Jesuit And A Cardinal

Dominican Republic’s cardinal on Friday said neither the Catholic church “nor anybody else” has to get involved on immigration issues, because it’s up to the government to decide on the matter. Nicolas de Jesus Lopez Rodriguez made the statement when asked about the attitude of the Jesuit priest Rogelio Martinez, whose failed effort to get hundreds of undocumented Haitians across the border roiled Dominican Republic. Nonetheless Lopez noted that the priest’s conduct doesn’t merit a reprimand. “No one has to get into that; neither ambassadors nor priests, it’s up the State to dictate migratory policy,” the senior prelate said, warning that the situation with the Haitians seeking to enter the country irregularly could’ve led to fatal consequences. Speaking at the Marcelino Velez Hospital, the Cardinal stressed however, that Haitian and Dominican authorities should find a solution, to issue documents which regularize their status in Dominican territory.

Link (here) to Dominican Today

Fr. Paul Carrier, S.J. Named Haitian Victims Lawsuit

Fr. Paul Carrier, S.J. in Haiti

"Before many of these sexual abuse victims met Douglas Perlitz, they were homeless, without food and had very little clothing. Now, many of these victims are still homeless, without food, have very little clothing and are also suffering from the emotional and physical trauma Douglas Perlitz inflicted on them," Mitchell Garabedian said. "These victims are in a much worse position today than when they began attending Project Pierre Toussaint, met Douglas Perlitz and were sexually molested by him." Perlitz pleaded guilty in 2010 to traveling from the U.S. to Haiti for the purpose of engaging in sexual conduct with a minor. He is serving a 19-year, seven-month federal prison sentence. 

Days before his sentence, Perlitz claimed he became involved in a sexual affair with Carrier shortly after arriving at Fairfield University as a freshman in 1998. Fr. Paul Carrier, S.J. was the school's director of campus ministry and chaplain. Shortly after that claim, Carrier's Society of Jesus, New England Province began an investigation and suspended him of clerical duties. Attempts to contact the Society of Jesus and Timothy P. O'Neill, his Boston lawyer, for comment were unsuccessful Wednesday. In the past O'Neill has denied his client did anything wrong and cast doubt on Perlitz' claimed relationship with Carrier. Court documents and Haitian sources claim Carrier and Hope Carter frequently visited Perlitz and his program in Haiti. 

The new suit alleges that Carrier saw Perlitz show a pornographic video to a student, heard Perlitz arrange a rendezvous with a boy, watched Perlitz press his body against a boy's back in an embrace and was a visitor when a boy slept in Perlitz's bedroom. "All of these circumstances should have alerted Father Carrier ... that something was amiss in Perlitz's dealings with the boys in his care at PPT," Garabedian wrote in the suit. The suit claims that Fairfield University raised over $600,000 for the Haiti Fund, which turned the money over to Perlitz. Stanley A. Twardy Jr., the school's lawyer, has maintained that Fairfield University is a "separate and distinct entity" from Project Pierre Toussaint. He and other defense lawyers are asking Chatigny to dismiss the cases. 

Link (here) to CT Post

Jesuit Brother Apart Of Team Rubicon

Brother Jim Boynton, S.J., is a Jesuit from St. Ignace, MI. As a Jesuit, Jim has taught high school in India, Nepal, Cleveland and Detroit and has served as vocation director for the Detroit Province. Jim has organized and led numerous medical mission trips to Guatemala and Honduras and traveled with groups of Jesuit novices to Peru for their introduction to the culture and immersion in the language. He is currently assigned to work with the Jesuit Refugee and Migrant Services and is serving as principal of St. Ignace school of Foi et Joie in Quanaminthe, Haiti.

