Church officials called police today when demonstrators showed up to support the mother of a clergy abuse victim, but there were no arrests. About 30 people upset with the bishop's failure to meet Marie Tupper in Boothbay Harbor attended St. Maximilian Kolbe parish, where Roman Catholic Bishop Richard Malone was installing a new pastor Sunday.
The survivor advocates wore buttons and stickers that said, "Bishop Malone: Please Meet with Marie Tupper," said Michael Sweatt, one of demonstrators. About 25 of the participants, some from as far away as Boston, received communion but didn't address the bishop, he said.
Scarborough Police Sgt. Steve Thibodeau confirmed officers were sent to the church. He said the officers were not needed and that there were no arrests.
It's the second time in a month police have been called because of the tactics used by Tupper's supporters. On Dec. 16, Malone received a police escort when Tupper and a supporter gathered outside an event he attended in Portland's Old Port.
Tupper, who didn't participate in Sunday's event in Scarborough, said she's still waiting for a face-to-face meeting with Malone. "I just don't understand why the bishop won't meet with me," she said. "As I told him, I want to help him to help others in my community, to reach out to victims."
Sue Bernard, spokeswoman for Diocese of Portland, said Tupper met with Malone's predecessor, Bishop Joseph Gerry, and Malone offered for her to meet last month with his highest-ranking assistant. Bernard says Tupper declined the offer.
Tupper contends a family member was abused by the Rev. Thomas Lee, who was suspended from ministry in 2003 and resigned six months later following an investigation into allegations regarding sexual abuse of minors. He served in Boothbay during the 1980s.
A church tribunal consisting of three priests determined last month that sexual abuse accusations against Lee were not proven, but Malone has appealed to the Vatican.
Bernard declined to get into specifics but says there were "multiple complaints" against brought against the 81-year-old priest.
Tupper says at least nine children were sexually abused by Lee in her parish alone. Lee, who couldn't be reached immediately, served in parishes in Millinocket, Bath and Lyman, in addition to stints as a hospital and prison chaplain.
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(Source: MTC)