Odder: 78% of the alleged victims were age 11 to 17

By Diogenes ( articles ) | Feb 18, 2004

He said his molestation had occurred in the rectory of Corpus Christi Church in 1971, when he was 12 years old. It followed "an insidious grooming process" over several months, when Clark would admire the young boy's developing body, urging him to take off his shirt. "It began with him touching my chest and then went onto him fondling my penis," the man said. "I said, 'This scares me. This is wrong.'" At that point, he said, Clark apologized and told him, 'If I ever do that again, I want you to punch me in the stomach."

"What I'm afraid of is we're going into this witch hunt for gays,'' said the Rev. Stephen Rossetti, a psychologist and sex abuse consultant to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

"I had no idea that having sex with a 16-year-old was a crime, that he was legally incapable of consenting, or that our sexual activity could cause him any harm in later years. ... I was sexually immature, lacking crucial knowledge and unfaithful to my promise of celibacy, but I was not stupid, reckless or intentionally hurtful."

"What I'm afraid of is we're going into this witch hunt for gays,'' said the Rev. Stephen Rossetti, a psychologist and sex abuse consultant to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

A high-ranking official of the San Francisco Roman Catholic Archdiocese has been arrested for allegedly sexual molesting a 17-year-old boy in a parked car, authorities said yesterday. The Rev. Bernard J. Dabbene, 63, was arrested after officers approached his car on a street near the waterfront Saturday night and found him and the youth inside, both with trousers unzipped and unsnapped, authorities said.

"What I'm afraid of is we're going into this witch hunt for gays,'' said the Rev. Stephen Rossetti, a psychologist and sex abuse consultant to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

In tears, Mr. Pierce recounted being 12 when his father was dying and a priest who prayed at the hospital sickbed convinced his mother that he could comfort the boy. Two hours of sexual abuse followed at the priest's apartment, Mr. Pierce said, along with a warning that no one would believe him if he complained.

"What I'm afraid of is we're going into this witch hunt for gays,'' said the Rev. Stephen Rossetti, a psychologist and sex abuse consultant to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Bishop Robert Lynch has been under growing scrutiny since March, when the Tribune disclosed that he had authorized a $100,000 settlement with former diocesan spokesman William Urbanski, 43, another amateur triathlete who accused Lynch of sexual harassment. Lynch admitted inappropriate behavior and said he underwent unspecified treatment. He also said he hadn't broken his vow of celibacy.

"What I'm afraid of is we're going into this witch hunt for gays,'' said the Rev. Stephen Rossetti, a psychologist and sex abuse consultant to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.