CHARLOTTE — On Friday, the Ohio-based Glenmary Home Missioners released a list of clergy who were credibly accused of sexual abuse of a minor or vulnerable adult. The list includes five men – three priests and two religious brothers – they say formerly served in the Diocese of Charlotte.
Brother Al Behm, Father Adelbert (Del) Holmes, Father Ed Smith, Brother Gino Vertassich and Father Anthony Jablonowski were noted as being assigned to the Charlotte diocese by the Glenmary Home Missioners. Three of the men are dead, one left the Glenmary society in 1993, and one was laicized in 2006.
In an Oct. 12 statement, the Charlotte diocese said it is unaware of any allegations of misconduct against the men while they were serving here, but an independent review of historical records is ongoing.
"The Diocese of Charlotte is looking into the service of five clergy on that list who appear to have formerly served within our diocese. We are continuing to gather information and are currently unaware of any allegations against these clergy while serving in the Charlotte diocese," said the statement. "We are grateful the Glenmary religious order has released the findings of their historical review, as it is important to notify all communities in which these clergy have served."
The Glenmary list totals 11 men (seven priests and four brothers) and "is the result of a year-long forensic review commissioned by Glenmary to promote transparency and help bring about healing for victims," Glenmary Home Missioners said in a statement accompanying the release of the list.
"Glenmary has become painfully aware that in the past we have failed to protect minors and vulnerable adults. In addition, we have realized how often our response to victims has been inadequate. We deeply regret these failures," said a separate statement from Father Dan Dorsey, president of the Glenmary Home Missioners. "It is our hope that publishing these names will be a step in the healing process for the victims."
The Glenmary Home Missioners was founded in 1939 by Father William Howard Bishop, a priest of the Archdiocese of Baltimore, to serve what he termed “No Priest Land, USA.” At that time, he noted that more than one-third of the counties of the United States, mostly in Appalachia and the South, had no resident priest.
No Glenmary priests currently serve in the Charlotte diocese, but decades ago there were Glenmary missioners serving in some of the diocese's smallest and most remote parishes, particularly in the far western part of the state.
Since 2002 the Church in the U.S. has had comprehensive guidelines for responding to allegations of abuse, when the U.S. bishops adopted the landmark “Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People,” which spells out protocols for reporting allegations of child sexual abuse and puts in place prevention and accountability measures.
The Glenmary Home Missioners urges anyone with information about abuse concerning Glenmarians to contact the appropriate authorities as well as Father Dorsey at 513-881-7402.
Details about the Charlotte diocese’s Safe Environment policies and how to report an allegation of abuse are online at www.charlottediocese.org/human-resources/safe-environment.
— Patricia L. Guilfoyle, editor