Caldey Abbey in Wales has apologized for historic youngster sexual abuse by a monk between the Sixties and Nineties.
The evaluation, led by social employee Jan Pickles, particulars the appalling abuse of Fr Thaddeus Kotík over many years on the Cistercian abbey and the encircling island, which lies off the coast of Pembrokeshire.
He describes how Fr Thaddeus used items and “particular consideration” to “groom” youngsters and their mother and father to belief him.
Fr Thaddeus “exploited his place as a monk” by providing households babysitting or guided excursions and utilizing a pet turtle and “different enticing treats” to lure youngsters to retreats to locations across the abbey or the island the place they have been subsequently abused.
Though there have been suspicions about his habits, the leaders did not act or take away him from the island.
“This habits seems to have been 'widespread information' inside island communities and tolerated,” the report stated.
P. Thaddeus died in 1992 with out being held accountable or delivered to justice for his actions.
“There seems to have been a failure of management on the highest degree throughout the Order and Abbey. The intense issues of repeated and frequent allegations of kid sexual abuse by [Fr Thaddeus] weren’t notified to the statutory authorities as required by the legislation on the time,” the report states.
Testimony from victims indicated that Fr Thaddeus was a “serial and prolific abuser of youngsters, typically in entrance of others”.
“[Fr Thaddeus’] curiosity in youngsters was not hidden from view and seems to have been tolerated by adults on the Island,” it stated.
The evaluation discovered that victims have been typically not believed and in a single case a baby who reported abuse to her priest was advised she “was despatched to a horrible punishment and was despatched to hell” if she shared what occurred .
The evaluation concluded that the abbey had “poor oversight and governance preparations for safeguarding on the Island” and did not correctly examine complaints, even changing into “hostile” in direction of victims.
“The allegations have been by no means reported to the statutory our bodies answerable for safeguarding youngsters. The reviewer believes these have been missed alternatives,” he added.
The report advisable strict safeguarding insurance policies and procedures be put in place, together with “a transparent 'No Contact' coverage” and a ban on all pastoral counseling and casual contact between monks and guests to the island.
Abbot Fr Jan Rossey, who commissioned the evaluation, apologized for the abbey's failure to guard youngsters and expressed “deep sorrow and remorse” for the struggling skilled by Fr Thaddeus' victims.
“It’s significantly heartbreaking to listen to how youngsters have spoken to adults and no motion has been taken. Kids and their households have failed when they need to have been supported and listened to,” he stated.
