How Could You? Hall of Shame-Edward Avery

This will be an archive of heinous actions by those involved in child welfare, foster care and adoption. We forewarn you that these are deeply disturbing stories that may involve sex abuse, murder, kidnapping and other horrendous actions.

From Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, former priest and legal guardian to six orphaned Hmong children whose father had been killed in a truck accident, Edward Avery, “pleaded guilty to one count of sexually assaulting a boy under 13 years of age, and one count of conspiring to endanger the welfare of a minor. He also told the court that Lynn, a ranking official within the Philadelphia Archdiocese, knew about his behavior with children and still allowed him to remain a priest ,”according to The Philadelphia Tribune. The victims that have come forward are not any of the six children who lived with him in a house in West Philadelphia.

He entered his plea on March 22, 2012 ahead of the April 2, 2012 trial that encompasses two other sex abuse cases in the Archdiocese. He was immediately sentenced to begin serving a 2 ½ to 5-year prison term.

According to Bishop-Accountability.org, “[h]e was best known for his work with Philadelphia’s Hmong community. He dedicated years to helping these Southeast Asian immigrants find jobs and transportation to work. They nicknamed him Txiv Plig Vam Nyiaj, which he once said roughly translates to “good as gold” or “priceless.” The website goes on to say “Avery was ordained in 1970 and was in parish ministry for most of his career, until being appointed chaplain at Nazareth Hospital in 1993, ” and “Aside from his duties in the church, Avery moonlighted as a disc jockey at weddings, parties and dances.”

Also, he frequently was a disc jockey at the Smokey Joe’s bar on the campus of University of Pennsylvania. He also had the nickname Smiling Padre.

The accusations are from incidents in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

The Huffington Post reveals that “According to the documents, a medical student told the archdiocese in 1992 that Avery had molested him after a DJ gig when the priest and the high school freshman were drinking heavily at a West Philadelphia nightclub. It happened again at age 19 when the two shared a motel bed on a ski trip to Vermont with Avery’s brother, he said.

Avery denied the allegations to Lynn, but then said they “could” have happened. A four-day evaluation at a church-owned hospital showed he may be bipolar and have alcohol and psycho-sexual problems. Avery was admitted to St. John Vianney in Downingtown for nearly a year of sex therapy and mental health treatment.

Avery’s parishioners were told that their outgoing, energetic pastor was on a “health leave” but heard no mention of the abuse allegation. Lynn’s lawyers said the documents show that Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua gave those orders.”

The Grand Jury Presentment has these details and other sick details of other victims and other alleged perpetrators. The 44-page pdf can be seen here. The medical student was fondled multiple times as a teenager, but another victim claims to have been sodomized at age 11 and 12.

Reporter Ralph Cipriano has more information at his new blog Priest Abuse Blog that discusses Edward Avery’s mental health treatment and defrocking.

Sources:
Ex-priest pleads guilty in abuse case
[The Philadelphia Tribune 3/22/12 by Larry Miller]

Priests’ Dismissals Confirmed David O’Reilly
[Bishop-accountability.org 12/19/03 Philadelphia Inquirer article]

Testimony Begins In Child Sex-Abuse Trial For Philadelphia Catholic Priests, Archdiocese
[Huffington Post 3/27/12 by MaryClaire Dale]

REFORM Puzzle Piece

There are no details that we have found on the timing of the placement of the six children and these allegations. The entire coverup is extremely disturbing. Equally disturbing is how the victim had to keep following up to try to ensure that there weren’t other victims.