Link (here) to Team Rubicon

Sodomy In Haiti : Price $400,000,000.00

Douglas Perlitz plead guilty to sexually molesting 8 boys at the Pierre Toussant School for Homeless Children in Haiti between 1998 and 2008. He is now serving nearly 20 years in federal prison. Boston Attorney Mitchell Garabedian has filed 20 complaints in federal court seeking over $400 million on behalf of 21 children. It names not only Perlitz but the Society of Jesus which oversaw the school, Reverend Paul Carrier who was on the school's board and Fairfield University. Carrier was the chaplain at Fairfield.

Link (here) to read the full story and watch the video.
Go (here) to read an excellent but graphically detailed report from a Catholic perspective 

French Canadian Jesuits Expelled From Haiti 50 Years Ago

Haiti February 5, 1964, 15 armed security guards

(the feared ton ton macoutes) arrived and searched for five hours and then trucked the Jesuit missionaries to the Archbishop's Palace and held under house arrest. 

Fearing the deportation of their teachers and the 60 seminarians at the Great Seminary of Port Au Prince, the only seminary in Haiti.

Link (here) to read the full article in The Montreal Gazette and see a picture of the Jesuit seminary in Haiti.

Darkness At Fairfield University

In the latest development, the defense team for convicted pedophile, Douglas Perlitz, is attempting to lessen the sentence by claiming, according to the court document , that Mr. Perlitz's ten year abuse of street boys in Haiti he raised monies to school and shelter was due to his struggles with h@mosexuality and the fact he was a victim of "a dark and abusive relationship," he developed with a Jesuit priest at Fairfield University shortly after his arrival on campus in 1988. (Defendant Perlitz motion to reduce sentence ; Attorneys say Perlitz victim of "abusive" relationship with priest ; Defense Claims Fairfield Priest Abused Perlitz ; Fr. Paul Carrier, S.J. Near The End Of The Line.)

Link (here)

Jesuits To Work With The Order Of Malta In Haitian Project

Fairfield University President Jeffrey P. von Arx says the school won't abandon the Haitian victims of alumnus Douglas Perlitz and that it is actively working to reopen the Project Pierre Toussaint facilities in Cap-Haitien.

Perlitz, 40, once honored by the university for his humanitarian work with impoverished boys in Haiti, admitted in federal court this week to engaging in s@ with one boy. He did not dispute prosecutors' claims that evidence showed he had engaged in s@ with at least eight underage boys and as many as 13 while in Haiti.

In a letter to the Connecticut Post, von Arx said helping the poor and underprivileged is a cornerstone of the mission of the Jesuit-run university, and the tragedy of what happened to Perlitz's victims will leave a lasting impact on those boys. "We will not abandon our efforts to help Perlitz's victims," von Arx said.

Von Arx said the university has a long history of dedication to service. "The tragic circumstances surrounding the former Project Pierre Toussaint boys are no exception to this rule," he said. "Discussions we initiated with The Haiti Fund board and with the Order of Malta earlier this year remain active, and we are hopeful that a partnership among charitable organizations can be created so the facilities in Cap-Haitien can be reopened."
Link (here) to read the full article in the Stamford Advocate

The Superior General Visits Haiti

Fr. Nicolas, the leader of the Society of Jesus, visited the Jesuit novitiate in the Tabarre neighborhood of Port au Prince, where he met with staff of Jesuit Refugee Service Haiti and Fe y Alegria. Both organizations have set up offices in tents on the novitiate grounds, and staff and volunteers are also living in tents on the grounds.

 

Read the entire report at Jesuit Refugee Service (here)

The Envelope In Haiti

Father Ken Gavin, S.J. on NPR: “When we talk about our work in Jesuit Refugee Service, we say that what we do is accompany, serve and advocate or defend the rights of refugees or forcibly displaced people. And that term, accompaniment, as you say, Neal, is incredibly important, because I see it as the envelope out of which all our service and all our advocacy – however important they are – flow from that sense of accompaniment.

And what we mean by that, I think simply, is to be close to the people, to be in solidarity with them, to step into their shoes, to experience their hopes and losses. Our sense of accompaniment comes from that spark of the divine that we recognize in every human person. It comes from our believing that even in the greatest tragedies like Haiti, that our God stands present with people in their suffering.”

