Events Calendar
In This Section
Tallmadge reduces fees after levy passage
Library computer courses to go hands-on with laptops at branches
City, county may ban bias based on sexual orientation
Taste of Vintage benefits Goodwill Industries
Shalersville, Richfield towers are links to 1949 cross-country marathon
Can DNA tests free ex-Akron captain?
Victim of beating in Kent last week is declared dead at Akron hospital
Green High senior goes extra mile for those who walk and jog the park trails
Most Read Stories
Police accuse bank robbery suspect of gobbling up note (with dashcam video)
Victim of beating in Kent last week is declared dead at Akron hospital
Can DNA tests free ex-Akron captain?
Dad accused of forcing son into field, killing him
Man found dead in North Akron home is identified
Browns' roster nearly devoid of consistent players
Does it work? Test team returns to try out new products advertised on television
Coventry man killed in crash at I-77 ramp
Blogs:
Pets:
Cat-loving chihuahua suckles seven abandoned kittens
The Heldenfiles:
Friday Night Notebook
Patrick McManamon:
Browns vs. Lions live …
Akron Zips:
Akron trounces Howard to reach .500
Tribe Matters:
Seven players added to Tribe’s 40-man roster
Cleveland Browns:
Robiskie, Harrison inactive
Kent State Sports:
Kent State blown out in second half, loses to Temple 47-13
Cleveland Cavaliers:
Gameblog: Cavs vs. Philadelphia 76ers
Buckeye Blogging:
OSU – Michigan college football rivals meet in Baghdad
Varsity Letters:
Four area football teams play tonight
All Da King's Men:
The Sunday Sanity Challenge
Blog of Mass Destruction:
Will Health Care Reform Pass?
Akron Law Café:
Health Care Financing Reform: (69) The Brookings Institute Study on "Bending the Curve" – Four General Strategies
See Jane Style:
Vintage Chic
Car Chase:
TIME TO GET YOUR COLLECTOR CARS WINTERIZED
Let's Talk Real Estate:
Silverdome Potentially SOLD!
Ohio Travels with Betty:
George is looking for a Thanksgiving buffet in Akron.
Sound Check:
Steely Dan Plays "The Royal Scam" at E.J. Thomas Hall
HRLite House:
A Random Rant on Testing
Akron Gamer:
Nintendo's Mario endures even as games come and go
By Colette M. Jenkins
Beacon Journal staff writer
POSTED: 08:24 p.m. EDT, Jun 09, 2009
YOUNGSTOWN: The Rev. Thomas Crum, a Roman Catholic priest who admitted that he sexually abused a male teenage student for a period of a year, has apologized for his behavior.
''He apologized to me for the shame that this has brought on the diocese and the church,'' said Catholic Diocese of Youngstown Bishop George V. Murry, during a news conference today at diocesan offices.
Murry said that the victim has requested no contact with Crum.
But Murry said he has apologized to the victim on behalf of the church and offered the support of the church. In honoring the victim's request for anonymity, Murry would not make public the victim's age. He did indicate that the victim does not live in the six-county diocese.
''It is a very sad situation that a young person was sexually abused by someone that he trusted,'' Murry said. He reiterated his sorrow for the pain endured by survivors of abuse and his commitment to protecting ''our children'' and said he is encouraging all victims and anyone with knowledge of sexual misconduct of a minor to report it to the diocese and civil authorities.
Murry said he was contacted on May 22 by the victim who made the allegation against Crum. The victim was a teenager at the time of the abuse in 1975 and 1976 and a student at Cardinal Mooney High School in Youngstown, where Crum was on the faculty. Although the investigation is ongoing, Murry said the incidents of abuse do not appear to have occurred on school or church property.
Removed from ministry
Crum, 60, has been removed from ministry and placed in a psychiatric treatment center. He resigned as pastor of Our Lady of Peace parish in Canton at Murry's request, after acknowledging to church officials that the victim's allegation was true. Crum told church officials that he has no other victims.
Murry said the incident was immediately reported to the Youngstown Police Department, which has launched an investigation and to the prosecutor's offices in Mahoning and Stark counties. No charges against Crum have been filed. The criminal statute of limitations on the allegation has expired.
A letter explaining that the diocese had a credible allegation of sexual misconduct against Crum was read last weekend at all Masses at Our Lady of Peace and the other parishes in the diocese where Crum has served. The letter also stated that Crum had admitted to the allegation and that he had been removed from ministry, meaning he is prohibited from celebrating the sacraments, wearing clerical attire and presenting himself as a priest in good standing.
In accordance with the rules adopted by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and approved by the Vatican, Crum will not be permitted to return to active ministry because of the abuse. The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in Rome will determine whether he may remain an inactive priest (which allows him to only celebrate Mass alone) or be laicized, or defrocked. Crum can also choose to resign from the priesthood.
