July 21, 2002
Dear Friends,
Below you will find a letter I received recently from Mr. Joseph Sciambra in response to Deacon Joseph Levine's accusations against me. In his letter, Mr. Sciambra, a former postulant of the Society of St. John, exposes further Deacon Levine's deceitful efforts to represent the opposition to the SSJ as coming from me alone.
While I encourage you to read the entire letter, there are two statements in Mr. Sciambra's letter that are particularly important. Mr. Sciambra states that he reported Fr. Urrutigoity's misconduct with young men to Fr. Ensey in November 2000. Mr. Sciambra also states that he informed Bishop Dougherty, the Auxiliary Bishop of Scranton, about these same matters in July 2001.
It was not until August 19, 2001 that the Headmaster of St. Gregory's Academy, Mr. Alan Hicks, informed me of Fr. Urrutigoity's habit of sleeping with young men. (On that very same day Mr. Hicks also informed Deacon Levine because Mr. Hicks was worried about a possible lawsuit against Fr. Urrutigoity that might involve St. Gregory's Academy.) As for Bishop Dougherty and Bishop Timlin, I did not speak with them about these matters until September 2001. By that time, Fr. Paul Carr, the District Superior of the Fraternity of St. Peter, had already spoken to Bishop Timlin about Fr. Urrutigoity's "sleeping sickness." Moreover, Fr. Richard Munkelt, a former member of the SSJ, had also spoken to both bishops in late August about Fr. Urrutigoity's nocturnal habits with young men.
Thus, though Deacon Levine would like to paint me as the sole accuser of the SSJ, I was actually the fourth individual to inform the bishops of Fr. Urrutigoity's habit of sleeping with young men. Yet the bishops, for reasons yet to be determined, did nothing in response to these reports except insist that the College of St. Justin Martyr remain associated with the SSJ or be shut down.
Please see Mr. Sciambra's letter below as it further explodes Deacon Levine's lies.
Pax vobiscum,
Sincerely, Dr. Jeffrey M. BondJuly 15, 2002
Dear Dr. Bond:
I have read the letter dated June 19, 2002 of Mr. Levine that describes your so-called "campaign" against the Society of St. John and I would like to give you just a few words of support. As a former postulant of the SSJ, I can corroborate many of the accusations made against Fr. Carlos Urrutigoity: including the fact that he provided alcohol to underage boys.
First of all, Mr. Levine states that: "Dr. Bond's terrorism has been unable to sway those who are closest to us and know us the best." Well I don't know about terrorism, but my family was one of the SSJ's biggest financial supporters. In addition, Fr. Daniel Fullerton lived with my family for about two months during the summer of 2000 (they were helping him raise funds for the SSJ) so I think that would qualify me as someone who knew them and was close to them. When I informed my family of Fr. Urrutigoity's behavior, in January of 2001, my family began formal proceedings to sever their financial ties with the Society. Long before you began your so-called "campaign."
Mr. Levine also states that: "It seems that, blinded by anger, he took upon himself the roles of private investigator, prosecutor, judge, and jury." I would like to defend you by stating that: not until October of 2001 did I ever speak to you until a mutual friend contacted me and told me that you were no longer working with the SSJ. By then, I had already told Fr. Eric Ensey (in November of 2000) about what I saw concerning Fr. Urrutigoity's behavior with young men. I had also already contacted Bishop Dougherty (in July of 2001.)
I find it sad that Mr. Levine goes on to write: "Because not only of the lawsuits Dr. Bond has filed but also because of the lawsuit he has fostered and promoted, we have been forced to retain an attorney." As he well knows in a copy of a letter (that originally was sent to Bishop Timlin on May 8, 2002) I sent him dated June 12, 2002 that because my family had to begin eviction proceedings against the SSJ, my family had to hire a lawyer in Pennsylvania and they incurred a bill that now exceeds $2,500.00. To date, we have never received an apology from the SSJ concerning this matter.
Lastly, Mr. Levine also stated: "In the beginning of these attacks, we tried to follow the example of Our Lord Jesus Christ and His saints, 'turning the other cheek.'" Well, in an article dated February 15, 2001, posted on the National Review web site, a priest of the SSJ told the reporter that I am "unstable." Not exactly what I would call turning the other cheek. But, you know the old saying: "sticks and stones may break my bones."
In conclusion, I don't doubt the sincerity of the people who wrote letters of support for the SSJ, that Mr. Levine quotes in his letter, but as someone who worked closely with the SSJ during my 8 month stay in Shohola, I know what you are doing is righteous.
God bless you always:
Joseph Sciambra
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