February 1, 2019 Dear Members of the McQuaid Jesuit Community: The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle has published a story entitled, “Think McQuaid’s priest abuse list is complete? Our investigation shows it’s not.” The article appeared yesterday, January 31, on the newspaper’s website. In addition to alerting you to this news story, we wanted to provide information to clarify and correct serious misinformation contained in the story, and to alert you to the series of efforts we have made to provide accurate and complete information to the reporter covering the story. McQuaid Jesuit has been working with the reporter from the Democrat and Chronicle since December 2018, when two of the Jesuit Provinces released names of Jesuits in their Provinces accused of credible allegations of abuse against a minor or vulnerable adult. We continued working with him in January when the Northeast Province made public its list of Jesuits who were the subjects of similar credible allegations. Upon receipt of each Province list, McQuaid immediately shared the names of those on the Province lists who had been employed by the school at one time or another. As you know from prior communications, most of those Jesuits were not accused of misconduct during their times here at the school, and for many years our protocol has been to immediately notify the Brighton Police of any report of abuse we receive. In our collaboration with the Democrat and Chronicle reporter, we answered every question he had, fully, truthfully and completely. We provided statements of fact confirming what we knew, and what we did not. In addition, we included resources provided by the Northeast Province, included in which is a broadly accepted definition of a “credible allegation” they use to ensure accuracy and consistency. It is this definition that we used. We also clarified the nature of the three Jesuit Provinces who developed their lists, all of which is distinct from McQuaid. Finally, as instructed by the Northeast Province, we referred the reporter to the Province spokesperson, since the Province, not McQuaid, could address how the list was prepared and maintained. The January 31 Democrat and Chronicle story suggests that McQuaid Jesuit has not been transparent in its reporting and has been “silent on credible allegations.” This is not true. Below is an accounting of detailed information provided by the current and past McQuaid administrations to the Democrat and Chronicle, prior to publishing its January 31 article. McQuaid has a zero-tolerance policy regarding incidents of inappropriate conduct with minors or vulnerable adults. If a sexual abuse claim should ever be made by a student or non-student, we would immediately report the incident to law enforcement and the Northeast Province. McQuaid would then cooperate fully with any investigation undertaken by law enforcement, and McQuaid would also provide pastoral care to the victim, as needed or requested. McQuaid is committed to ongoing transparency in the critical issue of confronting sexual abuse so that victims may find healing. It is truly unfortunate that the inaccuracies in the Democrat and Chronicle 1800 South Clinton Avenue Rochester, New York 14618 585.473.1130 Fax 585.256.6172 www.mcquaid.org article may cause some to question our commitment in this area, and our firm resolve to address abuse issues promptly, comprehensively and compassionately. Let us continue praying for all victims of sexual abuse, as well as for those who love and support them. Sincerely yours, Rev. Robert E. Reiser, S.J. President Mr. Adam R. Baber Principal Information Provided by Current and Past McQuaid Jesuit Administrations to the Democrat and Chronicle Jesuit Province Lists of Jesuits Credibly Accused of Sexual Abuse On Tuesday, January 15, the Northeast Province of the Society of Jesus made public a list of names of those Jesuits in the Province who had credible allegations of abuse against a minor or vulnerable adult since 1950. Upon receipt of the Province list, McQuaid immediately shared the names of those on the Province list who had been employed by the school at one time. In releasing the names, we hoped to not only provide important information to the entire McQuaid community, but also demonstrate the ongoing commitment to transparency on the part of the school. First and foremost, the list issued by the Northeast Province in January is not a McQuaid list. The list is the product of the Province’s review of their personnel files housed at the Northeast Province headquarters in New York City. As such, McQuaid had no prior access to the information provided in the Province list, or to any of those files. We once again confirm that McQuaid had no prior record or knowledge of any credible allegations of abuse against: ● Thomas Denny who served at McQuaid from 1978-79. Incidents of abuse, judged credible, occurred in the 1960s and 1970s. Accusations were reported in 2002 and Fr. Denny was removed from ministry that same year. ● John Farrand who served at McQuaid from 1954-57. The incident of abuse occurred and was reported in 1961. Fr. Farrand admitted that the incident occurred. He died in 2003. ● William Scanlon who served at McQuaid from 1964-67. Incidents of abuse occurred between 1985 and 1994. Accusations were reported in 1994 to which Fr. Scanlon admitted. He