Pastor accused of abuse dies

Democrat and Chronicle ^ | August 2, 2002 | Jay Tokasz

[NYer]

A Seneca Falls priest who was on administrative leave because of an allegation of sexual abuse died late Wednesday.

The Rev. David N. Gramkee, pastor of St. Patrick Church, was airlifted to Robert Packer Hospital in Sayre, Pa., after a stroke.

Gramkee was 62.

[NYer]

She said the priest "was sad but hopeful" about his situation.

One of the great concerns held by many catholics is that this "scandal" will also bring out the avaricious, seeking financial awards. I pray that his lawyers will continue to defend him and that justice, whatever that may be, will prevail.

[Domestic Church]

"One of the great concerns held by many catholics is that this "scandal" will also bring out the avaricious, seeking financial awards. "

I heard this morning on FoxNews that the Archdiocese of Boston might be filing as the B word. And this is before a RICO suit up there(one RICO ongoing that I know of - LA.)

[livius]

Yes, I wonder about this one. Bp. Matthew Clark is one of the least orthodox (and most vengeful) bishops out there. I wonder if he had it in for this priest and took this opportunity to get rid of him. The charges - which I admit I have not seen thoroughly discussed - certainly don't seem firm enough to have warranted this.

[victim soul]

"A panel of lay professionals at that time [1993] recommended that Gramkee seek counseling but be allowed to continue in ministry because there were no other allegations of abuse."

I thought our judicial system allowed the defendant to face his accuser.

We all know about He said, She said.

What a pity that our Church partipicates in allegations and condemnation without any show of Divine Mercy or the right of the accused to ask for forgiveness especially when as a priest he showed Mercy to us in the confessional.

May God grant this priest His peace and Mercy.

[Revelation 911]

Holland (from St. Theodores) now of St Pius X (in Rochester) also replaces an ousted priest.
_________________________________________________
from a recent D&C article

Nine accused priests
Nine priests accused of sexual misconduct in the past have been under investigation or review in recent weeks by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester. Here is the status of their cases:

Three active priests have resigned at Bishop Matthew H. Clark's request:

-- the Rev. Foster Rogers, 62, pastor of St. Pius X Church in Chili.

-- the Rev. David Simon, 61, pastor of St. Paul Church in Webster.

-- the Rev. Thomas Burr, 67, pastor of St. Mary Our Mother Church in Horseheads, Chemung County.

One retired priest will be unable to continue in any form of ministry. The Rev. Robert O'Neill, 65, former pastor of St. Christopher Church in North Chili, will not be allowed to say Mass, administer sacraments or even wear clerical clothing or reside in any parish or diocesan dwelling.

Two priests, already on administrative leave, face further restrictions. The Rev. William Lum, 58, and the Rev. Thomas Corbett, 62, may not continue their nonministerial assignments at the Diocesan Pastoral Center, wear clerical clothing or reside in any parish or diocesan dwelling.

Three priests are under investigation by an advisory panel of diocesan staff members and lay professionals. Since March, the panel has been looking into allegations against two of the priests; allegations against a third were made just this week. The identities of those priests have not been disclosed.
________________________________________________________

My children attended St. Pius X until last year.

[Revelation 911]

While I agree Clarke is the least orthodox around - what evidence do you have to tag him is vengeful - I havent seen anything to warrant that. Rather, I would say he is blind to the orthodoxy of the Church and its ties to the papacy - Rochesters diocese is anything but catholic - In fact - how long did it take him to address the issue of Corpus Christi's Mary Rammerman and Jim Callan ? - If I recall it took years - and only after the pope personally intervened was Clarke "with" the program.

[laurus]

I do not understand how you can say priests should be allowed to continue in their ministry after being guilty of sexual abuse, citing they should be forgiven according to the same Divine Mercy they showed others in the confessional. It is thinking like yours that allowed priests throughout multiple generations, throughout multiple countries, to continue on abusing countless minors (and adults), retaining their elevated status and authority in the name of God - while their victims suffered, and in many instances, turned away from the Church and God himself. What a tragedy!

The Bible teaches that Rape is comparable to Murder and should have the same punishment. Rape, Molestation, and Other Acts of Sexual Abuse are Abominations and Grievous Sins. Society needs to be protected from sexual abusers.

Many people react as you do when they know a priest for many years, especially if he was involved with family events such as the sickness and death of a loved one, had participated at the funeral, and/or also had conferred sacraments to family members, and they really love him. I personally knew a priest who was very likable and sociable, who seemed to connect with everyone, told jokes, who everyone loved. I was shocked when allegations of sexual abuse of a minor from the late 70’s came out as he was the last person I would suspect. He was a very young priest stationed alone at a church, and admittedly, a heavy drinker-alcoholic when this happened. (This priest got help for his alcoholism and had been sober for many years). I felt very bad as I really liked this priest. But I understood the Diocese’s policy and also the effects of sexual abuse, particularly on minors. All we can do is pray for such priests and demonstrate Christian charity out of love for God, but never condone their illicit acts. Priests who have been excused from the priesthood are asked to live out their life in prayer and penance.

By your words, you do not seem to grasp the seriousness of sexual abuse and its lasting consequence to victims. Have you or a relative or friend ever suffered sexual abuse? Have you or have they received the sexual abuse at the hands of a priest or religious - someone in authority representing God and His Church? Have you or have they received that sexual abuse while still growing up and being formed as an individual with attitudes of sexuality, character, and self-worth? Also, sexual abuse to minors has been known to happen often to minors who were vulnerable due to death of one or both parents, divorce of parents, illness of a parent, or suffering a personal dilemma, when the priest was supposed to be giving them individual attention and help. Sexual abuse to those most vulnerable constitutes the mentally retarded, the mentally ill, those who are incapacitated physically and/or mentally, and those hospitalized or institutionalized. Sexual abuse of a minor or adult by a priest has also happened when both of them have been alone together.

With regard to adults, there was an instance where a priest raped a young male youth minister who was sharing sleeping quarters with him at a youth camp out. Raping someone when their guard is down - Is this someone who should continue to be a priest and minister to others? There also was a case of a woman Diocesan employee who was repeatedly subjected to having her breast touched by a priest, who had charges filed against him by the police when the abuse didn’t stop. Is this appropriate behavior for a priest?

There is the concept of boundaries crossed and the sacredness of an individual violated when sexual abuse occurs.

Many times, perpetrators are serial abusers. Especially with those who sexually abuse children it’s a sickness which is not cured with counseling. The Most Compassionate and Prudent Thing you can do for those who sexually abuse minors and those most vulnerable, and also adults, is to remove them from their Temptation. Removing these individuals from their perspective offices/positions will also give some measure of vindication to their victims.