Readers, again, to foster discussion of important issues now being raised in the Toledo Catholic Diocese, I am posting two letters by Fr. Stephen Stanbery, a Toledo diocesan priest who was ordained in 1980 and serving two rural parishes in Henry County. -- David

FR. STANBERY QUESTIONING BISHOP BLAIR'S BEHAVIOR

I (Fr. Stanbery) consulted with Frank DiLallo, the Case Manager of
Sexual Abuse in the Toledo Diocese as to whether his office or any
person in the Diocese had ever conducted a thorough investigation into
the nature of the Fr. David Nuss's recent widow affair.

As recently as Friday, August 3, 2007, according to Claudia Vercelotti
from SNAP who has worked with the widow and lawyer-friend, has said
there was no contact or interview with the widow by any Diocesan
official, nor was there any attempt to offer her any counseling.

In my interview with Frank DiLallo he has stated that he was never
asked by the Bishop to investigate the nature of the affair and he has
stated that is not aware of anyone in his department being asked to
investigate the affair. DiLallo further states that he is not aware of
anyone in the Diocese investigating the nature of the affair or
interviewing the widow, but he states that does not necessarily mean it
wasn't done.

Frank DiLallo's office has indeed by his own statements rightly
investigated other very inappropriate affairs between adults in the
recent past. I am aware from several mental health professionals that
they feel a psychological evaluation should be conducted on Fr. Nuss
before he is allowed to practice ministry.

I ask was there ever a psychological evaluation done on Fr. Nuss who
had an affair with a very recent and vulnerable widow before Bishop
Blair assigned him to the unsuspecting people of St. Rose? Will a
thorough investigation involving interviews with the widow take place
and will a professional psychological evaluation or assessment take
place before Fr. Nuss is sent into another parish?

Will the Diocese reach out and extend counseling to the recent widow
who has stated that she felt sexually exploited by Fr. Nuss?

Finally in the words of St. Ambrose, "The Church is never served when
scandal is covered."

A Voice Crying Out in the Wilderness,

Fr. Stephan Stanbery
Pastor of Sacred Heart, New Bavaria, Ohio
St. Mary's, Holgate, Ohio
St. Paul's Chapel, Hamler, Ohio

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How do you recent seminarians and aspirant seminarians (if any) who were recommended for non-affiliation and/or non-ordination feel about the Vocation Director and his affair with a vulnerable, recent widow? Especially if you feel that Fr. Nuss made a recommendation for non-affiliation, non-continuance or non-ordination based on the feeling that you couldn't handle celibacy? I invite you to come forward and share your thoughts and feelings on this website or other venues. I am aware that people want to hear from you.

In Christ,
Fr. Stephen Stanbery