Oblates of St. Francis de Sales

New DeSales World Newsletter - Summer Edition

Contact: Rev. Kevin M. Nadolski, OSFS
Director of Communications
(mobile) 202-498-6000
knadolski@oblates.org

Oblates Respond to Latest Allegation
September 9, 2008—Wilmington, DE—Rev. James Greenfield, OSFS, provincial of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales, today expressed his regret and sadness at learning of another alleged instance of sexual abuse in the 1980’s against Rev. Dennis Killion, OSFS, a priest in the religious community. As a result of an earlier lawsuit filed last month alleging abuse against Fr. Killion, Fr. Greenfield has assigned him to the religious community’s retirement facility in Childs, MD, where he remains.

The allegations, listed in the lawsuit, James Marsilii v. Killion, et al., filed today in New Castle County Court, adds a fifth plaintiff alleging sexual abuse during the same year as those named in the August suit when they were all high school students at Salesianum School in Wilmington, DE, in 1986.

“We take seriously anyone who alleges sexual misconduct against an Oblate priest or brother, and we remove that man from ministry and work to learn the facts,” Fr. James J. Greenfield, OSFS, said. “If these allegations are true, we will offer our full apology to those victims in the case because sexual abuse is wrong and cannot be tolerated,” he said.

“Respecting the standards that protect children from abuse, we immediately removed Fr. Killion from ministry in August when the first lawsuit was filed. We are fully cooperating with the legal process where both parties discover the facts of the case,” Fr. Greenfield said.

The Wilmington-Philadelphia Province of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales, the province to which Fr. Killion belongs, is fully accredited by Praesidium, a Texas-based independent national leader in abuse risk management. This agency requires compliance with 25 standards, from reporting and investigation of abuse allegations to education and background screening of members. The Oblates continue to be in full compliance with these standards.

“The accreditation process required all of us Oblates to be trained, and our policies of admitting and practices of training new members to be evaluated to ensure protection from any sort of abuse,” Fr. Greenfield said.

“As pastors in the Church, we safeguard our responsibility to care for all people, especially children and young people. This is an essential dimension of the Gospel that we are committed to,” he said.

The Oblates strongly encourage anyone who has been sexually exploited or abused by a priest, religious brother or sister, or any lay person employed by their community to seek help, and to report the abuse to law enforcement authorities and to the Oblates. The Oblates reiterate their commitment to care for the emotional, pastoral, and spiritual well-being of those who have suffered abuse by their members. If you or someone you know has been a victim of child sexual abuse, the Oblates urge you to contact the police and Ms. Kate McCauley, victim’s assistance coordinator for the Oblates, at 703-525-1555.

The Oblates of St. Francis de Sales is a religious community of priests and brothers who serves to connect the Gospel with the lives of people in the gentle and humble example of their patron, St. Francis de Sales. The Wilmington-Philadelphia Province works in schools, parishes, and other ministries from Boston to Southwest Florida. ###

Contact: Rev. Kevin M. Nadolski, OSFS
Director of Communications
(mobile) 202-498-6000
knadolski@oblates.org

Oblates Remove Priest After Allegations of Abuse
August 4, 2008—Wilmington, DE—The Provincial of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales today placed Rev. Dennis Killion, OSFS, on administrative leave after learning this morning about a lawsuit alleging abuse by the priest when he was a teacher at Salesianum School in Wilmington, DE. Fr. Killion has been assigned to the religious community’s retirement facility in Childs, MD, pending an investigation.

Fr. Killion had completed his ministry assignment at Bishop Verot High School in Ft. Myers, FL, and was preparing to work as an assistant pastor at St. Bede Church, Bucks County, PA. This parish assignment has been withdrawn.

“I have assigned Fr. Killion to our retirement center so that we may complete the necessary investigation,” Fr. James J. Greenfield, OSFS, said. “Respecting the standards that protect children from abuse, we immediately removed him from ministry and will authorize an independent investigation to learn the facts surrounding the allegations,” Fr. Greenfield said.

The Wilmington-Philadelphia Province of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales, the province to which Fr. Killion belongs, is fully accredited by Praesidium, a Texas-based independent national leader in abuse risk management. This agency requires compliance with 25 standards, from reporting and investigation of abuse allegations to education and background screening of members. The Oblates continue to be in full compliance with these standards.

“The accreditation process required all of us Oblates to be trained, and our policies of admitting and practices of training new members to be evaluated to ensure protection from any sort of abuse,” Fr. Greenfield said. Prior to his recent election as Provincial, Fr. Greenfield led the Oblates through the accreditation process.

“Allegations of abuse by our members are taken seriously, and if they are determined to be true, that priest or brother is no longer able to minister in the name of the Oblates,” Fr. Greenfield said. “As pastors in the Church, we safeguard our responsibility to care for all people, especially children and young people. This is an essential dimension of the Gospel that we are committed to,” he said.

The Oblates strongly encourage anyone who has been sexually exploited or abused by a priest, religious brother or sister, or any lay person employed by their community to seek help, and to report the abuse to law enforcement authorities and to the Oblates. The Oblates reiterate their commitment to care for the emotional, pastoral, and spiritual well-being of those who have suffered abuse by their members.

The Oblates of St. Francis de Sales is a religious community of priests and brothers who serves to connect the Gospel with the lives of people in the gentle and humble example of their patron, St. Francis de Sales. The Wilmington-Philadelphia Province works in schools, parishes, and other ministries from Boston to Southwest Florida.
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