Bishop purchased annuity so notorious abuser would seek laicization
June 08, 2010
After his installation in the Diocese of Stockton in 1999, Bishop Stephen Blaire purchased a $94,560 annuity for notorious abuser Oliver O’Grady so that he would voluntarily seek laicization.
“I came to the Diocese in March, 1999 and O’Grady was to be paroled in November, 2000,” he explained in a memo to priests. “I was determined that he not leave prison as a priest. At the time, the Church process for removal from the priesthood was lengthy and often uncertain. There was no guarantee that he would be laicized.”
“O’Grady’s canon lawyer informed me that O’Grady would voluntarily seek laicization if some retirement funds were made available for his later years,” Bishop Blaire continued. “I found this arrangement very distasteful, but I was adamant that he not walk out of prison as a priest even though he had been removed from exercising ministry. So I reluctantly agreed to the proposal.”
“I wanted to provide some measure of justice for his victims and some peace of mind that he would never again use his priesthood to damage families.”
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Further information:
- Catholic bishop addresses parishioners about pedophile priest's deal (Modesto Bee)
- Church pays abusive ex-priest (Modesto Bee)
- Memo from Bishop Blaire (Diocese of Stockton)
- Oliver O'Grady (Wikipedia)
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