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Contents © 2005
by Jim Holman.
All rights reserved.

LETTERS
February 2005

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As a member of the Minnesota Concerned Citizens For Life, I was deeply moved by the account given by Miguel Vázquez ("It was Horrible, Horrible," January 2005) as it appeared on the NARAL (National Abortion Rights Action League) blog, "Bush v Choice". I don't know who submitted it nor when but it had to be after 7:00 p.m., Sunday, January 10. I noticed it about 9:00 a.m. [the next day] and by noon it had been removed from their blog. Fortunately it remained long enough to copy for our own use here. I hope whoever took it off read it first! Hopefully others copied it too. Keep up the good work and God Bless!!

Jack Dempsey
Marshall, Minnesota.

BLOGGER WOWED BY YENI

I write the blog called After Abortion. (I'm Catholic, pro-life and post-abortive.) I wrote about your amazing article this morning. Wow. I'm going to draw the attention of the pro-life blogging community to this.

Warm Wishes,
Emily

DEEPLY DAMAGED ABORTION WORKERS

Abortion workers are deeply damaged by working in an industry that destroys human life (whether they are post-abortive or not). They experience psychological, emotional, physical and spiritual damage. Many of these effects are akin to what a post-abortive woman experiences. They often experience denial, shame, horror, defensiveness, resentment, to name only a few effects.

Abortion workers have been dehumanized — just as the baby who is killed by abortion is dehumanized. They are duped into believing that abortion is actually helping women. They are scapegoated — others don't want to do the "dirty work" of abortion.

It was interesting in that Yeni and Sonia, the medical assistant and abortion worker actually tried to talk the women out of getting an abortion, being post-abortive themselves, working in an abortion clinic may have been their way of trying to make sense out of their abortions through repetition compulsion. Or they may have been trying to undo what they have done by encouraging other women not to abort. But because they listened to their consciences and saw more than most, they couldn't make sense out of it and fortunately quit.

Dr. Philip Ney, a practicing child and family psychiatrist, in his book The Centurion's Pathway explains how the wounds of personal abuse often pave the way for a person to abuse others by practicing abortion. He also describes how former providers need to personalize each of the children they have destroyed. Periodically Dr. Ney offers a program for former abortion workers to help them walk the long and painful road toward healing.

Joan Appleton, who was once the head nurse of an abortion facility in Falls Church, Virginia, co-ordinates the Society of the Centurions of America. She can help direct former abortion providers to Dr. Ney's program and/or direct them to a psychotherapist in their area who can deal with this issue.

The Centurion who stood at the foot of the cross of Christ suddenly became horrified at the crucifixion he was ordered to carry out. When Christ died, this Centurion dropped his sword and fell to his knees exclaiming, 'Surely, this was an innocent man!'

One of the biggest obstacles to healing of former abortion workers is the perception that they are unforgivable for what they have done. They often think that some major punishment will befall them sometime in the future because of their wrongdoings.

Mary Jo Faustgen
St. Paul, Minnesota

BISHOP BROM SHOULD STOP SUPPORTING USD

It seems almost every month there is another story in News Notes about immoral groups or speakers at USD. Just recently we learned that one of the trustees of USD, Bishop Robert Brom, is regularly appearing on the donors list for USD in the category of those who give at least $1,000 per year to the school. Why ? As the leader of the Catholic Church in San Diego the bishop is called upon to follow the Gospel and be a shepherd to his Catholic flock. Yet, Bishop Brom is generously supporting an institution that routinely mocks the Catholic faith, and hires staffers who dissent, dilute and deny Catholic teachings. We call upon Bishop Brom. If he cannot influence this Catholic college to remove support for such immoral groups, then he should resign from the board of USD and stop contributing to the school.

Joe and Maria
San Diego

QUESTIONS ABOUT FATHER HOLTEY

Catholic parents of young children in this diocese should be very concerned about the Father Gary Holtey case. Why is Father Gary Holtey now facing only local misdemeanor child porn charges when he was also investigated by federal agents about overseas child porn web sites? Is Father Holtey being investigated for international sex trafficking with boys in Thailand, the world's child sex capital, since an image of a Thai boy has allegedly been found in his camera?