To hear Fr. Gavin on the Talk of the Nation program, you can listen from NPR’s website or download the podcast. Fr. Gavin was interviewed by National Jesuit News before his trip to Haiti, you can view his video interview here. 

 

Link (here) to the entire Jesuit National News story.

Photo and interview (here)

Project Pierre Toussaint

The Haiti Fund, Inc., a non-profit corporation that was established by Carrier to oversee the Project, used a Fairfield University mailing address to accept donations. Carrier chaperoned many “Ignatian Immersion Experience” trips to Haiti with students from the University. In 2002, Perlitz was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree and delivered the commencement address. In 2005, Perlitz was the recipient of the Alumni Humanitarian Award at the annual Fairfield University Awards Dinner in New York City.

Then, in April 2006, for reasons still not entirely clear, Carrier was removed without warning as Director of Fairfield’s Campus Ministry to embark upon a sabbatical to prepare for his next assignment. Two years later in April 2008, Jesuit Provincial Thomas Regan, S.J., ordered Carrier to resign as Chairman of the Haiti Fund, Inc. and to resign from his non-salaried teaching position at the Sacred Heart Convent School in Greenwich. In October 2009, it was announced by the Provincial that Carrier was restricted from all public ministry. There have been no charges of child sex abuse that I am aware of against Carrier.

Keeping Secrets

In October 2008, I wrote to Dr. Mark Reed, Vice President for Administrative and Student Affairs at Fairfield University with a reasonable request to help protect children (at the time, Perlitz’s whereabouts were unknown).

I wrote:

“If a person were to visit the Fairfield University web site and enter “Douglas Perlitz” in the search bar, one would immediately view 25 Fairfield University press releases about Perlitz. After reading the press releases, one would think that Perlitz is a saint, a special individual who has devoted his life to helping others. Think about this. If the owner of a day care center googled Perlitz’s name as part of the hiring process, he or she would think they hit the jackpot and would most likely hire Perlitz immediately. They would have no idea that the Project Pierre Toussaint Board of Directors is on record as having fired Perlitz for the sexual abuse of children … Please ensure that the information about why Douglas Perlitz was fired as Executive Director of Project Pierre Toussaint (you can publish the Board’s public letter) is published on the Fairfield University website … Protecting innocent children from cunning and manipulative child molesters is everyone’s job, Dr. Reed.”

Link (here) to a lengthy in-depth story on the subject by Paul Kendrick, Fairfield class of 1972.

Photo is of the Project Pierre Toussaint headquarters in Haiti.

Dispatch From Haiti

Ouanaminthe: Pedro Arrupe's House and Apostolate (Solidarité transfrontaliére et Fe y Alegria) are not damaged. All Jesuits and lay colleagues fine. Communication by phone is impossible. I will remain in contact with them via the Internet.

Biassou: Karl Lévêque House is intact; the house was not damaged and the Jesuits are fine. The house next door was destroyed. The Jesuits are trying to rescue their neighbours.

Canapé-Vert: Ignatius Loyola House was slightly damaged and the Jesuits are fine though in shock. Houses in the neighborhood were damaged or destroyed. Father Sainfariste Dérino, S.J. was not at home at the time of the earthquake; we do not know where he is. We will try to locate him this afternoon. We are assisting our neighbors in need; many spent the night with us in the garden. We believe that Brother Charlot Mathurin, S.J. is safe in Dulagon, given that the Artibonite Region was not hit hard by the earthquake.

The Novitiate, Tabarre District, Port-au-Prince: The house was slightly damaged; the water tank on the roof collapsed and caused some destruction. The Jesuit Fathers, the first year novices and all the retreatants are well. The Rural Development Support Group (GADRU) house was destroyed. Jean-Marie and lay colleagues were able to escape from the house as the shaking began. They are safe.

Kawas François, S.J.
Provincial Delegate for Apostolic Ministries in Haiti.

