike. But during his tenure at Circle C,Ferchenadmitted that he saw Aarumclosely embrace girls, and that, on multiple occasions, he happened upon Aarum and a girlspeaking together in secluded rooms or spaces. In an interviewwith Buffalos WKBW-TV in March, Wayne Aarum told reporters he'd like to knowthe identities of thewomenwhoare accusing him ofimpropriety. He pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of public indecency, served 30 days in jail and received counseling in Maryland. Be yourself. Snellfelt confused, she recalls; no one had ever touched her like that. Isledegrande.com: Grand Island #1 News Source Read today's Grand Island News. This report also points out mistakes made in the way dioceses received, reported and responded to allegations of sexual abuse in the past. That was put in place in 2004 and had a reach-back period which meant any case that had not expired under the previous statute was also included. Mr. Crispins case was filed last Aug. 13, the day before the Child Victims Act, which extended New Yorks statutes of limitations for childhood sex abuse, was set to expire. Maresh, ordained in 1994, has served in more than 10 parishes in the diocese. 1 Beaver Island State Park, 2136 W. Oakfield Rd., +1 716 773-3271. He grooms them to the point where they have noboundariesanymore. 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The priest, Msgr. Then, in 2012,Elle Campbell, a staff member and youth leader at The Chapel,went tocurrentLeadPastor Jerry Gillisabout a concerning incident between a youth group member and Aarum at Snow Camp. ", He added, "In the upcoming Nebraska legislative session, I will be introducing bills to eliminate the statute of limitations for third parties in civil cases involving the sexual assault of a child, and to introduce a 'lookback window' to examine criminal cases whose statutes of limitations expired before Nebraska law was amended to remove them entirely. Whitehaven Road Baptist Church - A church in Grand Island, NY 14072 She said she didnt believe me and that we were never to speak about it again, he said. "Its imperative not only for members of the catholic church but members of all churches, schools, youth-related organizations to commit to policies and practices to protect our children from these pedophiles," Peterson said. His report outlines the abusive behavior of a number of priests, deacons, and Catholic laity over a span of many decades. I wanted to see him go to jail as an 80-year-old child molester.. 1290 Whitehaven Rd, Grand Island, NY 14072 view map email us - office@cornerstonechurch.life (716) 773-1004 But, many cases filed under the AG's report date back farther than that. (KMTV) On Thursday, Nebraska Attorney General Doug Peterson released the final report from an investigation into clergy sexual abuse that began in August of 2018. 500 CrossPoint Parkway A version of this article appears in print on, Scandal on a Wealthy Island: A Priest, a Murder and a Mystery, https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/04/nyregion/shelter-island-murder-priest.html. If youve had experiences with Wayne Aarum that you believe to be abusive, please help us investigate. Grand Island, NY 14072 Pastor: Rev.Kevin M. Backus, Ph.D Assistant to the Pastor: Rev. The first and only time he told his mother he had been abused was as a teenager. Our worship services are Sundays at 8AM and 10AM. Silleman confirmed in May that theSheriffs Office investigation isclosed. Isledegrande.com: Grand Island #1 News Source - Updated Daily Over the coming weeks, he developed sepsis and died in mid-April. Rebecca Shafer, a real estate agent and year-round resident, lives around the corner from Father Wancuras former home. It reads: The circumstances surrounding the attack on the reverend remain mysterious and unresolved, but there is reason to believe that the perpetrators primary intent was to torture the reverend, not to steal from him., Detective Lt. Kevin Beyrer of the Suffolk County Police, the lead investigator of the murder, said Mr. Crispins sexual abuse claims do not overlap with the case. The organizations legal counsel at the time, Julia Hilliker, a partner at major Western New York law firm Hodgson Russ LLP,investigated the initial abuse claims. From the mid-1970s through the 90s, Father Wancura led the parish at Caroline, performing baptisms, sermons and weddings and leading three services every Sunday. These environments are often helped by a network of oblivious, passive or complicit supporters or followers who dont report the perpetrators actions, saidMinette Drumwright, a professor and researcher at the University of Texas at Austin who has studied workplace harassment. In skits at church and later at Circle C, he played Jesus. In the end, she doesnt control what happens to Aarum, she said. Our Board is also endeavoring to act in ways that promote dialogue and healing. Setauket is on the North Shore, not the North Fork. He would make it look like he was imparting a blessing on me, while simultaneously pressing his erection into me, Mr. Crispin said. Click on "Trinity Online" link above, then "past services" to find the week you missed. Aarum declined to do a phone, Zoomor in-person interview. It can be difficult for people to see a well-known leader or authority figure as a potential perpetrator of abuse,said Rachael Denhollander,a lawyer and advocate for victims of sexual abusewho was the first victim to publicly accuse Larry Nassar, a former doctor for USA Gymnastics, ofsexualabuse in 2016. Wes Aarum Jr. did not return requests for comment. Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning, 2023 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. During this time, clergy abuse survivors can file abuse lawsuits, even if their case would otherwise be barred by New York's statute of limitations. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. We love it when newcomers come and check us out. We have not been afforded the opportunity to personally meet with Kait at any point in this process, and that has been difficult. We are located in Grand Island, NY and you can find directions to our parish here. We apologize to the victims and their families for the pain, betrayal and suffering that never should have been experienced in the Church. Once, he recalled Father Wancura greeting him at the door wearing a blazer with brass buttons and an ascot. The investigation began in August of 2018 when the Nebraska Department of Justice sent letters to the bishops of three Nebraska Dioceses requesting all investigative files they had regarding child sex abuse dating back to January of 1978. Phone: 716-773-9600 Email Public Comments. PASTORAL STAFF - Bible Presbyterian Church on Grand Island First Presbyterian is a church where you can grow spiritually and find opportunities to serve God and our neighbors. Shesangry, but not vindictive. Most accurate 2021 crime rates for Grand Island, NY. I want the culture of the Caroline Church to be exposed, said Lew H. Crispin III, who contends that Father Wancura abused him for years. It will open sometime in 2024. A California man has filed suit against the Catholic church in New York claiming he was repeatedly sexually abused when he was a teen by Covenant House founder Father Bruce Ritter in the 1980s,. Canon Paul Wancura on the floor of his bedroom, his wrists and ankles bound with zip ties. Missed a week, no problem! You have permission to edit this article. Almost four years later, more questions than answers remain. One, David Bentley, admitted to Hubbard that he had engaged in the behavior alleged. Gillis didnt thinkto lookatWayne Aarums personnel file at the time, he said. In 1997, he faced eight counts of public indecency and seven counts of criminal trespass, linked to a series of incidents in which a man matching Pastor Pitts' description was reported exposing himself to people in places like a local park and a Wal-Mart parking lot. He had failed to show up at church that day. Built in 1729, Caroline Episcopal Church of Setauket, on the North Shore of Long Island, is the oldest operating Episcopal church in the area. Shed resignfrom her position not long after, her emotions a mix of heartbreak andfrustrationasshe leftthe Ranch. This service is about an hour. Come as you are. For decades,youths across the region wereenamored with Wayne Aarum, whooperatedinsome of thehighest-profile spaces inWestern New YorksChristian ecosystem. She was 15, and he told her she was amazing. Bishop Howard Hubbard during an Ash Wednesday communion service at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Albany, New York, in 2004. The public will see the culpability of the Diocese in perpetuating a culture of sex abuse by priests that was allowed to continue for decades.. Georgie Silvarole is the backpack reporter for the USA TODAY Network in New York, covering everything from breaking news to feature pieces. If you are a victim of sexual abuse within the church, there is help. The dinner will be held at Trinity United Methodist Church, 2100 Whitehaven Road, Grand Island, NY. Circle C Ranchpublishedmultiple statementson itswebsitein recent months,doubling down on the argument that Aarum has never acted inappropriately with teenage girlsin any pastoralrole. 716.631.2636 The attorney generals office looked into allegations involving 158 victims in the Omaha Diocese and 97 victims in the Lincoln Diocese. Despite these efforts to raisethe alarmabout Aarumsbehavior,he remains in his position as president at Circle C Ranch as of spring2021, a role in which he has spentconsiderable time with adolescent staff members. Feel free to contact us (send a message). Worship is held in our church family room where you will find people gathered around round tables for worship. Be yourself. Download our apps today for all of our latest coverage. He now shares a joint headstone with his wife, Helena Rommel Wancura, who died 11 years before him, in the graveyard that surrounds the historic building, with its red door, wood shingles and gabled roof. That is because, though Nebraska currently has no statute of limitations on sexual assault of a child, it did at one time and those victims were assaulted at a time when the old statute of limitations applied. Archbishop George J. Lucas - Archdiocese of Omaha, Bishop James D. Conley - Diocese of Lincoln, Bishop Joseph G. Hanefeldt - Diocese of Grand Island". TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers.
