Caldey Abbey Expresses Regret Over Decades of Abuse
In a significant revelation, Caldey Abbey, located on an island off the Pembrokeshire coast, has issued a formal apology for the long-standing child sexual abuse carried out by a monk spanning from the 1960s to the 1990s.
A thorough investigation, spearheaded by social worker Jan Pickles, has uncovered the disturbing pattern of abuse by Fr Thaddeus Kotik. The review documents how Fr Thaddeus cunningly manipulated families on the island, offering gifts and garnering “special attention” to earn their trust.
His role as a monk provided him the opportunity to engage with families, often through babysitting or guided tours. Fr Thaddeus was known to use a pet tortoise and other appealing attractions to entice children to isolated areas where the abuse occurred.
Despite suspicions and rumors surrounding his conduct, there was a failure to act or remove him from the community. “It appears that these behaviours were ‘common knowledge’ within the island communities and tolerated,” the report indicates.
Fr Thaddeus passed away in 1992 without facing any legal consequences for his actions. The review highlights serious leadership failures within the Order and Abbey, noting that allegations were not reported to the proper authorities, as required by law at the time.
Accounts from victims portray Fr Thaddeus as a “serial and prolific abuser of children, often in ‘plain sight’ of others.” The review further states that his inappropriate interest in children was visible and seemingly accepted by the adults on the island.
Victims often encountered disbelief, and in one instance, a child who reported the abuse to a priest was warned that he would face “terrible punishment and be sent to Hell” if he disclosed the incidents to others.
The examination concluded that the abbey’s oversight and governance were insufficient in safeguarding children, with a tendency to become “adversarial” against victims instead of investigating complaints properly. “The allegations were never reported to the statutory agencies responsible for protecting children. The Reviewer believes that these were missed opportunities,” it adds.
Recommendations from the report urge the implementation of strict safeguarding measures, such as a definitive “No Touch” policy and the prohibition of pastoral counseling and informal contact between monks and visitors on the island.
Abbot Fr Jan Rossey, who initiated the review, has publicly apologized for the abbey’s shortcomings in child protection, expressing “deep sorrow and regret” for the trauma endured by the victims of Fr Thaddeus. “It is particularly heartbreaking to hear children spoke up to adults and no action was taken. Children and their families were failed when they should have been supported and listened to,” he stated.
This article was originally written by www.christiantoday.com
