In the shame of the fathers

The Rev. Robert Brennan, 67, is accused of molesting 20 boys.

The Rev. John H. Mulholland, 66, allegedly had a fetish for human feces and sadomasochism, with the latter detailed in letters to young boys, one of whom he nicknamed "Man of Steel."

Both served as assistant pastors at Stella Maris, 814 Bigler St., in the mid-1970s and late-1980s. And both were active priests in the Philadelphia Archdiocese until Cardinal Justin Rigali relieved them of their assignments Sept. 25, days after a 418-page grand jury indictment identified Brennan and Mulholland among 63 priests accused of raping and molesting teenage boys and girls over three decades. The report also said there were more priests, as victims lodged complaints against 169 priests who had served in the archdiocese since 1967.

"Can you just imagine Jesus Christ condoning something like this? The Bible speaks of wolves in sheep’s clothing, and if they [the priests] don’t fit the description, I don’t know what does," said Lucille Pandalino, a former Catholic who became a Jehovah’s Witness in the 1950s.

Because the statute of limitations on child abuse has expired on these alleged crimes, the accused can not be tried.

Brennan and Mulholland were removed from their posts as chaplains at homes for the sick and elderly in West Chester and the Northeast, respectively. They were not defrocked, so technically they are still priests, said an archdiocese spokesperson.

The archdiocese released the following statement Sept. 26: "Rev. Robert L. Brennan and Rev. John H. Mulholland have been the focus of extraordinary attention. After the two priests were consulted, Cardinal Rigali has relieved them of their assignments. Until such time as a permanent, long-term plan can be determined, both priests will remain without assignments."

The archdiocese first learned of Mulholland’s inclinations in 1968 when it received copies of a letter he sent to the boy he called "Man of Steel," the indictment said.

Over the next two decades, the archdiocese relocated Mulholland five times — all to churches with schools, including Stella Maris.

In 2004, the Archdiocese Review Board cleared Mulholland of any allegations of sexual abuse and took no action against Brennan despite having written and oral documentation detailing complaints against both of them, the indictment said.

Prosecutors said the abuse was covered up by church leaders, including Cardinal Anthony J. Bevilacqua and Cardinal John Krol, who relocated priests to other parishes and ignored documents that, in many cases, indicated abuse was going on.

"How can you teach the truth when you’re a liar? Even the higher officials, they all knew it and denied it and moved the priests," Pandalino said.

In addition to Brennan and Mulholland, named in the indictment are 13 priests who served in South Philly churches, schools and medical centers from 1953 to 1996. This means a quarter of the accused had local ties.

Four of the priests taught at St. John Neumann, while another five were assigned to St. Monica, 1720 Ritner St.

The Rev. Nicholas V. Cudemo, the indictment said, raped an 11-year-old girl and later helped her get an abortion; he also molested a fifth-grader in a confessional. A top aide to Cardinal Bevilacqua told the grand jury Cudemo was "one of the sickest people I ever knew." Cudemo was assigned to St. Paul’s Church, 808 Hutchinson St., and taught at St. John Neumann.

The Rev. Raymond O. Leneweaver, who was assigned to St. Monica, raped a boy and, when that boy’s older brother tried to tell their parents about the abuse, their father beat him "unconscious" saying, "Priests don’t do that," according to the indictment. In an act of retaliation, Leneweaver brutally raped the older brother, the indictment said.

Pandalino said she feels sorriest for the victims in these cases, many of who did speak up about the abuse when it was happening, but were not believed.

"I felt so bad, especially when some of the kids came home and told their parents and they were punished by their parents for something that was true. Where do these kids go? They are stuck in a school or church with these predators," Pandalino said.

Neither Monsignor James Connolly of Stella Maris nor the Rev. Joseph Kelly of St. Monica returned several calls for this story.

WHILE THE GRAND jury findings sent shockwaves throughout the community, especially resonating with Catholics, many are choosing to stand by their church.

"I think it’s discrimination. Ten, 20 years ago — you bring it up now? They didn’t know then what they know now?" said a decade-long Stella Maris parishioner who did not want to give his name.

The parishioner said the grand jury report will have a negative effect on Catholics, turning them against their religion and creating an atmosphere of fear and paranoia among those who send their children to Catholic schools.

"It’s so nice here. Why do you want to start trouble?" he said of his parish.

A lifelong member of St. Monica, who also did not want to be identified, said the general consensus among parishioners seems to be one of solidarity for the Church and their parish.

"I can’t get anybody to talk about [the findings]. Nobody wants to say anything bad about the church," he said.

The man said he’s in the minority at St. Monica with his anger toward the church.

The parishioner is upset that "if you have a parking ticket dating back to 1990, they will issue a summons, but for priests and rape the statute of limitations has run out. I just don’t get it," he said. The parishioner is referring to the Philadelphia Parking Authority’s overturning of its statute of limitations policy on parking tickets and is now going back to 1990 to collect. Anybody owing from 1990 onward will receive a summons.

The St. Monica parishioner said he believes the Pennsylvania Crimes Code needs to be revised to eliminate the statute of limitations for child abuse cases.

"If you can rape somebody and get away with it after 15 years, then you should be able to get away with a parking ticket," he said.

The grand jury indictment, a list of priests and parishes in which they served, the archdiocese’s response to the indictment and the District Attorney’s response to the archdiocese response are all available at www.philadelphiadistrictattorney.com.

People can also report a case of abuse on the Web site.

A history in South Philadelphia

A quarter of the 63 priests named in the grand jury report served in the area. Here is a breakdown by churches and schools as provided by the District Attorney’s Office:

St. John Neumann High School
James T. Henry, faculty 9/1972 to 6/1974
Pasquale R. Catullo, faculty 6/1969 to 6/1972
John A. Cannon, faculty 9/1948 to 9/1958
Nicholas V. Cudemo, faculty 6/1968 to 2/1969

St. Maria Goretti High School
Carmen F. Taraborelli, chaplain 9/1970 to 6/1971
Michael J. Donofrio, chaplain 10/1981 to 3/1982

St. Monica
Raymond O. Leneweaver, assistant pastor 9/1971 to 6/1975
Carmen F. Taraborelli, assistant pastor 6/1983 to 3/1986
Joseph P. Gallagher, assistant pastor 6/1973 to 2/1974
John A. Cannon, resident priest 9/1956 to 6/1994
John Delli Carpini, resident priest 9/1982 to 6/1986

St. Paul
Pasquale R. Catullo, assistant pastor 1/1988 to 6/1989
Nicholas V. Cudemo, resident priest 6/1968 to 2/1969

St. Philip Neri
James M. Dux, assistant pastor 6/1965 to 6/1966
Leonard W. Broughan, resident priest 9/1972 to 6/1978

St. Thomas Aquinas
Michael J. Donofrio, assistant pastor 6/1981 to 6/1986

Stella Maris
Robert Brennan, assistant pastor 11/1974 to 6/1975 9/1976 to 6/1981
John H. Mulholland, assistant pastor 9/1982 to 6/1987
Pasquale R. Catullo, assistant pastor 8/1983 to 10/1986

Annunciation B.V.M.
Pasquale R. Catullo, pastor 6/1993-6/1996
(Catullo is retired and currently pastor emeritus of Annunciation B.V.M.)
Francis X. Trauger 9/1988 to 6/1989

St. Agnes Medical Center
Joseph M. McKenzie, chaplain 5/1953 to 12/1953