Friday, September 03, 2010

Another allegation for the Catholics

I’m starting a scoreboard for clergy sexual abuse allegations. It will show the number of new allegations by denomination per  month. The Catholics pick up another allegation with charges that Father Barry Ashwell molested a Whidbey Island resident 30-years-ago.

Seattle attorney Tim Kosnoff is representing the alleged abuse victim, identified in court papers only as “T.C.” Kosnoff said this client is the fifth man that he knows of who came forward and accused Ashwell of sexual abuse that occurred in the 1970s and 1980s.

“I’m sure there are other out there,” he said.

According to the lawsuit, T.C. and his family were members of St. Augustine in the early 1980s. In 1981 or 1982, T.C. met Ashwell at Sunday school and spent the night at the parish with the priest on a number of occasions.

You may remember Ashwell as the accused pedophile priest who took minors into his home to “protect them.”

The Rev. G. Barry Ashwell was a state-licensed foster father to at least five children on Whidbey Island, one of whom accused him of sexual abuse and settled with the Seattle Archdiocese in 1996.

It’s almost like the Catholic church rewarded him with his choice of children. I don’t know how else to describe it.

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guest · 758 weeks ago

Be fair here. Barry Ashwell was licensed for foster care by the State of Washington, not the Catholic Church. The church did not place the minors, the state did. And the allegations were not put forward until years, if not decades, later. When they did, Ashwell was investigated by the church and removed from active ministry. Nothing could be done in criminal court, but civil damages were rewarded and the Archdiocese arranged for counseling. So no, the Catholic Church did NOT reward Barry Ashwell.
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Tailor · 685 weeks ago

i knew father Ashwell when he was in Bremerton. I am a female. So, perhaps he didn't look to me for anything. However, I must say when I was going thro some very difficult times with my family, Father Ashwell stood by me, gave me solid good information and I have a lot to thank him for. So, yes, did he do horrible things... most likely, looks pretty positive and that is a horrible horrible thing that he will have to answer to God for. But somewhere in there.... he had a few good bones and did indeed to good by me. it's not up to me to forgive him and if i had know what was going on at that time, he would have been seriously busted. just saying...................
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Cecelia · 312 weeks ago

I knew Father Ashwell as a teenager from 1980 - 1984. (I am female.) I admired him greatly and felt an affinity with him. I knew he was different. It was only later, I realized he was gay. I knew one or two of the teenagers who accused him of sexually molesting them. He had a couple of teenaged boys he appeared to take a special interest in. I thought nothing of it at the time. I believe that Father Ashwell molested these boys because he was probably molested himself, as a seminarian. My understanding is that he went to a high school seminary run by the Archdiocese of Seattle in the 1960s. Please note: Just because I believe Father Ashwell is gay does NOT mean I believe pedophilia and gay sexuality are synonymous. They are NOT. Pedophilia is a sexual disorder, because it involves sexual activity with young children, adolescents and teenagers who cannot, given the state of their social-sexual development can't give consent. Gay sexuality is on the spectrum of normal human sexual behavior.

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