Meeting at school
Parents and faculty of Our Lady of Peace School also received a letter informing them that a response team will be sent to meet with parents at 6 p.m. Friday at the parish. The team will be available to assist parents with how to discuss what has happened with their children.
Diocesan officials are also working with the administration at Cardinal Mooney to compile a list of students who were at the school while Crum was on the faculty, from 1975 to 1977. The goal is to inform them of what has happened and to ask them if there are other victims.
''All of these steps have been taken to rectify an egregious offense and crime from the past, ensure that our children are safe today and be transparent about the actions that the diocese has taken,'' Murry said. ''Our goal is to do everything humanly possible so that a child is never abused by any person associated with the church.''
In addition to his assignments at Cardinal Mooney and Our Lady of Peace, Crum has served parishes in Warren, Campbell, Orwell, Boardman and Youngstown. He also was an assistant pastor at Immaculate Conception in Ravenna and pastor at St. Anthony in Canton and at St. Peter in Rootstown. In 1994, he took a personal leave of absence and returned to parish ministry in 1997.
Murry said the leave of absence was granted at Crum's request because Crum was ''having some doubts about whether he wanted to continue as a priest.'' Diocesan records indicate that Crum attended culinary school during that time.
Anyone wanting to report an incident of sexual misconduct by clergy or others associated with the diocese may contact the diocesan victim's assistance coordinator at 330-744-8451.
Crum has been replaced at Our Lady of Peace by the Rev. Lewis Gaetano.
Colette Jenkins can be reached at 330-996-3731 or cjenkins@thebeaconjournal.com.
YOUNGSTOWN: The Rev. Thomas Crum, a Roman Catholic priest who admitted that he sexually abused a male teenage student for a period of a year, has apologized for his behavior.
''He apologized to me for the shame that this has brought on the diocese and the church,'' said Catholic Diocese of Youngstown Bishop George V. Murry, during a news conference today at diocesan offices.
Murry said that the victim has requested no contact with Crum.
But Murry said he has apologized to the victim on behalf of the church and offered the support of the church. In honoring the victim's request for anonymity, Murry would not make public the victim's age. He did indicate that the victim does not live in the six-county diocese.
''It is a very sad situation that a young person was sexually abused by someone that he trusted,'' Murry said. He reiterated his sorrow for the pain endured by survivors of abuse and his commitment to protecting ''our children'' and said he is encouraging all victims and anyone with knowledge of sexual misconduct of a minor to report it to the diocese and civil authorities.
Murry said he was contacted on May 22 by the victim who made the allegation against Crum. The victim was a teenager at the time of the abuse in 1975 and 1976 and a student at Cardinal Mooney High School in Youngstown, where Crum was on the faculty. Although the investigation is ongoing, Murry said the incidents of abuse do not appear to have occurred on school or church property.
Removed from ministry
Crum, 60, has been removed from ministry and placed in a psychiatric treatment center. He resigned as pastor of Our Lady of Peace parish in Canton at Murry's request, after acknowledging to church officials that the victim's allegation was true. Crum told church officials that he has no other victims.
Murry said the incident was immediately reported to the Youngstown Police Department, which has launched an investigation and to the prosecutor's offices in Mahoning and Stark counties. No charges against Crum have been filed. The criminal statute of limitations on the allegation has expired.
A letter explaining that the diocese had a credible allegation of sexual misconduct against Crum was read last weekend at all Masses at Our Lady of Peace and the other parishes in the diocese where Crum has served. The letter also stated that Crum had admitted to the allegation and that he had been removed from ministry, meaning he is prohibited from celebrating the sacraments, wearing clerical attire and presenting himself as a priest in good standing.
In accordance with the rules adopted by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and approved by the Vatican, Crum will not be permitted to return to active ministry because of the abuse. The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in Rome will determine whether he may remain an inactive priest (which allows him to only celebrate Mass alone) or be laicized, or defrocked. Crum can also choose to resign from the priesthood.
Meeting at school
Parents and faculty of Our Lady of Peace School also received a letter informing them that a response team will be sent to meet with parents at 6 p.m. Friday at the parish. The team will be available to assist parents with how to discuss what has happened with their children.
Diocesan officials are also working with the administration at Cardinal Mooney to compile a list of students who were at the school while Crum was on the faculty, from 1975 to 1977. The goal is to inform them of what has happened and to ask them if there are other victims.
''All of these steps have been taken to rectify an egregious offense and crime from the past, ensure that our children are safe today and be transparent about the actions that the diocese has taken,'' Murry said. ''Our goal is to do everything humanly possible so that a child is never abused by any person associated with the church.''
