Upload
others
View
1
Download
0
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Chfld Sexual Abuse Case Study 13: Marist Brothers 1 Witness Statement of Sean Sammon
Witness Statement
·Name Sean Sammon
Address REDACTED
Occupation Scholar in Residence, Marist College
Date 31 July 2014
My name is Brother Sean Sammon, FMS.
2 Unless I state otherwise, I have set out in this statement my independent recollection of the events
the subject of the statement.
3 I provide this statement in connection with my knowledge of the response to allegations of sexual
misconduct involving former Maris! Brother Gregory Joseph Sutton.
4 This statement has been prepared with the assistance of Gilbert+ Tobin lawyers in response to and
in compliance with a Summons or Notice issued by the Royal Commission in connection with a
hearing into Case Study 13. It is produced to the Royal Commission on the basis that it will be
tendered and received in evidence by the Royal Commission pursuant to that Summons or Notice,
and on the basis that the statement will be treated as evidence pursuant to the Commonwealth or
State legislation applicable to this Royal Commission case study.
Professional Background
5 II joined the Marist Brothers order in 1966 in Tyngsboro, Massachusetts in the United States of
America.
6 In 1970, I received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Marist College in Poughkeepsie, NY.
7 From 1970 to 1973, I completed a Masters of Arts in Psychology at The Graduate Faculty of the New
School f~r Social Research, New York, NY.
8 From August 1970 to June 1974, I was a teacher and guidance counsellor at Saint Agnes High
School in New York, NY.
9 From July 1974 to June 1975, I was a fellow in neuropsychology at Saint Bamabas·Medical Centre in
the Bronx, NY.
10 From July 1975 to June 1977, I worked as a psychology trainee at the FOR Veterans Administration
Hospital in Montrose, NY.
CTJH.500.43001.0001_R
Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse Case Study 13: Marist Brothers 1 Witness Statement of Selin Sammon
11 From July 1977 to June 1978, I was an intern in clinical psychology at the Institute of Living, a private
psychiatric hospital, in Hartford, CT.
12 In 1978, I began working as a staff psychologist at the House of Affirmation, a renewal and
rehabilitation centre in Whitinsville, Massachusetts. The House of Affirmation, which eventually had
five centres in the US as well as an outpatient clinic in Boston, Massachusetts, and an Educational
Centre in Natick, Massachusetts, was a specialty centre for religious and for priests with issues
including depression, personality disorders and adjustment disorders. Among the mix of patients, the
House of Affirmation would also provide treatment for people with issues related to child sexual
abuse, both those abused and abusers, but this was not a major focus of the C entre. In 1980, I
became the Assistant Director of the Hopedale, Massachusetts Centre and in 1982 the Director of
Education for the House of Affirmation Corporation. In 1983, I was appointed as the International
Clinical Director for the House of Affirmation, a position which I held until early 1987. While in this
position I conducted in-service programs for staff on the topic of child sexual abuse and the existing
reporting laws for mental health professionals.
13 In 1981, I completed a Ph.D. in clinical psychology at Fordham University. My thesis related to
psychological aspects of transition issues in men religious through the ages of 28 to 32.
14 From June 1987 to October 1993, I served as the Provincial of the Marist Brothers, Poughkeepsie
Province. I held that role in 1992. We had our headquarters in Watertown, Massachusetts from July
1987 until late August 1992 at which time we relocated to Pelham, NY.
15 In October 1993, I became the Vicar General of the Fratelli Maristi (the Italian name for the Marist
Brothers) in Rome, Italy. This was a senior global role in the Marist Brothers, involving
responsibilities relating to the administration of the Marist Brothers worldwide. I was also involved in
international educational programs and consultancy services during this period. I held this role until to
October 2001.
16 From October 2001 to late September 2009, I served as the Superior General of the Fratelli Maristi in
Rome, Italy. This is the most senior position in the Marist Brothers internationally; the Superior
General is the international leader of the Marist Brothers globally. At the time there were around
3,800 Marist Brothers globally, across roughly 80 countries, who were involved in the teaching and
supervision of about 650,000 young people. As Superior General I sent a letter to all provincials and
district leaders throughout the Marist Brothers Institute about the issue of child sexual abuse and
pointed out their responsibility to follow the civil law of their country.
17 While serving as Superior General I was a member of the Union of Superiors General, an
organization that includes the leaders of men's Catholic rel igious congregations throughout the world.
As a member of the Union of Superiors General I was a member of the organization's child abuse
task force and delivered a paper on the topic at a meeting of the membership. A copy of that paper is
attached to this statement and marked "551".
