A Dutch Roman Catholic bishop was allowed to
remain at his post in Kenya for two years after the Vatican was informed
that he had sexually abused a minor.
Bishop Cornelius Schilder was sent
into early retirement in 2009, officially for health reasons.
The head
of his congregation says Rome could have acted sooner.
'He gave me a coffee, showed me my room and started touching me
immediately,' says Michael Ole Uka, describing the first time he met
Schilder.
The 32-year-old Kenyan accuser, a member of the Masai tribe,
has gone public with his allegations for the first time.
Uka revealed
new details of the case in a TV documentary that was broadcast on the
RTE network on Monday night last.
Radio Netherlands Worldwide has obtained uncut interview material from RTE, most of it as yet unaired.
'All priests do this'
Uka says his life is in ruins while the bishop is enjoying his
retirement in Europe. He says the abuse began when he was 14. He accuses
Schilder and at least one other member of the Mill Hill congregation of
rape.
The abuse occurred in the early 1990s when Schilder was a parish
priest in Ngong, Kenya.
The victim also accused an Irish clergyman named
'Gerry' who has since been stripped of his priesthood.
Schilder 'asked me whether I touched Gerry and I said yes,' Uka said.
'Then he told me to touch him and do what I did with Gerry. To me, it
seemed all these priests do this. I knew it was a bad thing.'
Cornelius Schilder (69), who is now living at a Mill Hill retirement
home in the Netherlands, maintains his innocence and has declined to
speak to the media.
Schilder is the first Dutch bishop to be punished by
the Vatican for sexually abusing a minor. He is no longer permitted to
perform the duties of a bishop or a priest. His dismissal first made
headlines in March this year when it was reported in the Kenyan
newspaper The Daily Nation.
Too long
The allegations against Schilder were investigated by his own
congregation in Kenya and sent on to the Vatican in 2007.
However, the
bishop remained at his post for another two years before Rome retired
him.
Anthony Chantry, who heads the Mill Hill Missionaries worldwide, says
'I suppose I'd have to say personally, from my own experience, it
probably took too long. Eventually they do act, but they do take their
time.'
Also speaking publicly about the case for the first time, Chantry
told RTE he is frustrated and hopes the Vatican will 'speed up its
processes'.
Shame
After the abuse occurred, Uka realized he had been manipulated.
'When I
stayed the night, Schilder showed me my room. Only later did I discover
that it was his own room. What I also came to understand is that the
priests knew each other, that Schilder knew what was going on with me
and Gerry. It's like someone else is owning your life. I feel a lot of
shame.'
'Health problems'
Despite the possibility that the bishop may have abused others who have
not stepped forward, Reverend Chantry defends the Vatican's decision not
to tell Kenyan churchgoers the real reason for Schilder's dismissal: 'I
imagine they felt the important thing was to withdraw him from the
diocese and to have him in a position where he he was supervised and
looked after.'
Chantry admits he did not inform Kenyan churchgoers about the abuse
because he might face retribution from the Vatican.
'I think I would
probably be asked why I took it upon myself to do that. There have been
articles in the local newspapers recently so some information has
reached the public domain. People are aware of what's happened,' Chantry
said.
Compensation cow
Uka says he feels isolated now that he has gone public with his
allegations.
'Sometimes I regret speaking. I don't regret the fact that
Schilder has been sent away. But it's very hard because people talk
rubbish about me. They ask me why I have spoken out about this.' Uka
also says he's afraid his children will one day find out about his past.
'If it weren't for these problems following me, I would have been a
good father.'
According to Uka, Schilder refused to acknowledge the abuse during a
meeting arranged by the Mill Hill congregation in Kenya before the case
was sent on to the Vatican.
Uka says Schilder contacted him shortly
after the meeting, however, and offered him a cow.
In Masai tradition,
the victim explains, a cow is sometimes offered as compensation for
wrongdoing. 'He's a coward of the truth, a liar, not a good man at all,'
Uka says.
No justice
Anthony Chantry wants it known that the Mill Hill Missionaries have
helped Michael Ole Uka by offering him counselling and medical
treatment.
Uka says he has also received financial assistance from his
former parish church in Ngong.
However, he does not feel justice has
been done.
'The Mill Hill fathers tried to bring justice, but I don't
see it. I still have faith. I still pray to God. But not in the church.'