In addition to his assignments at Cardinal Mooney and Our Lady of Peace, Crum has served parishes in Warren, Campbell, Orwell, Boardman and Youngstown. He also was an assistant pastor at Immaculate Conception in Ravenna and pastor at St. Anthony in Canton and at St. Peter in Rootstown. In 1994, he took a personal leave of absence and returned to parish ministry in 1997.
Murry said the leave of absence was granted at Crum's request because Crum was ''having some doubts about whether he wanted to continue as a priest.'' Diocesan records indicate that Crum attended culinary school during that time.
Anyone wanting to report an incident of sexual misconduct by clergy or others associated with the diocese may contact the diocesan victim's assistance coordinator at 330-744-8451.
Crum has been replaced at Our Lady of Peace by the Rev. Lewis Gaetano.
Colette Jenkins can be reached at 330-996-3731 or cjenkins@thebeaconjournal.com.
Comments
Click here to post your comments
Posted 10:50 PM, 06/09/2009
Statement by Judy Jones, SNAP director Southeastern Ohio, 636-433-2511
Thank you to the brave survivor who came forward about the sex abuse by Fr. Thomas Crum. This is not an easy thing for a victim of clergy abuse to do. Hopefully kids will be safer, and others will have the courage to come forward, get help, and CONTACT LAW ENFORCEMENT.
When victims and witnesses speak up, at least there's a chance for healing, justice and prevention. But when victims stay silent, kids keep getting hurt, predators keep assaulting others, and those who've been wounded stay trapped in shame, silence and self-blame.
Our experience has been that sexual predators very rarely violate just one child. Most often there are many. For help and support, you can contact SNAP "Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests', you are not alone.
Contact:
Judy Block Jones, SNAP Director Southeastern Ohio, 636-433-2511
David Clohessy, SNAP National Director, 314-566-9790
http://www.snapnetwork.org/
long beach, ca
Posted 03:04 AM, 06/10/2009
I've been told there are such Blessings to be garnered by forgiving those who have hurt us terribly. However, I feel it is a "Cheap" Grace, when those asking pardon are not really sorry. merely terribly, terribly sorry they got caught. Therefore, not being a supreme being myself, there is no way I will ever forgive, nor forget the pervert priest who sexually victimized me and hundreds of other little girls during his 50 plus years as a Roman Catholic Priest. I will leave that all in the Hands of the ONE who will someday judge us all.
Barberton, oh
Posted 01:04 PM, 06/11/2009
My sincere wishes for the victim... but why are there no criminal charges?? return to active ministry? he should be tried, sentenced and be foreced to register as a sexual offender just like any other person in these United States of America.
Posted 09:22 AM, 06/12/2009
Send him to Guatanimo(sp).. Oh, wait, that is being closed, ok, keep all criminals at home... Is there interest on a crime done 30yrs ago?
Posted 09:32 AM, 06/12/2009
continued: “No one should ever assume it’s ‘too late’ to call law enforcement,” said Jones. “Police and prosecutors are getting increasingly savvy and determined to pursue even older sex crimes, and laws are changing to make that more possible.”
Civil lawsuits are sometimes possible even decades after the crimes happened.
“Anyone who was hurt by Crum owes it to themselves and their families to explore all their legal options,” Jones said.
Crum has worked at churches in in Massillon, Warren, Campbell, Ravenna, Orwell, Canton, Boardman, Rootstown and Youngstown
Posted 09:40 AM, 06/12/2009
A second victim of Fr Crum contacts SNAP..
A confidential support group for clergy molestation victims is reporting that another victim of Fr. Thomas Crum has come forward.
Yesterday afternoon, a leader in SNAP, Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, was called by an Ohio man who says that as a child, he was sexually violated by Crum.
“He specifically said that he wants us to let the public know that this priest did NOT just sexually abuse one child,” said Judy Jones, SNAP’s southeastern Ohio director. “This brave person came forward because he worries that more victims are still silent and that Crum has likely molested a number of kids.”
The victim reports that the crimes started in the late 1960s, before Crum was ordained a priest, and continued after he was ordained. Crum was known to make friends with families, and therefore had easy access to kids.
Jones says she fears there could be recent abuse by this priest.
“Rarely do pedophiles ever stop assaulting children,” Jones stressed. “It usually takes decades before victims realize they’re not alone, they’ve been deeply hurt, they have options, and have a duty to try and protect others. Then, victims have to find the strength to speak up. It just takes time.”
"If Bishop Murry did actually ask Fr Crum whether he abused others children, then someone is not telling the truth," said SNAP director David Clohessy.
SNAP encouraged this new victim to contact law enforcement, as they do everyone who reports having been victimized.
