Spotlight, a 2015 film, follows Boston Gobe’s “Spotlight” team, investigative journalists that reported on cases of widespread and systemic child sex abuse in the Boston area by numerous Roman Catholic priests. As the credits roll by other dioceses with known sexual predators were listed. Santa Rosa was one such diocese.
I learned about it long after I left my teaching position in 1980. I wrote about it in my blog in 2017.
Last week Dan McNevin emailed me.
“I read a post on your blog from 2017. As you can see below, Fr. Finn has been named in a molestation lawsuit. About the time you were there. Perhaps he actually did harm someone? Hurley gets no pass from me, but things may have been more complicated for them both, and the victims were truth, transparency, and young boys and girls.
I think everybody who has knowledge of what went on, even if the knowledge came late, should speak out to support these victims who now have the strength to speak up. Corroborating stories and insights will help them heal and be believed. Whatever you know, whatever names you've heard, share them. Encourage others to. Not one bishop there cared. The place was, and is, a mess. Because you were there with the awareness of an adult, you might be able to help, just by working to connect the dots.
For what its worth, I'm not aware of one Catholic high school in Northern California that is free of sexual abuse by priests and brothers. Its staggering.”
When I wrote him back he replied,
“I think every believer in a just and moral church, as I was, was naïve. Some (but fewer) still are. The hardened core is in denial and like you say, a bit Trumpian. If we examine Finn's career, he left under some sort of a cloud, and went far away to Juneau, still a priest (I looked him up). That is classic "pass the trash" bishop playbook stuff. I kind of wonder if he even did what he said he did as it related to reporting to Hurley. Hurley's brother, I think it was, wound up the Bishop in Anchorage. Coincidence? What you might consider is contacting the attorney who is representing the plaintiff in the Finn case and simply offer your memories. Something really small to you might be a corroborating fact that can support the survivor's case.
I went to Bellarmine, and some classmates (unknown to me by identity) were molested. Their attorneys sent out letters to classmates asking for any memories at all. Some of those no doubt helped our classmates. You have a unique view, having been at Cardinal Newman. You experienced Hurley's arrogance and you absorbed the clerical culture to some extent. You may know something an outsider doesn't. Plus, you are articulate with no particular axe to grind. That is just food for thought.”
I then wrote to a former student, an active liaison to the school community. At first reluctant to participate, he responded to my entreaty.
When he declined to help I wrote back to him. The following is my text to him: “You wrote, "I know or have come to know way more about the molestation stuff than I care to discuss right now." The statute of limitations on legal proceedings runs out this year. I have no axe to grind. I'm only involved in Dan's quest inasmuch as I can help those (and I don't know any by name) who have been scarred by what you call "hanky panky." If you have firsthand information that might be helpful I simply would provide you with Dan's email. I make no judgements. We do what we think is right. I only wrote to you for the single simple reason that no former student is closer to CN than you. I'm not reaching out to anyone else.”
To that he responded, "Hanky panky" is a poor choice of words but we both know I'm no wordsmith. Please forward Dan's email address I'll do what I can. It's complicated and I'd hate to open old wounds of friends who suffered so very much.”
Stay tuned. The spotlight is still on.