Call for other possible Nazareth Farm victims to come forward
A man who now lives in Kentucky says that he was abused by a Syracuse Diocese priest, while he was a teen.
Daniel Franz was in Syracuse on Monday to make his statement, accompanied by a representative of Road to Recovery, a group that helps victims of priest abuse.
Franz says he was at Nazareth Farm, a program run by the Syracuse Diocese in Center Point, West Virginia, as part of a Catholic high school program to help the needy. And, Franz says that in his week there in 1981, he says he was fondled by Rev. David Pichette. Franz says it took him until just a few years ago to confront the incident, and has just recently gone public.
He was accompanied by Rev. Robert Hoatson, from New Jersey, who runs Road to Recovery. The two say that their first contact in the case with the Syracuse Diocese was in 2009, and that an investigator was sent to interview Franz, and a follow-up letter said the case was 'credible.' They also say an offer of counseling was made, but that Franz and his lawyer did not respond.
Today, Hoatson told us they wanted an apology from the bishop, more definite help, and for other possible victims from Nazareth Farm to come forward. They told us they would not cross the street to talk to the Diocese about the case--that what they wanted was to raise awareness.
We did talk to Danielle Cummings, Assistant Chancellor, who says that offers for counseling help are always made as a first step, and that it's also procedure now, for the bishop to invite a person who accuses to come for a talk--and that apology letters are also part of the process. There is an assistance coordinator, under the Child and Youth Protection Policy established in 2003, and anyone who alleges abuse is offered assistance. Cummings also says that the Safe Environments program requires everyone in the diocese to review guidelines for abuse every five years.
Cummings also says that the Diocese 'paper trail' in the Franz case differs from his accusations: that Franz first contacted the Diocese in 2003, and that offers to help were made on 'multiple occasions' and that in 2010 the diocese received a lawyer's letter, demanding $1million in compensation. Franz and Hoatson told us they were not looking for money.
The Diocese has an assistance coordinator, Nuala Collins, at 470-1465 or ncollins@syrdio.org.
Road to Recovery can also be reached at 862-368-2800.
The Syracuse Diocese provided us with David Pichette's assignments while he was an active priest:
1967-1969: St. Patrick's, Truxton weekend assistant
1967-1969: Bishop Ludden High School, Westvale faculty
1969-1979 Seton Catholic Central HS, Bingamton faculty
1970 (summer) St. Patrick's, Truxton administrator
1970-1973 SU student
1974-1979 Blessed Sacrament, Johnson City
1979-1989 Nazareth Farm, Center Point West Virginia, director
1989-1990 Sabbatical
1990 St. Margaret's, Mattydale Parochial Vicar
1991 St Patrick's, Binghamton Administrator
1991-1992 St Ambrose, Endicott Pastor
We are told that Pichette stopped being an active priest in 1993, and that he was dismissed rom the priesthood by the Syracuse Diocese in 2005. He is now reportedly 70 years old, and lives north of Miami, Florida.