Link (here) to the full post at the Jesuit Portal

Photo is of Fr. Francois, S.J. being interviewed on the left.

The Whole City Smells!

There is a huge problem with the sewage system: there is no sewage system! Thus, everyone takes ‘care of business’ on the streets, on the sidewalks. The whole city smells! There is also no real garbage disposal system. Garbage is all over the place. And finally, there are dead corpses lying about the streets and, in the sun, they give off an awful, unforgettable smell. So, three distinct smells in the streets…ones that will not be forgotten easily.

Link (here) to Artur Suski, S.J.n writing at the Jesuit blog, Friends in the Lord.

Team Rubicon On The Roof Of The Jesuit Noviciate In Port-au-Prince

The blog Blackfive has announced the launch of a collaborative rapid medical response operation of Jesuits and US Marine veterans to quickly get medical personnel and supplies into Port au Prince.

Jake Wood, a remarkable young US Marine military blooger (milblogger) and former University of Wisconsin Badgers football player, has established Team Rubicon for a joint medical relief operation with Jesuits in Port au Prince.

The operation is able to move more swiftly than larger, established aid organizations because it is privately-funded and overcomes three critical blocks in the flow of aid: security, lack of water, and organizational cumbersomeness.

Wood blogged his recent combat experience in Iraq and Afghanistan as Badger Jake at Jake's Life, which has now become the home of Team Rubicon. He also served as a volunteer in the aftermath of hurricane Katrina.

About the impact on him of Haiti's devastating earthquake he says, “My first reaction was, ‘Jake, you're not in the Marines any more, but you have a special set of skills. You would be ashamed of yourself if you didn't try to use them to help people.'
“Security is a critical issue in the aid effort that has not drawn much attention in the mainstream media." Team Rubicon immediately identified the need and are meeting it with veteran volunteers who are "security personnel who can sub as medics and medics who can sub as security personnel."

Wood recruited some of the members of the advance team from posting on Facebook. The advance team consists of another Marine combat veteran, two firemen from Milwaukee, and an interpreter from Haiti, Corinne Joachim-Sanon. She had been studying at the Wharton School of Economics at the University of Pennsylvania when she learned that her home in Haiti had been destroyed.

Team Rubicon will marshal its medical aid convoys in the Dominican Republic and will provide security for them as they move to the Jesuit Volunteer Services compound in Port au Prince, which is reported to have basically collapsed.

The Jesuits have the most essential thing whose lack is hampering all relief efforts: water, which they get from a well on their property. Team Rubicon will establish its base of operations there.

The advance team is due to arrive in Port au Prince on Sunday to assess security and prepare the way for the first convoy of medical supplies and medical personnel from Chicago.

Jesuit Brother Jim Boyton, a former teacher at the University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy, will guide the team to the Jesuit Volunteer Service compound in Port au Prince.

Blackfive writes, “The Jesuits are telling us that they need this medical team NOW.

Brother Boynton stated, “At this point I will have no way to pay the teachers, and our Jesuit community has very little cash on hand, the only real currency now. The other thing is that people are now leaving Port au Prince in droves, and by the accounts, they are headed our way. "

Team Rubicon is a totally privately-funded and volunteer-staffed operation of medical and military professionals working with one of the Church's most effective education and assistance organizations, Jesuit Volunteer Services. With additional funding from private citizens they will be able to do far more and respond much more quickly than larger organizations that are still gearing up.

Since Team Rubicon is working in collaboration with Jesuits, they deserve the support of Catholics everywhere and particularly those who are veterans and those grateful for the service of wonderful young men and women in the military in countries around the world.

Of the name of Team Rubicon, Jake Wood writes, “What's with the name? Simple. The Rubicon was a small stream that separated Gaul (France) and ancient Rome. On January 11th, Caesar crossed the Rubicon, and it marked the point of no return. “This Sunday, January 17th, our 4 man team will cross the Artibonite River, separating the Dominican Republic and Haiti, carrying crucial medicine and supplies to the people of Haiti. Once across, we will be irrevocably committed to our task.”
Our prayers go with Team Rubicon, Jesuits in Port au Prince, and the suffering people of Haiti.

