Bishop On Leave Pending Sexual Misconduct Investigation

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A Michigan Orthodox bishop is on leave and can’t work as a priest following allegations of sexual misconduct. On Tuesday, Dearborn Heights Archbishop Nathaniel Popp publicly disclosed that his auxiliary bishop, Right Rev Irineu Duvlea, is under investigation for sexual misconduct. In a statement, Popp said that Duvlea, 53, is presumed innocent, but is now on leave and is banned from working until the investigation is complete. The church didn’t announce any information about potential victims. Popp added that the investigation is highly confidential and urged his followers not to speak about the matter. Popp said in the announcement, “No one should discuss the investigation with anyone”. Duvlea served as the Bishop of Dearborn Heights and auxiliary bishop of the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America.

Members of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, said they welcomed the fact that Popp made the investigation public. However, the group feels the archbishop isn’t going far enough because the investigation remains confidential. Melanie Jula Sakoda, the Orthodox Director for SNAP, said in a statement, “Investigations into sexual misconduct should always be made public, and I was very pleased to see that Archbishop Nathaniel had made this announcement. Such disclosures encourage others who experienced witnessed or suspected abuse to come forward”. Cappy Larson, also of SNAP Orthodox, added, “The Church should also supply additional information. Did the misconduct involve a parishioner? If so, was the victim a child, an adult, a male, a female? How many victims have come forward? More complete disclosure can help to jog memories and reassure other survivors, producing additional testimony and evidence”. Duvlea was a monk in Romania before he came to the United States in 2001. He founded The Ascension of The Lord Monastery in Clinton MI. He was the head of the Western States Vicariate of the OCA Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America. His territory included parishes in Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, Texas, Oregon, and Washington.

3 September 2015

Jodi Rempala

Dearborn (MI) Press and Guide

http://www.pressandguide.com/articles/2015/09/03/news/doc55e885e2b4583913052340.txt?viewmode=fullstory

Editor:

This legal threat appeared as a comment:

My ACLU attorneys (aclu@aclumich.org) will contact you today for clarifications regarding the allegations done against me for church political gains. + Irineu, Bishop of Detroit, ROEA, OCA.

If the above comment is on the up and square, it shows that Irineu is an arrogant son of a bitch. You simply don’t make such implied threats in the USA. He can’t sue me for pointing that up. The last thing that he needs is an unsuccessful legal action. If his lawyer told him to do this, he has incompetent counsel. No, we won’t be silent! Who accused Duvlea of misconduct? When did the alleged incident take place? It smells as if the OCA is trying to sweep this under the rug. They tried doing that with Storheim and it blew up in their face.

Remember the nasty tactics used by Gindin, Storheim’s shyster? One wonders, is Duvlea’s counsel going to do the same? That is, are they going to smear the accuser in public in an attempt to discredit them? It didn’t work in Winnipeg… although that bastard Gindin did his best to bad-dog and attack Storheim’s accusers. Storheim ended up convicted, and Mr Justice Mainella, the judge involved, was rather emphatic in his condemnation of Storheim and totally trashed Storheim’s credibility in public. Duvlea had best watch his step. This isn’t Romania… it’s the USA, where the judiciary wouldn’t be inclined to help any putative coverup.

Duvlea’s lawyers can’t sue me for the above. However, his clumsy “comment”, if genuine, shows a total lack of understanding of the American legal system, and of how it works. If it’s secret, there’s no real investigation. Full stop. An MP priest once asked me, “Which of the OCA bishops isn’t reputed to be gay?” Antics like this don’t help such questions. Come clean, Nathanael. If not, it just may come to haunt you…

If Duvlea’s lawyers attempt to pressure me legally, I’ll be sure to post on it and tell you. After all, a threat of a lawsuit is a public action, it’s an “act of public record”, and I’d have every right to publicise it. Just a friendly word of advice… do be cool.

BMD

Advertisement

24 March 2015. Updates on Two Continuing Abuse Cases Involving Orthodox Clergy

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The Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Diocese of the USA, Canada, and Australia (BOD) announced on its website on Saturday 21 March 2015 that Archpriest Paisius DeLucia would be defrocked.

http://bulgariandiocese.org/

http://www.bulgariandiocese.org/files/Spiritual-Court/21Mar-Decision.pdf

SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, is relieved that the BOD removed the founder and former head of St Innocent Academy (SIA) in Kodiak AK from a position of authority. However, they agree with the publishers of Academy Abuse that more remains to be done.

https://academyabuse.info/

At least 18 former students accused DeLucia of physical, emotional, and spiritual abuse. The spiritual court concluded that he publicly shamed kids, used vulgar language, engaged in unbecoming behaviour while serving the sacraments, including interrupting liturgy to discipline attendees, violated confessions, and used “improper pastoral approaches toward the faithful”.

http://www.bulgariandiocese.org/files/Spiritual-Court/21Mar-Decision.pdf

David Clohessy, the Executive Director of SNAP, said, “First, it must be said that this decision would not have been possible without the bravery and persistence of all the former students who testified at the spiritual court. We congratulate them on their victory and applaud their courage”. Cappy Larson of SNAP added, “However, the diocese also needs to step up and explain what they will do in the future to prevent further abuses. As a mother, it’s very disturbing to me that St Innocent’s was billing itself as a treatment centre for troubled youth without any oversight from the Church or from the state. Kids with problems deserve a qualified and credentialed staff”. Melanie Jula Sakoda, also of SNAP, wondered, “And are the BOD and Christ the Saviour Brotherhood (CSB) going to take responsibility for what happened to the students who attended the academy? Fr Paisius’ victims may need counselling and therapy as they try to heal”.

