14 priests in Miami diocese accused of abuse

By Noaki Schwartz
Sun-Sentinel
Posted May 25 2002

MIAMI -- At least 14 priests with the Miami Archdiocese have faced sexual abuse allegations since the early 1980s, a figure that is expected to climb as state attorneys’ offices in South Florida learn about more past claims. But while priests have been suspended or retired, it is unclear whether the allegations were ever reported to law enforcement. “That’s a very legitimate question and the core of this issue all over the country,” said attorney Patrick Noaker, who is a member of a leading national firm that has represented victims in about 500 priest molestation cases. “The church seems to think ‘we took our actions internally.’ Any other employer would be expected to call the police and report the crime, but the church doesn’t feel in any way compelled to do that.” Broward and Miami-Dade state attorney’s offices continue going back and forth with the archdiocese over what information the church officials will turn over. In the meantime, the archdiocese revealed late this week that since 1998 seven priests have been suspended and four others retired amidst sexual abuse allegations. The archdiocese would not reveal the priests’ names. In compliance with the Broward state attorney’s request for past cases, the archdiocese advised them of four other instances of abuse allegations dating back 20 years. Broward Assistant State Attorney Dennis Siegal said only one of the cases was included in the 1998 figure, bringing the current total to at least 14. This figure also includes clergy who have been sued in recent weeks over abuse allegations. The archdiocese has yet to fulfill the Miami-Dade state attorney’s request for information. After two weeks of negotiations, the two hit an impasse, and on May 16 Miami State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle formally requested “all allegations of child abuse by any members of the clergy of the Archdiocese of Miami that occurs or has occurred in Miami-Dade County.” A spokesman for the archdiocese said they are working on the request from Fernandez Rundle and may have it ready next week. Archdiocese attorney J. Patrick Fitzgerald did not return calls for comment. The reports of the 14 allegations come at a time when the archdiocese has been trying to assure its 800,000 Catholic parishioners in Miami-Dade that it has a firm policy of cooperating with law enforcement and launching internal investigations when abuse allegations surface. According to current Florida statutes, a person who knowingly fails to report abuse allegations “is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree.” Since the clergy sex-abuse scandal erupted, five lawsuits have been filed against the archdiocese. Last month the parents of a dead man who previously swore under oath he was not molested by local priests, filed a lawsuit against the archdiocese in April, claiming their son lied and really was abused. The parents allege that Migual Chinchella Jr. was molested by the Rev. Alvaro Guichard and the Rev. Ricardo Castellanos in the 1970s. The priests have been put on leave while the archdiocese investigates the claims. “I think that the archdiocese needs to come clean and come clean now,” said the Chinchellas’ attorney, Jeff Herman. “Not just releasing information in bits and pieces without going public with the names. We have a right to know who these priests are, what happened and when.” In a lawsuit filed on May 15, two former altar boys claim a Claretian priest who worked at a Catholic school in the 1970s sexually assaulted them. Following separate abuse claims in 1999, the Claretian Missionaries eventually placed the Rev. Ronald John Luka in a long-term rehabilitation facility where troubled priests are treated. A past case still winding its way through the court system involves the Rev. Jan Malicki, who was suspended from his Davie church in 1998 after two women sued him for sexually abusing them. This month, Malicki’s attorney filed a motion to force the two women, Jane Doe I and Jane Doe II, to identify themselves publicly. The onslaught of media attention following the cases is taking a toll on the archdiocese image. This week the archdiocese hired the high-profile public relations firm of Wragg & Casas, which specializes in crises. The archdiocese previously hired the firm in 2001 after a monastic student was accused of killing a nun.“We have a clearly defined and published policy of not tolerating sexual abuse,” Ray Casas stated in a memo. “The Archdiocese of Miami takes the issue of protecting our children very seriously.” Casas continued that the archdiocese policy is to suspend the accused immediately, while conducting an internal investigation. Casas could not say whether the 14 instances were ever reported to authorities. He also did not know whether the internal investigations confirmed the claims or not. Casas echoed an earlier statement by Archbishop John Favalora that they “have no knowledge of any credible charge against an active member of the clergy in the archdiocese.” Despite the scandal, there are many local Catholics whose faith remains unshaken. “The pope met with the cardinals and bishops, and they are taking all the proper decisions, and I have perfect trust in them,” said Fred Rojas, who is expecting 5,000 Catholics at his Cursillos de Cristiandad rally next week. “If we have a bad priest, let him face the music. But that doesn’t mean the institution should be discredited.” Noaki Schwartz can be reached at nschwartz@sun-sentinel.com or 954-385-7930.