Dear Friends,

Those of you who have followed the Society of St. John scandal in the Diocese of Scranton are familiar with Bishop Timlin's "investigation" of the matter: he asked the priests accused of homosexual molestation what they had to say about the charges; the priests denied the accusations; and so Bishop Timlin concluded his investigation.

Fr. Carlos Urrutigoity's denial carried more weight with Bishop Timlin than the fact that three different parties, in three different places, had accused Fr. Urrutigoity of homosexual molestation, and that other witnesses had accused Fr. Urrutigoity of providing alcohol and tobacco to minors and sleeping with them in the same bed. Hence, Fr. Urrutigoity, as well as Fr. Eric Ensey and Fr. Marshall Roberts, who were similarly "investigated" by Bishop Timlin, are free to prowl about in their cassocks and collars, virtually unrestricted. Protected and supported by Bishop Timlin, these three priests of the Society of St. John continue to promote their homosexual agenda under the guise of Catholic tradition and orthodoxy. (For complete coverage of this sordid story, including affidavits from witnesses, go to www.SaintJustinMartyr.org/news/notices.html.)

Bishop Timlin's pattern of protecting predator priests extends beyond the priests of the Society of St. John. I have been contacted by other Catholics in the Diocese of Scranton who have experienced the same episcopal stonewalling when they have come forward to expose clerical corruption.

Attached is an affidavit written by Mrs. Louise Carbonaro, a Catholic mother who served as the Director of Religious Education at St. Ann's Church in Tobyhanna, Pennsylvania from 1994-2002. She also served as the Director of RCIA at St. Ann's from 1995-2002. Mrs. Carbonaro contacted me with her story after Bishop Timlin failed to discipline the pastor of St. Ann's, Fr. Michael J. Kloton, whose sexual misconduct Mrs. Carbonaro had reported to Bishop Timlin.

In brief, Mrs. Carbonaro describes a sexually brazen priest who is a legal time bomb ready to explode: he sexually harasses those working for him; he collects pornography on his computer; and he manipulates women under his spiritual direction, even to the point of an attempted suicide by one of these women.

It is difficult to believe that Mrs. Carbonaro and Fr. Kloton's other employees were the first to witness his perverted behavior. It is even more difficult to believe that they will be the last. Does anyone feel comforted by the fact that Bishop Timlin has claimed to investigate this priest?

If you have information concerning other "investigations" undertaken by Bishop Timlin, please contact me directly. I will protect the confidentiality of all those who request it.

Pax vobiscum,