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It's only been within the last 20-30 years that victims of sexual abuse have publicly come forward and the media has reported on these cases. Prior to this time, victims remained silent and those in authority who were aware of abusers, failed to take actions that would protect our children.
This should come as no surprise to anyone. We live in a society where a little more than 100 years ago, it was not uncommon for a man in his 40's to marry a girl just out of puberty. Even today, a girl can legally
get married at the ripe old age of 13 (in AL) to any man over the age of 14. Some states do not even have an age limit (CA & MS) for an adult man to wed a girl.
Recent news stories of female teachers having sex with male students (as young as 12) are sources for jokes by late-night comedians. Girls are being sexualized at an earlier age by society (eg: beauty pageants for 5-6 year olds). Society
approves of this, as this is reflective of both heterosexual desires and behaviors. When there is even a hint of homosexuality, then society has a problem.
Sexual activity between adults and children (no matter
whether it is opposite-sex or same-sex) is wrong. It is doubly wrong when the adult is a person in authority over the child. In most of these cases, it is more an abuse of power then one of sex.
In reviewing various files and newspapers, it's become apparent
that there were Catholic priests involved in Boy Scouting who abused their trust. Below are some of them:
- Rev. Msgr. Louis P. Barcelo - Even though earlier expelled from Scouting, he was presented with the Silver Buffalo Award (the highest national award) by the Boy Scouts of America in 1984.
- Rev. Gilbert Gauthe - The Priest who revealed to the public the problem of sexual abuse within the Catholic Church - in 1984!
- Rev. Richard Galdon - In 1987, sentenced to 25 years in prison after pleading guilty to one count of first-degree aggravated assault and two counts of second degree aggravated assault against three boys.
Rev. Msgr. Louis P. Barcelo, CSC, was involved with Catholic Scouting in the 1920's. He was an author of the first edition of the
guidebook for Catholic Scouting - Scouting for Catholics. However, when it came time to revise the book in 1946, Fr. Barcelo (not then a Monsignor) was absent.
As mentioned earlier, sexual abuse of children was something that was not discussed and when it was learned, was quickly and quietly covered up. So, there are no newspaper articles documenting
Barcelo's "scandal." However, there are BSA documents which indicate a serious problem.
These documents never explicitly state that Barcelo sexually abused a child, but given the evident aversion to describing the
problem, it is impossible to conclude any other problem that could warrant such an expulsion at the time.
When the church couches the problem as "the unfortunate
unpleasantness in which Father Louis has become involved," it illustrates the denial that existed in the church then, and now. Even in discussing expelling Barcelo from Scouting, the church stated that
"Louis, unfortunately but necessarily, is completely through with scouting under Catholic or any other auspices."
In one letter, it is suggested that when others ask "questions
about Louis, say his Supervisors needed him for other work and had curtailed his Scouting activities. Period." The intent is to make sure that the truth is never revealed.
As interesting an insight as this is of the Catholic Church's cover-up, it is even more curious to know why the Boy Scouts of America would honor Rev. Msgr. Louis P. Barcelo with it's highest award - the
Silver Buffalo? One can only imagine that in the almost 40 years that had elapsed, Barcelo's "scandal" (as it was referred to in one letter) had never been recorded in BSA's Ineligible File. Given the secrecy
such matters were dealt with in the 40's, any documentation that alluded to Barcelo's "scandal" seems to have been destroyed by BSA, to keep it from reaching the public and damaging BSA's image.
Recently, the US Bishops have agreed to make known to law enforcement agencies their files on previous allegations. Since Barcelo was a religious priest (a member of the Holy Cross Fathers),
it is up to the Superiors of the Holy Cross Fathers on whether they will disclose their records. Only time will tell if the facts behind Barcelo's "scandal" will ever be made public.
 In 1984, Rev. Gilbert Gauthe was
indicted on 34 counts of sex crimes against children. But his superiors had known about his crimes for at least the previous 10 years. Gauthe molested his first victims in Broussard, Louisiana, where he was associate pastor at a
Church near an elementary school. When the Bishop learned what Gauthe had done, he told him to confess his sins, and the bishop never mentioned it again. But the abuse continued at his next parish, and so did the complaints.
Then Gauthe was moved to Abbeville Louisiana. After two different assignments where he had problems with having sex with young boys, the bishop appointed him as the Diocesan Boy Scout Chaplain.
Then Gauthe got a promotion. He became pastor at two country churches, in Esther and nearby Henry. He was the only priest there.
"Father Gauthe was the first pedophile priest ever brought to
trial in the United States, and he was my client," says Ray Mouton, who was 37 and a staunch Catholic when the Diocese of Lafayette asked him to defend Gauthe.
In 1985, Gauthe was sentenced to 20 years in prison. He was released after 10 years for good behavior. 10 months later, Gauthe was arrested in Texas for molesting a three-year-old boy. Authorities
there sentenced him to seven years' probation, which he is still serving.
Unfortunately, although at the time the bishops stated they were going to make sure this never happened, nothing was done. Until
June 2002 when the Bishops met in Dallas to talk about this problem.
Shortly after the Louisiana abuse scandal made headlines in 1985, another Catholic priest, Rev. Richard Galdon, was charged with
sexual abuse in New Jersey.
Galdon, who was the chaplain for three Troops sponsored by the Catholic Church, also worked at the Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic school for 27 years.
In 1987, Galdon, 56 years-old, pleaded guilty to molesting more than a dozen boys.
According to reports, Galdon sodomized one altar boy about
three times per month over a period of a year after playing a strip card game. Yet another victim had been regularly molested over a two year period while watching television with the priest. He
admitted to engaging in oral and anal sex with boys for 17 years.
"I'm convinced, based on my investigation, that the Church knew about it," said District Attorney's investigator George McGrath, who
spoke with 18 of his victims. "He'd molest a kid tomorrow if he could."
Galdon was sentenced to 25 years in prison, although his defense attorney asked that Galdon be allowed to remain at the
Foundation House in New Mexico, a Catholic center for the care of pedophilic priests.
"He gave his life to the service of others. He has, except for this
offense, lived a law-abiding life," argued attorney Peter Manahan. Prosecutor Edward Bilinkas said Galdon's vocation should be weighed as an aggravating factor in deciding his punishment.
"This man was put in a particular position of trust. He violated that trust and because of this he should be held more accountable."
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