CT Post scribe Anne Amato has crafted one of the most insightful pieces when it comes to the Diocese of Bridgeport selectively throwing one of its own under the bus, in this case “monsignor meth” Kevin Wallin indicted by a federal grand jury in a drug probe last week as well as removed by the church for sexual misconduct, according to Diocesan spokesman Brian Wallace. “We became aware that he was acting out sexually–with men–in the church rectory,” Wallace is quoted in Amato’s story. Fascinating.
Maybe the church has found religion about doing what’s right after decades of covering up sexual molestation of children that cost tens of millions of dollars to settle in civil litigation. Wallace, with the blessing of the church, issued more revealing public comments about Wallin in Amato’s story than the collective misconduct of all other priests, couched in crime-over-sin. They don’t out sinners, says Wallace, just crimes. So, abusing children wasn’t a crime? Oh that’s right, statute of limitations had passed by the time church leadership had learned of it (or covered it up). How convenient.
Amato’s article:
Looking back there were the usual warning signs, those nagging red flags. In Monsignor Kevin Wallin’s case, there was the weight loss, the change in his usually meticulous appearance and his erratic behavior that concerned his parishioners and others, including church officials.
“He just didn’t look right; he didn’t seem the same,” said Brian Wallace, spokesman for the Diocese of Bridgeport.
Then came the talk about inappropriate sexual behavior by Wallin, then pastor at St. Augustine’s Church. “We became aware that he was acting out sexually–with men–in the church rectory,” said Wallace.
The main concern was to rule out what Wallin, 61, was doing was criminal, in particular that he was doing anything inappropriate with children.
“We determined that wasn’t the case,” Wallace said. “There’s a difference between sin and crime. We don’t out people for their sins.”
Since his sexual behavior was deemed “not fitting for a priest,” Wallin was asked to, and did, resign in June 2011, just shortly after the concerns were brought to the attention of the Diocese, he said.
After Wallin left, a bag with “sex paraphernalia” was found in his room, Wallace said.
He said their main concern was to “protect the parish–to make sure (Wallin’s) behavior didn’t hurt anyone.” He added that, at that time, there was no indication of drug use by Wallin, or that he was cross-dressing.
The Diocese wouldn’t learn about those allegations until after Wallin’s arrest earlier this month on charges of participating in the conspiracy to sell crystal methamphetamine, as well as dealing the drug.
Read full story here.
“After Wallin left, a bag with “sex paraphernalia” was found in his room, Wallace said.”
Sounds like a ‘plant’ to me. I know a person who was very close to Wallin and St. Augustine. As the story goes, there are two church officials who for years had been making living and working at St. Augustine as unpleasant an experience for Wallin. He eventually left the church to the surprise of many. Wallin had made friends with one of the men who has also been charged in the drug case and this person is believed to have introduced Wallin to meth. By all indications, Wallin had been a well respected and admired priest. This is one example of a terrible fall from grace to meth–a substance five times more powerful than pure cocaine. I wonder why the CT Post feels this tragic fall from grace is worthy of a daily or weekly article. It is what it is on the surface and only Wallin can tell those who have a need to know just how he reached the obvious lowest point of his life. I understand Wallin will cop a plea in the near future and will most likely agree to a seven-year sentence. I’d bet he has a better and more interesting story to tell than Fabrizi and Newton. I wish Wallin the best.
I do not believe Wallace’s story at all. If he was forced to retire in 2011, why was the diocese paying him a stipend? Oh what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive. This story would make a great movie on LIFETIME.
The problem with organized religion in America is the administrators prefer keeping the inner workings veiled. The diocese kept quiet about the allegations of priestly sexual abuse. There is still a culture of corporate denial, a culture of protecting the clergy involved. “The main concern was to rule out what Wallin, 61, was doing was criminal …” Oh really? Is that the only goddamned concern? Wallin was a priest, charged with living a morally upstanding life as an example for the parish. Dressing up in women’s clothing and having sex with men in the rectory doesn’t sound very priestly to me.
Time and society are catching up with the monsters who ruin innocent lives with their predations: Pedophile Nechemya Weberman, an unlicensed counselor serving the Satmar Hasidic ultra-orthodox sect in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, was sentenced to 103 years in prison following his conviction last month on 59 counts accusing him of sexually abusing a 12-year old girl who had been sent to him for religious counseling.
Only 103 years? I hope there is no chance of parole. All child abusers and pedophiles deserve a life sentence. Especially if they are Priests or Rabbis.
Not to worry, Steven. He will be in administrative segregation his entire sentence. Child abusers and pedophiles tend to not live all that long among the general population in prison.