- ~~ .. , I Signature ........ ......... ............... . . ............ ....... ........... i Witness .. ~~ ..... Q~ Page 2 J
CTJH.500.43001.0002_R
Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse Case Study 13: Marist Brothers 1 Witness Statement of Se<ln Sammon
18 After completing my term as Superior General, I returned to the US and after a short sabbatical took
up the appointment, in September 201 0, of a Scholar in Residence at Marist College, Poughkeepsie,
NY. Marist College is a university granting bachelors and masters degrees. This is the position I
currently hold. Though founded by the Maris! Brothers order, Maris! College today is independently
owned and operated by a Board of Trustees.
19 My role at Marist College involves research and writing. I have also collaborated with the Emerging
Leaders Program that serves undergraduate programs as well as with the Human Resources
Department offering workshops such as Civility in the Workplace and Coping with Genuinely Difficult
people at work and in the rest of life. I have done in-service programs with students, faculty and staff
on topics such as the history of the Maris! order and of Marist College. I also consult with Roman
Catholic and Anglican religious congregations in the US, Canada and at times with groups outside of
North America on topics of renewal in religious life and the interface between faith and social
science. Eventually, I hope to establish at Maris! College a Centre that will help to promote the
renewal of Catholic religious congregations in the United States.
Educational workshops, publ icat ions and exper ience regarding child abuse issues
20 I am currently a licensed psychologist in the State of New York and have been since 1993. Beginning
in 1983 and for several years thereafter I was also a licensed psychologist in the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts. I discontinued my Massachusetts license shortly after receiving my New York
license. A licensed psychologist in the State of New York and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts,
under State law, is a mandated reporter, and as a result I am required to inform the Bureau of Child
Protective Services of any report of child sexual abuse of which I became aware as a result of my
clinical practice.
21 Since 1986 I have been a member of the National Register of Health Care Professionals, which is
based in Washington D.C. The National register offers education to members about their
responsibility to report child abuse to the appropriate civil authorities.
22 I am familiar with the issue of chi ld sexual abuse from the work and training I have done in the United
States, as well as my professional studies and practice as a psychologist.
23 As a psychologist, my training has also touched on issues of child sexual abuse. For example, as
part of becoming a licensed psychologist in the State of New York, I completed a course in relation to
clhild sexual abuse issues and the responsibi lities of psychologists to report abuse.
24 Since about the 1980s, I have conducted more than two dozen workshops with different religious
congregations and as mentioned earlier with the Union of Superiors General in relation to issues of
child sexual abuse. These workshops focussed on issues such as the occurrence of chi ld sexual
abuse, and the responsibilities of the Church in responding to allegations. In those workshops, I
explain that the responsibilities of the Church are firstly to the victims, then to possible future victims
arnd those persons who do not have any support in coming forward, to others doing ministry who
j";:nxe .. ~~- -···· iWlness .:~ ... ~.-~ Page 3 I
CTJH.500.43001.0003_R
Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse Case Study 13: Marist Brothers 1 Witness Statement of Sean Sammon
need to continue to do so without suspicion, and only then to the perpetrator. I also stress in these
workshops the importance of fo llowing the civil and criminal laws of the relevant country. A copy of
the slides from a recent workshop I conducted are attached to this statement and marked 'SS2".
25 In the 1980s, I authored an article in The Priest Magazine about the response to allegations of child
sexual abuse, entitled "A Pastoral Approach to Child Sexual Abuse". In that article, I discussed a
number of issues related to child sexual abuse and stressed the importance of all involved following
civil law. In 1993, that article with some updated references was included as an Appendix in a book
entitled 'An Undivided Heart: Making Sense of Celibate Chastity", published by Alba House, Staten
Island, NY. This book was also republished with a new chapter in 2013. A copy of that Appendix is
attached to this statement and marked "SS3".
26 I also have experience with the issue of chi ld sexual abuse within the Church as a result of issues I
have had to deal with which have arisen from time to time within the Marist Brothers. As an example,
I recall that in around 1988 or 1989, while I was Provincial, a Marist Brother in New York was indicted
on charges relating to an allegation of child sexual abuse. I personally escorted that Brother to the
police on the day of his arrest to ensure that the legal process could be followed. That Brother was
ultimately acquitted at trial. Prior to his arrest our Province also cooperated with the investigation
undertaken by the local District Attorney.
Treatment facilities
27 As a result of my professional knowledge, I am famil iar with the treatment facil ities which were
available for perpetrators of chi ld sexual abuse in the late 1980s and early 1990s. At that time, there
were only a very limited number of facilities in North America which provided specialised treatment
programs for perpetrators of child sexual abuse. These included the Institute of Living in Hartford,
Connecticut, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland, the House of Affirmation, St Luke Institute
in Suitland, Maryland, and the Southdown Institute, which is near Toronto in Canada.
28 Southdown was and still is a well-respected program in treating a number of psychological issues
including depression, drug addiction and sexual disorders including for perpetrators of child sexual
abuse, among others.
