From the Herkimer Evening Telegram
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http://www.herkimertelegram.com/articles/2004/04/21/news/news01.txt) Abuse victim speaks out in Little Falls
By JOE PARMON-Telegram Staff Writer
LITTLE FALLS - A California man who was sexually abused at the hands of Little Falls priest Charles Celeste in the mid-1980s traveled to Little Falls yesterday to talk about the effect the abuse has had on his life.
Randall Sweringen, who now resides in Berkeley, Calif., met Celeste while he was pledging to the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Rochester, where Celeste was chaplain. The abuse began during Sweringen's freshman year at RPI and continued during his undergraduate studies. Sweringen also alleges that Celeste, who had presided over Holy Family Parish in Little Falls, had inappropriate sexual encounters with at least one other fraternity member.
Celeste was granted a leave of absence by Bishop Howard Hubbard of the Albany Catholic Diocese in November shortly after Sweringen spoke out about the abuse.
Although Celeste has admitted the abuse took place, during a press conference yesterday across the street from the Little Falls Police Department Sweringen said he wanted a sincere apology from Celeste acknowledging the pain inflicted by his actions.
Sweringen also called on the Albany Catholic Diocese to take steps to prevent similar situations from occurring in the future.
"I want them to take concrete steps to make sure this does not happen to anyone else," said Sweringen.
Calling himself a "deeply-closeted" gay man, Sweringen said Celeste "used that vulnerability to exploit me." Sweringen stated that his sexual relationship with Celeste left him a depressed individual who has spent years in therapy dealing with the abuse.
"I had a loss of trust in people for years, even with my therapist," said Sweringen, who is currently the director of a non-denominational Christian seminary in Berkeley.
Sweringen said he was speaking yesterday in part to encourage others who have been abused by members of the clergy to step forward. He added that he was encouraged to make his abuse public by other high-profile cases involving abuse by clergy members.
Sweringen's attorney, John Aretakis, said that victims of sexual abuse by clergy members are often silenced by those in authority.
"We will not let bishops, priests, and law enforcement silence us any further," said Aretakis.
Also Tuesday, Aretakis filed three complaints against Gloversville Police Capt. James Lorenzoni involving two rallies last fall that were held in front of Holy Family Parish protesting against clergy sexual abuse.
Aretakis claimed that Lorenzoni, a Little Falls resident, used abusive and threatening language toward a picketer during one of the rallies. Aretakis also said Lorenzoni sent a threatening email to a picketer, Marianne Barone Trent, following a Nov. 10 rally. Sweringen also filed a complaint citing fear for his physical safety in the Little Falls area due to Lorenzoni's position within the department.
Little Falls Police Chief Greg DeLuca said the incidents were investigated and information regarding the case was forwarded to Herkimer County District Attorney John Crandall. But DeLuca added that not enough evidence was presented to warrant charges being brought against Lorenzoni.
"The issue is did a criminal offense occur? Based on everything we had, we felt it didn't," said DeLuca.
DeLuca said a verbal confrontation took place during a Nov. 16 rally between Lorenzoni and David Leonard, a member of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, which organized the picket. Leonard was present at the press conference Tuesday.
"It was investigated at the scene and the officer's report indicated, based on the information available and after interviewing both parties involved, there would be no criminal charges. The matter was closed," said DeLuca.
DeLuca said that by distributing business cards and literature during the rallies, the protesters were opening themselves up for phone calls or emails that were in opposition to their point of view.
"Having that information distributed, they assumed the risk that somebody might choose to contact them, and the person that contacts them doesn't agree with them. And it doesn't mean they're breaking the law," remarked DeLuca.
"It's not a disagreement with the group and it's not whether or not the victims of sexual abuse deserve compassion," said DeLuca.
Still, Aretakis said Lorenzoni should be held accountable for his actions.
"Let justice play out," said Aretakis.
