Matt C. Abbott
Newark archdiocese responds to column
By Matt C. Abbott
I received the following e-mail, dated June 21, 2005, from James Goodness, director of communications for the Archdiocese of Newark:
Mr. Abbott:
I am concerned that you prepared and published this recent column on Michael Iatesta and Rev. Gerald Ruane [see http://www.renewamerica.com/columns/abbott/050609] without checking with the Archdiocese to verify elements of Mr. Iatesta's statements.
Had you done so, you would have learned that:
No criminal charges have been filed because Mr. Iatesta never brought the allegations to the Church or the authorities when it was possible to do so. However, it is interesting that over the past 20+ years, Mr. Iatesta spoke about the abuse with many people who all told him to come forward to us and the police. He chose not to, however. Had he contacted the Church earlier, we surely would have taken action immediately, as evidenced by the fact that Fr. Ruane has not been in ministry since Mr. Iatesta came to us in 2002.
We did act appropriately and fully at the time we became aware of the allegations, and we have apologized to Mr. Iatesta for the additional pain that Fr. Ruane has caused him by his recent mistakes of judgment.
Your column, as it stands, clearly is meant to give the impression that the Archdiocese stood by and took no action — in fact, condoned the actions — when that has not been the case. This has been confirmed by the authorities. In addition, your column would have people believe that two additional allegations of abuse exist, when in fact that is not correct, either. A simple check with authorities would have borne that out as well.
© Matt C. Abbott
I received the following e-mail, dated June 21, 2005, from James Goodness, director of communications for the Archdiocese of Newark:
Mr. Abbott:
I am concerned that you prepared and published this recent column on Michael Iatesta and Rev. Gerald Ruane [see http://www.renewamerica.com/columns/abbott/050609] without checking with the Archdiocese to verify elements of Mr. Iatesta's statements.
Had you done so, you would have learned that:
No criminal charges have been filed because Mr. Iatesta never brought the allegations to the Church or the authorities when it was possible to do so. However, it is interesting that over the past 20+ years, Mr. Iatesta spoke about the abuse with many people who all told him to come forward to us and the police. He chose not to, however. Had he contacted the Church earlier, we surely would have taken action immediately, as evidenced by the fact that Fr. Ruane has not been in ministry since Mr. Iatesta came to us in 2002.
We did act appropriately and fully at the time we became aware of the allegations, and we have apologized to Mr. Iatesta for the additional pain that Fr. Ruane has caused him by his recent mistakes of judgment.
Your column, as it stands, clearly is meant to give the impression that the Archdiocese stood by and took no action — in fact, condoned the actions — when that has not been the case. This has been confirmed by the authorities. In addition, your column would have people believe that two additional allegations of abuse exist, when in fact that is not correct, either. A simple check with authorities would have borne that out as well.
© Matt C. Abbott
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