Link (here)
More with video (here)

Jesuit Response To The Crisis In Haiti

By now we are all well aware of the tragedy unfolding in Haiti. Many of you know that Brother Jim Boynton is now working in Haiti at a school in a town called Ouanaminthe which is located in the Northeast of the country. His region felt the quake and had minimal damage but the damage to the Capital Porte-au-Prince has been devastating. Brother Boynton has said that the Jesuit schools in Haiti serve the very poor and right now these families need just about everything. To help with the relief effort, the Detroit Province of the Jesuits will be sending money to the Jesuits in Haiti which will go to help the families and the schools we serve. Brother asks that we be as generous as we are able.

Send all Donations to:
The Jesuits (put "Haiti Relief" on the check)
Detroit Province of the Society of Jesus
7303 W. Seven Mile Detroit, MI 48221

Link (here)

Haitian Relief: With A Jesuit Brother And Team Rubicon Haiti

Assembling a second team to go to Haiti. In need of: ER doctors, EMTs with pediatric skills. Rally point will be Fayetteville, NC. Click here for more info.

From Brother Jim Boynton, S.J. to
Team Rubicon Haiti

Father Karl Kiser, S.J. uses a BlackBerry. I do not but will give it a try. At Christmas I told my friend, Father Jim Williams, that some day I hoped to have a love for the Haitian people that was not based on pity.

This island seemed like a latrine, and the people only to be pitied. Pity is not bad, but it makes you the superior; it sets up an inequality and puts me at the top.

After what I have seen these last few days, now when it would make most sense to pity these poor people I have none. My pity has grown to respect and admiration. Over night I have come to love these people in a way that makes them a model for me, and clearly puts them on a higher plane than I will ever be.

Furthermore you can tell a tree by its fruit. Over the years some fine students of mine have joined the US military, and I have even encouraged some to do so.

That said I have not been the greatest supporter of our soldiers. I have even protested our military at Fort Benning. After seeing how our military has formed the men I am now with my opinion has changed. I am not ashamed that I have protested, but can say with a great deal of certitude I would never do that again.

The boys I am with are who they are because of their military training. They are far more prepared to serve than if they had been reading Thomistic philosophy the last 10 years, and quite frankly, I'm glad they haven't.

Br. Jim Boynton, S.J.
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Link (here) to Team Rubicons action packed blog post.

Photo is of Br. Jim holding an IV (here)

Fairfield University Alumnus Paul Kendrick In Haiti Investigating The Perlitz Scandal

For me, it was a highly emotional day. There I was, sitting in a small office at Justinian Hospital, face to face with two of the many former students who have reported to law enforcement officials that they were sexually abused by Douglas Perlitz, former executive director of Project Pierre Toussaint and Fairfield University alumnus.

Also in the room was Margaret, a compassionate and loving Haitian social worker who has devoted her time and energy to helping the boys by being available to listen to their problems, and Cyrus Sibert, the Haitian journalist who first broke the story about the allegations of abuse against Perlitz in late 2007. Margaret was previously employed as the social worker at the Project’s daytime “drop-in” center.

I had decided before traveling to Haiti that I want the boys who have reported their abuse to know that there are tens of thousands of abuse survivors, along with their supporters, advocates and caring and concerned people in the United States and elsewhere, who support and encourage their efforts to bring these charges before the U.S. judicial system. Further, I want to know from people here in Haiti what they think it would take to resurrect the Project and reopen the school.

Link (here) to the full story

Jesuits Border Blues

Dominican border official says Jesuit priest could face charges
January 7, 2009

Santo Domingo.- National Council Border (CNF) president Radhamés Batista Tuesday said the immigration authorities may file charges agaisnt the priest Regino Martinez, for the smuggling of alien into a church at Dajabón (northwest).