According to several articles by the San Diego Union-Tribune and KFMB, authorities stated Holtey admitted to being involved in child porn activities for years, yet has pleaded not guilty. Why has the San Diego diocese decided to provide support and finance for Father Holtey's defense? Local prosecutor Judy Taschner stated, "all minors are potential victims in his presence," yet no one from the San Diego diocese seems anxious to discuss the Holtey situation in any depth.

Taschner said that Father Holtey left the state during the investigation and authorities consider him a flight risk. Would Father Holtey's probable flight destination be Thailand? Father Holtey's trip or trips to Thailand seem to coincide with those of infamous pederast priest, Paul Shanley, who was arrested in San Diego a couple of years ago. According to several articles (Boston Globe, New York Times, Associated Press), Father Shanley took trips to Thailand as recently as March 2002, where he owned a condominium. Father Holtey mentioned his recent trip to Thailand in the summer of 2002 in an RCIA class. Where was Father Holtey when he was in Thailand? How many trips did Father Holtey take to Thailand? Were other priests with Father Holtey on his trip or trips to Thailand? A Little Note for News Notes in April 2002 said that Shanley was residing in Ocean Beach, which is not far from St. Charles Borromeo parish and Father Holtey. Was it just a coincidence? The infamous Father Rudy Kos, (reported to have molested 1,000 Catholic boys) was arrested living just a few miles away from St. Charles Borromeo. Is this area a haven for boy-molesting priests? Is the diocese oblivious to the fact that these ravening wolves are dining on the sheep they are hired to protect?

In 2003, Bishop Brom visited Father Holtey at St. Charles and took photos with the RCIA class, indicating a close relationship with Father Holtey. Bishop Brom has admitted paying out close to $100,000 to settle a claim against himself regarding alleged sexual activities with a seminarian while he was in Minnesota — not exactly a small amount. How much has the diocese promised Father Holtey for his defense? Where has the transparency promised by Bishop Brom gone? Why is he supporting a man that authorities have described as a serious threat to children?

Articles by both the Union-Tribune and KFMB say that a photo of a Thai boy was found on Father Holtey's camera. Was this a nude photo, like the film negatives of nude men found in Father Holtey's possession? Was this a souvenir for Father Holtey? Have any of the children at St. Charles Borromeo been interviewed by investigators regarding Father Holtey? Have children at Father Holtey's previous parishes been interviewed by authorities? Information from three sources indicates that there was about a 50 percent turnover in the parish's school employees in 2003 — the most ever in recent history at St. Charles Borromeo. Was this related in any way to Father Holtey's alleged illicit activities? Did any of these employees have knowledge or suspicion of Father Holtey's predilections? Who has replaced these employees? Have they had background checks? Is the diocese investigating whether any of these employees threatened to unmask Father Holtey's alleged crimes? Given the large amount of child porn reportedly found at St. Charles Borromeo, was anyone else coordinating with Father Holtey, with knowledge of his activities? These are some of the many questions that authorities, reporters, the diocese and, most of all, parents should be asking. The real question is, will they?

Chuck Stout
El Cajon

HOLTEY GIVES HER CHILLS

Who can Catholic parents in the San Diego Diocese depend on to protect their children from homosexual pedophile priests? Unfortunately it's not the vicar general, the chancellor or even the bishop. Instead we can only thank the U.S. Attorney General, federal child porn investigators, and the local secular press — the San Diego Union-Tribune, the North County Times, the Beacon, KNSD, and KFMB. It is the secular press who revealed to San Diego Catholic parents that one of our pastors was investigated and arrested for 20 counts of misdemeanor possession of child pornography and that the prosecutor in the case considers "all minors are potential victims" in the presence of Fr. Gary Holtey. She explained that "The defendant has a sexual preference for young boys." Fr. Gary Holtey admitted to authorities that he had looked at child porn on the internet for years, having a collection in his bedside drawer. Fr. Holtey also traveled to Thailand and authorities are working to identify an image of a young boy there found on his camera. He even visited the classrooms at St. Charles to tell the children of his trips to Thailand!

The diocese's response is to post his bail, pay for counseling and treatment in a Maryland clinic, and reassure parents that there is no evidence that he harmed any children at the parish. The diocese is providing financial and emotional support to Fr. Holtey, according to his lawyer.

Fr. Holtey heard childrens' confessions in a private confessional. Are we to believe that someone with this level of involvement in child pornography was always able to control himself around the boys in the parishes and hospitals where he worked? As a Catholic parent with two boys the thought gives me chills.

Susan Lopez
San Diego

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