The pope's Motu Proprio "Vos Estis Lux Mundi" quickened my heart for a short while last year and I re-submitted my complaint in the hope that this time a proper investigation might ensue. With the onus of responsibility being on any cleric or religious thus notified to report to ecclesiastical authority, I copied in many of the English hierarchy in the hope that this would help prevent cover - up.
I was contacted by Arundel & Brighton safeguarding who pointed me in the direction of a support organisation and finally:
Dear Tom,
I
am not entirely sure who to advise you to further your complaint with
in the Benedictine Order, however I believe oversight may come
from the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Apostolic
Life in Rome. Here is a link to the website where there is also a link
to email them:
I do hope this helps but do get back in touch if you need further assistance.
This seemed to bring things full circle and I then ceased communication but did drop a line to Rome:
Dear Cardinal Bráz de Aviz,
I have been trying in vain to get a response from The Abbot President Of The Subiaco - Cassinese congregation Abbot
Guillermo Arboleda Tamayo OSB or
anyone with jurisdiction over Abbot Cuthbert Brogan and Farnborough
Abbey regarding my historic experiences and deep concern that he and
other members of that community, particularly former Society Of St. John
SSJ priest Fr Dominic Carey, now Dom Gregory Carey OSB pose to young
men.
It was suggested by Philip Wright of Arundel & Brighton diocese UK, safeguarding, that you might be able to help?
Please
find my recent attempts by way of this forwarded email and links
charting and chronicling the two and a half years to date of my
campaign.
Kind Regards,
Tom Wood
No response!
I discovered Portsmouth has a "Vicar For Religious" so dropped the new one a line, who wrote back:
Dear Mr. Wood,
Thank you for your mail and kind words. Though my new job was
announced it will take time to begin. When I officially take up my
position on Sept 1st I will follow up with you.
Regards
FrDavid
Fr. David O'Sullivan <dosullivan@portsmouthdiocese.org.uk>
Still waiting!
Diocesan reporting mechanisms
The
law mandates that each diocese in the world sets up, by June 2020, "one
or more public, stable and easily accessible systems for submission of
reports" concerning sexual abuse.[1] As noted by Andrea Tornielli,
"the legislation does not specify what these "systems" consist of,
because it leaves operational choices to the diocese; and these may
differ according to various cultures and local conditions". [3]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vos_estis_lux_mundi#Diocesan_reporting_mechanisms
About 3 months away from the deadline it would appear England & Wales arrangements will remain the same!
Here's one you can actually read, but I've left this picture deliberately!
In August I was contacted by two former Farnborough novices who had only recently left. I discovered that in total 4 had left during 2019. During our communications I became even more convinced in my purpose and that Abbot Cuthbert Brogan and his malformed community pose a significant risk to the welfare both spiritual and temporal of prospective members and young males both home and abroad!
One of the men having noted my hitherto failure is pursuing our common purpose advisedly and chooses not to reveal themselves or their experiences here on the blog, at least for the time being. I sincerely hope they are successful in obtaining remedy. We wish all those harmed, healing and peace but this is only fully possible with Justice!
We were shocked in the autumn to discover Brogan had been promoted to the position of Abbot Visitor. Our recent departures had been most distressed by the failure during a visitation by the previous incumbant, to address their concerns. Promoting Brogan to this position, one can only assume, is a deliberate attempt to further cover up and whether deliberate or consequential, further traumatises his victims! To top it all we were given painful evidence of the congregations care for victims in the form of a photograph of a complaint against Brogan sitting on his desk!
Towards the end of the year we were contacted by another former F'bro monk with stories of the sadly familiar. Of particular note, much to our distress, were his account of the appalling treatment senior monks D. Magnus and Wulstan had to endure.
Finally, I loved and still do love the very special "Thin" place that St Michael's Abbey / Farnborough Abbey is!
Running a facebook page for the campaign in addition to this blog risks tainting this and so I have re-branded it St Michael's Abbey Past & Present where we can celebrate the best of what F'bro was, is and can be.
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