St. Thomas Aquinas Preparatory Seminary

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St. Thomas Aquinas Preparatory Seminary was a Catholic high school seminary located in Hannibal, Missouri in the Diocese of Jefferson City. Its doors opened in 1957, and since 1970 half of the priests ordained for the Diocese of Jefferson City have been alumni of St. Thomas.[1] St. Thomas was closed in 2002 due to a decline in enrollment, that can possibly be partially attributed to the negative publicity of the clergy sexual abuse scandal.

Contents

[edit] History

[edit] St. Thomas is Established

The Most Reverend Joseph Marling, after becoming the bishop of the Diocese of Jefferson City took steps to found a high school seminary, and in 1957 St Thomas opened.

[edit] St. Thomas Closes

In a letter to the priests of the diocese dated 19 April, 2002 Bishop John R. Gaydos of Jefferson City wrote: "The seminary has been an important part of the diocese, but we cannot ignore the impact recent headlines will have on future enrollment, which has been in decline for some years. With only 27 students this year, the school was already economically unsustainable. The events of the past six weeks have only hurried the inevitable."

The school and property have been sold by the diocese, and all school property that wasn't sold, auctioned off, or given away, have been taken into the diocese's possession.

[edit] Allegations of Sexual Abuse at St. Thomas

[edit] Anthony J. O'Connell

Bishop Anthony J. O'Connell, who was rector of St. Thomas Seminary for nearly 25 years, has admitted that he molested at least two students in his care.[2]

Stephen Spalding (1953-1982) is the first known O’Connell victim. Stephen’s mother reported the crime to the Diocese of Jefferson City in 1968. Stephen, who died in his late 20’s, is one of 3-known victims from the graduating class of 1971. With dignity and great courage, St. Thomas graduate Christopher Dixon exposed O’Connell’s crimes in 2002. Christopher joined the St. Thomas faculty following his ordination for the Diocese of Jefferson City, MO.

Likewise, Matthew Cosby, Michael Wegs, and two former students identified in media reports as "John C. C. Doe" and "Alexander" have stepped forward to disclose O'Connell's actions against students in his charge.[3][4]

The extent of O'Connell's transgressions in one student's case has been documented by Time magazine.[5]

According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, O'Connell induced another St. Thomas alumnus — Father Brian Driscoll — to obstruct justice by playing the role of bagman in an attempt to quiet further disclosure of allegations of sexual molestation.[6][7][8]

Bishop O’Connell brought Msgr. Manus Daly from Ireland to serve as dean of students at St. Thomas. Msgr. Daly taught at St. Thomas for more than 30 years, succeeding O’Connell as rector when he became the first bishop of Knoxville, Tennessee. Msgr. Daly was forced to resign as rector in 1995. He was then transferred to a small Catholic parish in Marceline, MO.

Father James P. McNally (St. Thomas Class of 1972) and Father Gary Pool (St. Thomas Class of 1973) are two ordained alumni that O’Connell employed at St. Thomas and who have been identified publicly by students in their care who became their victims.[9]


[edit] Footnotes

  1. ^ Pio Cardinal Laghi. Letter from the Congregatio de Institutione Catholica de Seminariis atque Studiorum Institutis. 5 March, 1994.
  2. ^ Victims Say Pontiff Has Protected Bishop O’Connell, Cardinal Mahoney and 17 Others
  3. ^ John CC Doe vs. Most Reverend Anthony J. O'Connell, Most Reverend John Raymond Gaydos, Most Reverend Joseph E. Kurtz
  4. ^ "Accuser Decries Bishop’s 'Plantation’ Life," by John Lantigua, Palm Beach Post, Sunday, 17 May 2004
  5. ^ A Catholic Student's Story
  6. ^ Secrets, Sins and Silence, by Phillip O'Connor, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, First of Three-Part Series, p.1, 14 November 2004
  7. ^ Coming to Terms, Confronting the Church, by Phillip O'Connor, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Second of Three-Part Series, p.1, 15 November 2004
  8. ^ As Scandal Breaks, the Search for Truth Begins, by Phillip O'Connor, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Third of Three-Part Series, p.1, 16 November 2004
  9. ^ Interim Report of Number of Allegedly Abusive Priests in the United States, 18 June 2003, p. 17

[edit] External links

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