The Rev. Gerald Vosen was accused of sexually assaulting a Janesville boy at a time when pedophile priests made headlines, but he said he’s innocent. Yet the church didn’t support him, a jury didn’t believe him and people in his parishes were left wondering whether the allegations were true.
Vosen, 74, has written a book, “Pick a Number: Stories of Faith,” and he tells his side of the story in a chapter that rips into the Janesville boy’s accusations and the Catholic Church. He’ll be in Janesville this weekend for a book signing.
He hopes the book will clear his name, even though the stink of sexual abuse has cost him everything: His career, his reputation and his trust in the Catholic Church.
“That had been my whole life for 42 years,” Vosen said. “It was very devastating.”
Vosen was accused of sexual abuse in 2003.
A then 26-year-old man told Catholic authorities that Vosen had sexually assaulted him when he was in fifth and sixth grade at St. John Vianney Catholic School in Janesville.
Vosen claims in his book that his accusers were aware of the church’s large payouts to alleged victims. He claims his accuser’s lawyer asked for $1.1 million.
In 2004, Vosen filed a defamation of character lawsuit against the man.
No credible evidence was presented to support the young man's accusations, said Patrick McDonald, Vosen's attorney.
The priest never had the opportunities to assault the young man, McDonald said, and his accuser had contradicted himself many times.
“I think everybody in the courtroom knew these things didn’t happen,” he said.
But a Rock County jury rejected Vosen’s lawsuit.
The jury decided the man was telling the truth.
“That was a very dark day,” Vosen said. “It was very shocking that they came to that conclusion.”
Three jurors later told The Janesville Gazette there was “insufficient evidence for a criminal trial.”
And the man never filed a lawsuit against Vosen or the church.
“I feel the entire chain of events was very unfortunate,” McDonald said. “I feel badly for the family and for Father Vosen.”
The fact that the Catholic Church didn’t support Vosen and immediately dismissed him was more devastating than the allegations themselves, Vosen said.
“That was very difficult to accept after dedicating your whole life to the church,” Vosen said.
“I’m convinced, in the eyes of the church, if you are accused, they’re going to just take that and run with it.”
Since the lawsuit, Vosen has lived in Merrimac. He can’t work in churches. He hopes someday that might change.
“My dream would be that I would be vindicated by the church and be available to help out other parishes or priests,” he said.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Disclaimer
No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to either myself or to the blogspot ‘Clerical Whispers’ for any or all of the articles placed here.
The placing of an article hereupon does not necessarily imply that I agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise.
Sotto Voce
(Source: GXC)