He said Martinez’s attitude is “incoherent” because he denounces an alleged conspiracy by the border’s civilian and military authorities of trafficking with aliens, while committing a criminal action in broad daylight.

The CNF president said Martinez can’t act as a priest to violate Dominican immigration laws. "We believe no one is above the law and though there’re no rules to implement the Immigration Act, in cases such as those in Dajabón, no one can argue that they’re working on this side and are entitled to remain in the country illegally, because they went to visit their family on the other side."

Link (here)

Jesuit priest slams the Dominican Government’s policy on Haitians
26 June 2008

SANTO DOMINGO. - “Until there is a Migration Law or regulation by consensus, adapted to our Constitution, while there isn’t institutionality the problem of the immigrants is never going to be solved,” said the priest Regino Martinez, director of the Jesuit Refugee and Immigrants Service.

The prelate, in reference to the current increase in undocumented Haitians who beg in the country’s streets, said “what anarchy and the lack of laws generate is disorder, violence and repression.”

He said it’s a national problem which must be faced by the State. “It’s not a question of whether Immigration director Carlos Amarante has the sufficient human, economic or technical resources to control the situation; the issue of the children begging can’t be individualized.”

Martinez said the traffic of illegals shouldn’t be treated “in a gross, violent manner, nor with corrupt or repressive controls,” and denounced that in Palo Verde, Hatillo Palma and Villa Vásquez the immigrants are taken with or without ID cards and their rights are violated.

Amarante said that the routine sweeps of Haitian immigrants will continue, within his entity’s possibilities.

Link (here)

More human trafficking alongside the Haitian-Dominican border

by Rene
Oct 31, 2006

Hoy Digital reports today that Regino Martinez S.J. denounced that human trafficking alongside the Haitian-Dominican border still goes on, using trucks, buses and motorcycles.

According to the same source, Martinez declared that Haitians gather around an area called La Gorra, in Dajabon, from where they are taken to other points within the Dominican Republic; also, that in one particular case, corrupt authorities at a border check-point resorted to detention only when the driver of a vehicle loaded with Haitians offered a final amount of 20k pesos as bribe, instead of the 50k the authorities demanded.

Link (here)

Haitian Workers Face Abuses in Dominican Republic, Says Priest

Feb 8, 2006

Despite the Dominican Republic's poverty, its relative economic and political stability attracts neighboring Haitians, who slip across the border looking for work, said Jesuit Fr Regino Martinez, who has lived for 31 years along the Dominican-Haitian frontier. He directs Border Solidarity, a Jesuit-run organization in the Dominican Republic working with Haitian immigrants.

The Haitians' illegal status makes them vulnerable to abuses, including death, said Fr Martinez, who buried 24 Haitians whose bodies were found January 11 along a road on the Dominican side of the border.

Dominican police said the dead were thrown from a van after they had suffocated in it. The van was transporting the Haitians to Santo Domingo after they slipped across the frontier with the help of professional smugglers, police said.

Fr Martinez said that although accords between the neighboring countries allow Haitians to work in the Dominican Republic, many Haitians are so poor they do not have the identity papers needed to get a Haitian passport or a Dominican visa. Yet the demand for Haitian manual labor in the sugar cane and tourism industries continues to be so great that Haitians illegally move to the Dominican Republic, he said.

A major problem caused by the Haitian influx is that the Dominican Republic is also a poor country and "it is hard for it to take care of all these people," the priest said.

Fr Martinez was forced to bury the Haitians in a mass grave after protests on the Haitian side of the border became riots, preventing him and several other Jesuits from returning the bodies to Haiti.

Fr Martinez estimated that there are several hundred thousand Haitians in the Dominican Republic illegally; he said one of Border Solidarity's main activities is to try to legalize the status of Haitians born in the Dominican Republic

Link (here)

Fr. Regino Martinez, S.J. mentioned in The History of Haiti By Steeve Coupeau (here)

.