Advocacy for abused goes too far, some say

PORTLAND – The Portland Catholic Diocese is responding too slowly and too secretly to claims of sexual abuse by priests, say victim advocates who have pushed for disclosure.

But church officials say the advocates are sometimes pushing the issue too far.

In the past two weeks the Portland Diocese has disclosed two new allegations of sexual misconduct with children by two additional Maine priests.

Advocates for victims and for church reform say the diocese might not be investigating the Rev. John Harris and the Rev. Thomas Lee for possible abuse if not for intervention from the advocacy group Voice of the Faithful.

Michael Sweatt, spokesman and co-founder of the Maine VOTF, says the group must keep working behind the scenes to monitor the church’s handling of abuse claims.

“We have to err on the side of protecting children,” he said.

Sue Bernard, spokeswoman for the Portland Diocese, said the church is working aggressively to investigate allegations and safeguard children.

“We care about the victim and supporting the victim. And at the same time, we want to support anyone who is accused until it is proved otherwise. There are rights to be protected on both sides,” she said.

In Harris’ case, she said, the allegations took more than a year to investigate because they came from an alleged witness rather than any victims or campers who were involved.

In some cases parishioners have voiced concerns that VOTF is going too far, she said, pointing to the case of the Rev. Normand Richard.

The Old Town priest’s parishioners are angry after learning about Richard’s involvement in a gay Web site through the media, who were tipped off about the case by VOTF, she said.

“The case of Norm Richard and wanting to expose his sin and sinfulness seems to have crossed into another realm, because this had nothing to do with child abuse and there was no victim based on his behavior,” Bernard said.

But Sweatt defends VOTF’s actions.

“Victims and their families are very uncomfortable about going to the diocese,” Sweatt said.