was removed from ministry in 1994. ● Robert Voelkle who served at McQuaid from 1962-63, 1964-65 and 1968-69. Incidents of abuse, judged credible, occurred between 1960 and 1980. Accusations were reported in 1980. He left the Society of Jesus in 1985 and died in 2016. In addition to the Northeast Province, two other Jesuit Provinces of the United States issued similar lists in December 2018. Again, these lists are not McQuaid lists. They are the results of similar audits of personnel files contained in those Provinces. Because Cornelius Carr served at one time in the Central and Southern Province, and Roy Drake in the Midwest, their names were included on those Provinces’ lists, as well as on the January-issued Northeast Province’s list. We confirm that McQuaid had no prior record or knowledge of credible allegations of abuse against: ● Cornelius Carr who served at McQuaid from 1960-64. Incidents of abuse, judged credible, occurred in the 1970s and 1989-90. Accusations were reported in 2005. He died in 2013. ● Roy Drake who served at McQuaid from 1957-60. Incidents of abuse, judged credible, occurred in 1968 and 1973. Accusations were reported in 2003 and Fr. Drake was removed from ministry that same year. He died in 2008. McQuaid did have a record of an allegation against Leonard Riforgiato, a Jesuit seminarian who served at McQuaid from 1964-66, that first came to us in 2003. Upon notice of the allegation in 2003, consistent with its protocol, McQuaid immediately submitted it to the Brighton Police Department, so that the department could determine the appropriate course of action. The Brighton Police Department did not investigate the accusation because as of 2003 Mr. Riforgiato had died. An incident of abuse occurring between 1964 and 1966 was included as part of the Northeast Province list. This accusation against Mr. Riforgiato was reported to the Jesuit Province in 1969. McQuaid has no way of knowing if this allegation is related the one made to the school in 2003. Mr. Riforgiato left the Society of Jesus in 1972, and died in 1999. Mr. John Tobin Mr. John Tobin was a member of the McQuaid Jesuit language department from 1964-93, and was a long-time swim team coach. In February 1993, Mr. Tobin chaperoned a McQuaid student trip to France during which there were allegations of serious and improper conduct on his part. Mr. Tobin was suspended and an investigation was conducted by the school’s administration. In March 1993, Mr. Tobin, at the school’s request, resigned. Mr. Tobin died sometime after leaving McQuaid and prior to 2003. Mr. Tobin was a lay member of the faculty and not a Jesuit. Therefore, his name would not have appeared (and did not appear) on the Northeast Province’s or other Jesuit Provinces’ lists. In 2003, allegations of sexual abuse against Mr. Tobin were made by Mr. Thomas Chiarella, ’79 in an article appearing in Esquire Magazine. In addition to allegations against Mr. Tobin, the Esquire article included allegations against a Jesuit priest who remained unnamed. The author did not include the Jesuit’s name in the article and declined to provide his name upon request by the school’s administration. Upon receipt of an advanced copy of the Esquire article, the McQuaid administration submitted it directly, and immediately, to the Brighton Police Department. The president of McQuaid at that time called Mr. Chiarella to apologize to him, to offer him pastoral support, and to gain whatever additional information he might offer. Beyond what was in the article, we understand that the author provided no further information to McQuaid. The school then promptly contacted all McQuaid alumni to alert them to the article, and elicit further information or allegations, should there be any. McQuaid also communicated with faculty and staff, students and parents, providing information and offering support. Finally, the school held a public press conference to share what happened, what was being done internally, and what steps were implemented to ensure a safe environment. The Democrat and Chronicle reported on Mr. Chiarella’s allegations in the Esquire article and the school’s response in its Friday, April 4, 2003 print edition. As a result of their 2003 outreach, the school received two additional reports of sexual abuse against Mr. Tobin; one from an alumnus and one from a former student. A member of the administration also met individually with each reported victim to offer pastoral care and to gain additional information. The school promptly reported both allegations to the Brighton Police Department. The Brighton Police Department did not open an investigation into any of the three accusations, based on Mr. Tobin’s death. Additional Accusations We continue to encourage anyone who has been a victim of sexual abuse or sexual misconduct to report their experience to McQuaid and to law enforcement. If anyone has additional accusations or further information, they may contact Chief Mark Henderson of the Brighton Police Department at 585-7845150, and they also may contact Ms. Kathy Stark, McQuaid Jesuit’s Victim Assistance Coordinator, at 585-473-1130. Among other things, the school would promptly alert Chief Henderson to any report it receives. Finally, support is available from the Northeast Province by contacting Ms. Kristin Austin, Northeast Province Victim Advocate, at 443-370-6357.