DeLucia founded SIA in 1998 under the auspices of CSB, and the group reportedly still owns the property where the school sits. The academy, along with other parishes from CSB, joined the BOD in 2000.

http://www.pokrov.org/groups/csb-christ-the-saviour-brotherhood/

Clohessy concluded, “There’s also still an open criminal investigation into the academy. Victims who haven’t yet done so should make a report to Trooper Robert Casey (907-486-4121, robert.casey@alaska.gov) as soon as possible”.

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At their recent meeting in Syosset NY, the bishops of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA) again delayed defrocking Canadian Archbishop Seraphim Storheim.

http://oca.org/news/headline-news/holy-synod-of-bishops-concludes-spring-session2

Members of an abuse survivors’ group are outraged that the synod still has not removed the archbishop from the ranks of clergy. He was the OCA’s highest-ranking clergyman in Canada, but was convicted of sexually assaulting an 11-year-old altar boy in January of 2014 and is currently in jail.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/Archbishop-Storheim-found-guilty-of-sexually-assaulting-altar-boy-241849391.html

http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/ex-archbishop-gets-8-months-for-molesting-altar-boy-30-years-ago-1.1905622

http://www.winnipegsun.com/2015/02/05/storheims-appeal-denied-going-to-jail

The OCA’s synod instead “reviewed” the report of the Synodal Commission, as well as procedures and a date for the spiritual court. They also appointed a committee of three bishops to “develop appropriate procedures”.

http://oca.org/news/headline-news/holy-synod-of-bishops-concludes-spring-session2

Leaders of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, say that the denomination has publicly acknowledged that their sex abuse policy requires that clergy convicted of child sexual abuse be laicised.

http://oca.org/news/headline-news/court-upholds-conviction-of-archbishop-seraphim

http://www.snapnetwork.org/canada_defrock_archbishop

http://www.snapnetwork.org/ny_clergy_sex_abuse_victims_beg_synod_to_defrock_archbishop

Cappy Larson of SNAP said, “This ‘spiritual court’ seems to me to be little more than a time-wasting formality. Both Archbishop Seraphim’s guilt and church policy are crystal clear”. Melanie Jula Sakoda, also of SNAP, added, “At least Archbishop Seraphim can’t use his religious title to hurt children from behind bars, but what happens when he completes his sentence?” Larson concluded, “The OCA can’t afford to have the archbishop’s die-hard supporters expose kids to danger to prove to him that they trust him completely”. 

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Editor:

The fact that the OCA refuses to give Storheim the drop even though he’s in the slam for nasty doings speaks volumes. I have to walk away from this one. One MP priest asked me, “Which one of the OCA bishops isn’t gay?” This gives that question tread… and I wish that it didn’t. However, facts are facts… the OCA has to shitcan Storheim and apologise to his victims for the over-the-top attacks on them by Storheim’s shyster in court. That’s what I believe, any road. I stand by it.

BMD

Alaska Priest Accused of Naughty Doings Placed on Leave of Absence

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Read this. Academy Abuse gives this important piece of advice to those who might have something to say on the matter:

Academy Abuse strongly recommends extreme caution to those who choose to meet with Bishop Daniil in person.  The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests has a similar recommendation.

• Bishop Daniil has already shamed and attempted to intimidate and discredit one witness.
• If you decide to go, do NOT go alone.
• If you can, take an attorney with you.
• Record the meeting, and if Bishop Daniil objects, tell him that the meeting will be recorded, or you will leave.  Please let Academy Abuse know if this happens.

Be careful… a member of the Spiritual Court is a HOOMie (all too many of them are perv/abuse enablers, as we saw in the Brittain case)… also, the apparats of diaspora Orthodox bodies are more concerned with coverup than transparency (as we saw in the Koumentakos and Iliff cases). IF YOU HAVE ANY DEALING WITH ANY CHURCH APPARAT OR APPARATCHIK, HAVE A WITNESS PRESENT… THEY LIE LIKE RUGS. However… this doesn’t involve the State of Alaska and its legal case against this jabronie. Even if the Spiritual Court were to whitewash the affair, the perp wouldn’t be off the hook with the secular authorities. That’s all that there is now… stay tuned for more developments.

BMD

Anti-Child Abuse Advocates Oppose Eliel’s Nomination… As Do I

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Read this. Here’s the real-deal part:

Cappy Larson, one of the founders of Pokrov.org and now also a SNAP leader, was incredulous that Eliel had been nominated, “The OCA is still reeling from the conviction of Archbishop Seraphim Storheim for the sexual abuse of a child. I can’t believe the assembly would seriously consider a man who spent so much time in the company of two notorious sexual predators, and has yet to say a public word against either. I hope that the synod of bishops has more sense than to elect a candidate who thinks it’s more important to conceal predators then to protect the vulnerable and help heal the wounded”. Melanie Jula Sakoda, also of Pokrov.org and SNAP, agreed, “If the OCA is serious about changing the way abuse is handled in their Church, Eliel seems like precisely the wrong kind of candidate”.

Paffhausen protected Storheim and Izzy Brittain… Paffhausen was another Podmo supporter… Eliel was one of Paffhausen’s gay caballeros (along with David Brum)… we DON’T need “more of the same”. Look at Paffso and look at Moriak… ’nuff said. The konvertsy have to be reined in, full stop. Eliel refused to leave Podmo after Podmo got the gate from the ROCOR Holy Synod. Actions have consequences… if he supported pervs twice, I’d not take a chance. Just sayin’…

BMD