29 From my experience, awareness of issues of child sexual abuse started to emerge among religious
communities in around the late 1980s. At around this time, there appeared to be a general view held
among the religious communities and among psychologists that clinics such as Southdown provided
a valuable option to provide treatment for alleged perpetrators of child sexual abuse. It was not
uncommon at that time to refer people against whom allegations of child sexual abuse had been
made to institutions such as Southdown, in the hope that the therapy and treatment offered there
could effectively treat their condition and assist in ensuring that that person would not re-offend.
Paga 4 j
CTJH.500.43001.0004_R
Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse Case Study 13: Marist Brothers 1 Witness Statement of Sean Sammon
Position as Provincial in 1992
30 In 1992, the Marist Brothers in the United States were divided into two large provinces; the
Poughkeepsie Province, the headquarters of which was based in Watertown, Massachusetts, and
the Esopus Province, which was headquartered in New Jersey.
31 Up until August of 1992, as the Provincial of the Poughkeepsie Province of the Marist Brothers I lived
in a Marist community at Watertown. After August 1992, as Provincial of the Marist Brothers I lived in
a community in Pelham, NY. Geographically, the area of Chicago fell within my Province of
Poughkeepsie.
32 As of 1 July 2003, the two former United States Provinces came together to form the Province of the
United States with its Province office located in Bayonne, New Jersey.
Australian Marist Brothers in the United States
33 I am aware that since the 1980s, many Marist Brothers have come from Australia to the United
States to study at a variety of institutions.
34 I am also aware that in order to facilitate Australian brothers studying at Loyola College in Chicago,
the Australian Marist Brothers purchased some apartments in Chicago, where the Australian
Brothers could live while studying. To the best of my recollection, I have never been to those
apartments. ·
35 It is my recollection that in the 1980s and 1990s, the Provincial of the Marist Brothers in Australia
would visit that community reasonably often. I would sometimes catch up with the Provincial if he
also visited the East Coast during his travels.
36 The Australian Marist Brothers living and studying in Chicago, although temporarily resident in the
USA, were still answerable to the Provincial of the Marist Brothers in Australia. Although my province
extended hospitality to those brothers at Christmas and holidays, they were not a part of the United
States Marist Brothers and they operated independently from the Marist Brothers in the United
States. As Provincial of the Marist Brothers in the Poughkeepsie Province, I did not have any
jurisdiction over that community of Australian Marist Brothers.
Gregory Sutton
37 To the best of my recollection, I have never met the former Marist Brother Gregory Sutton (Sutton).
do have a vague recollection of hearing the name Gregory Sutton, but I do not recall ever meeting
hinn or talking to him.
38 I have been shown and have read the transcript of evidence given by Sutton to the Royal
Commission in Australia on 1 July 2014.
f;:ature .. . ~ .. . ~ ..... (W~ness .bk..~-~~
CTJH.500.43001.0005_R
Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse Case Study 13: Marist Brothers I Witness Statement of Sean Sammon
39 I understand that in his evidence, Sutton has said that in around 1992 he phoned me, to tell me that
he had become aware that a warrant had been issued in Australia for his arrest, and to ask me for
my advice about what he should do. Sutton said in his evidence that I gave him advice to the effect
that he should stay where he was and "live his life".
40 I have no recollection of ever having such a conversation with Sutton, and I do not believe that I ever
had such a conversation with him. I have no knowledge of why he would say that he called me in
relation to a warrant in Australia, particularly when I am informed that he was no longer a Marist
Brother in 1992. I was not aware of him leaving the Mari st Brothers while in the United States. or of
him obtaining employment here. I only recently became aware that a warrant had been issued in
Australia for Sutton, and that Sutton was extradited from the United States, when I read media
articles relating to the current Royal Commission.
41 I believe that I would remember any such conversation, given my experience in the area of child
sexual abuse, my professional obligations, and my understanding of the need to comply with the
r·elevant laws, as I have outlined above. If a conversation did take place, I can certainly say that I
would not have advised Sutton to avoid an arrest warrant. It would be entirely out of character for me
to do so given my training, my profession, and my understanding of the issues around child sexual
abuse.
42 I also do not recall having conversations with other persons in relation to Sutton.
43 I have met Brother Alexis Turton many times during his visits to the United States and elsewhere and
I have had discussions with him from time to time in relation to the issue of child sexual abuse as well
as in relation to the financing and purchase of the apartments in Chicago, and other administrative
matters. I do not recall ever having conversations with Brother Turton or anyone else about Sutton.
Signature
Name Sean Sammon Name Michael Flanigan
Date 31 July 2014 Date 31 July 2014
I Signature ... ... .. . . .. ... ... ...... ... • .. ... .. .. .. ... .. . ... .. .... ... .. .. .. .. . ... . .. ... I Witness .................. ......... ............ ......... ........ .... ........ ...... .
CTJH.500.43001.0006_R