Archbishop of Denver proactive in dealing with claims of sex abuse

Denver, Colo., Jul 28, 2005 / 22:00 pm

The Archdiocese of Denver is being proactive in dealing with cases of sexual abuse by clergy. On Tuesday, Archbishop Charles Chaput faxed letters to 11 parishes across Colorado, where a priest accused of abuse formerly had served from 1960 to 1993, reported the Denver Post.

In his fax, the archbishop made a general appeal, asking parishioners to come forward "if you or anyone you know has information regarding the sexual abuse of a minor."

Brandon Trask, 49, notified the archdiocese this year that Harold Robert White, former pastor of St. Patrick's Church in Minturn, had molested him in the early 1970s.

The 72-year-old White, who lives in a Denver retirement community, has said he does not remember Trask or the alleged abuse. White has been out of active ministry since 1993 and was laicized by the Vatican last year.

According to the Pose, the archbishop issued a second statement to all Denver parishes more recently, detailing the steps the local Church has taken to protect children. He said the Catholic Church "cannot control events of the past," but it promptly and seriously responds to every allegation — even those decades old—and reports all claims of sexual abuse against minors to law enforcement.

"We do not have, and will not tolerate, any priest in active ministry in the Archdiocese of Denver who has a credible claim of child sexual misconduct against him," Chaput wrote. "We will respond to anyone else who makes an allegation — as well as anyone who is accused—with a spirit of justice, prudence and healing."