From the Little Falls Times
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http://www.littlefallstimes.com/articles/2004/04/21/news/news1.txt) Three file statements over incident at Holy Family
By LORRAINE HEATH Evening Times Staff Writer (Wed., April 21)
LITTLE FALLS — Two people involved in protests in front of Holy Family Parish last fall calling for the removal of the then parish priest Father Charles Celeste were at the Little Falls Police Station Tuesday lodging complaints against Jim Lorenzoni, a Little Falls resident and captain with the Gloversville Police Department. The complaints involve an incident they say took place on November 16, 2003.
Two of the three people attended the November 16 protest at Holy Family Parish calling for Celeste's removal over a relationship with an RPI student. The third person filing a complaint was Randall S. Sweringen, the man who was involved with Celeste when he was 18 and a student at RPI.
New York City attorney John A. Aretakis, who represents Sweringen and protesters David Leonard and Marianne Barone Trent, said Tuesday statements were given at the police department concerning a verbal altercation at one of the protests.
The first protest was held November 10 when the story first broke about the relationship between Celeste and Sweringen. On that day, protesters carried signs and handed out business cards and literature to many of the people entering the church. It was not until the same group returned to Little Falls on Sunday, November 16, that a verbal altercation occurred between Leonard and Lorenzoni, who was headed into the church when Leonard approached him and handed him some of the flyers he was handing out.
Leonard alleges a verbal altercation took place between himself and Lorenzoni.
"The incident was investigated that very day, November 16, by officer Scott Beach," Little Falls Police Chief Gregg DeLuca said. "There was no indication a crime had occurred. They (Lorenzoni and Leonard) were just two people with a difference of opinion."
But on February 9, 2004 — 13 weeks later — Leonard returned to the Little Falls Police Department to file another statement regarding the incident.
One week after that, Leonard's wife followed and filed her own statement. The statements were made with the police department after Aretakis said Lorenzoni's name was submitted for a search.
"We put Jim Lorenzoni's name into the computer to do a search on the Internet and it turned out he was a Gloversville police officer," Aretakis said.
Hand-written letters were also sent to the Gloversville Police Department by Leonard, a Frankfort resident, and a past victim of priest molestation. The letters stated what allegedly had occurred on November 16.
One of the other statements taken Tuesday was from Barone Trent regarding an e-mail message sent to her by Lorenzoni. That message, she said, made her feel threatened.
A copy of the e-mail read in part, "Okay, we have had enough of people holding signs in front of our church and handing out letters from Randy Sweringen accusing Father Celeste of abuse. The priest has already admitted to an 'inappropriate relationship' with another adult 20 plus years ago. I am not interested in walking out of my church with my wife and daughters and having to be confronted by your people, quite frankly, I and many others in our church do not want to see anyone there again and will work to keep you off our grounds."
Trent said she was extremely disturbed by the e-mail and feared for her safety.
It was Trent herself who gave Lorenzoni the business card with her e-mail address. "If people do not want someone to call, e-mail or write to them, then don't provide that information to anyone," DeLuca said.
The last statement taken by police was from Sweringen who flew in from California. Sweringen is alleging a hate crime was committed against him by the statements made to Leonard by Lorenzoni on November 16.
Sweringen, who was in California at the time of both protests, said he feared for his life from those statements.
DeLuca said the statements do not fall in the hate crime category.
The chief said according to the Hate Crime statute, expressions of hate protected by the First Amendment's free speech clause are not criminalized.
DeLuca said the Herkimer County District Attorney's office has also been advised of the statements and what has occurred. "I have been in contact with District Attorney John Crandall many times during the course of the investigation. He has compiled a case folder but basically this entire incident does not rise to the level of a criminal offense," he said.
DeLuca added he has known Lorenzoni all of his life and has worked with him on a professional level.
Lorenzoni began his career as a police officer in Little Falls 21 years ago. Following his tenure in Little Falls he began working in Gloversville and has attained the rank of captain.
Lorenzoni is also an appointed commissioner of the Little Falls Police and Fire Board.
"Did he use bad judgment? Of course. Did he show a lack of discretion? Of course. Did he do anything criminal, no, he did not," DeLuca said of incident, adding that when people are out protesting, they have to expect others are not going to agree with what they are protesting about.
He said both parties, Leonard and Lorenzoni, were expressing their views, and had every right to do so.
"No sworn statements given indicate any criminal behavior," DeLuca said.