SAN ANGELO, TX — Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
In recent days, the Church in the United States has experienced a crisis, triggered by the sexual abuse allegations against the former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick of Washington and the release of the grand jury report from Pennsylvania on August 14.
These shocking allegations have led to feelings of hurt, anger, betrayal, frustration, and disgust. As a human being and as a Catholic, I share in these same feelings.
What makes the latest news especially troubling for us in West Texas is the fact that one of the priests listed in the Pennsylvania grand jury report, Father Thomas Kelley, left the Diocese of Erie, Pennsylvania, and served as a parish priest here in the Diocese of San Angelo from 1994 until his death in 2005. Fr. Tom Kelley served in our churches in Fort Stockton, Sanderson, Imperial, Coyanosa, and at Our Lady of San Juan in Midland, which later became San Miguel Parish.
We have not found any allegations of sexual misconduct by Fr. Kelley while serving in our diocese, but the Pennsylvania grand jury report states that he committed serious immoral actions in the Diocese of Erie before coming here. We are still studying the background of this situation.
Anyone who has been harmed by someone representing the Church should inform the diocese so that we can protect others by removing offenders from ministry and offer healing to those who have suffered abuse. Mrs. Lori Hines is the Victim Assistance Coordinator for our diocese. Her telephone number is 325-374-7609. This number is always available at all of our parish offices and on our diocesan website, as well as in every edition of the West Texas Angelus newspaper.
I would like to use this troubling development as an occasion to reiterate our policy of Ethics and Integrity in Ministry and our Code of Ethics that is expected of anyone who serves in any ministry in the Diocese of San Angelo. These policies can be found in English and Spanish on the Safe Environment page of the website of our diocese. I expect all those involved in the ministry of the Church in the Diocese of San Angelo to follow those norms diligently.
As your bishop, I hereby offer my apology to anyone who has been hurt by any person affiliated with the Catholic Church, as well as for any time that any minister of the Church has failed to live up to Christ's call to authentic holiness of life. I pledge to continue doing everything I can to safeguard the people of this diocese.
We must never grow complacent in our commitment to maintain a safe environment in our Church activities, where the well-being of every single person is protected. Please pray for all victims and their families, as well as our bishops, priests, deacons, and lay ministers in the Church. May Christ the Good Shepherd assist us in our solemn duty to care for the flock entrusted to us.
Sincerely yours in Christ's service,
Michael J. Sis
Bishop of San Angelo
[Translated to English]
A link to the grand jury report can be found, here.
