SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) – Former Gonzaga University President John Leary was involved in the sexual abuse of boys and young men in the 1960s, the Oregon Province of the Society of Jesus said Friday.
The actions of Leary, who died in 1993, were covered up by Jesuit officials and he was transferred to other jobs in the West, said a press release from the Rev. John D. Whitney of Portland, Ore., leader of the Oregon Province.
“While today, stronger safeguards and clearer policies are in place, the Jesuits wish to publicly acknowledge the failures of our history and apologize to those who have suffered,” Whitney said in the release.
He called the cover up “uncharacteristic.”
No details were released on how many people were molested. Whitney planned to meet with reporters later Friday.
The revelation was another blow for Catholics in the Spokane area. The Catholic Diocese of Spokane, which does not control the university, has filed for bankruptcy protection because of lawsuits filed by victims of sexual abuse by priests.
Whitney said the Oregon Province in recent weeks uncovered notes regarding Leary while preparing court documents in other cases.
Leary served as president of Gonzaga, a Jesuit-run university, from 1961 to 1969.
“My deepest sorrow and sympathy go out to the victims and their families,” current Gonzaga President Rev. Robert J. Spitzer, a Jesuit, said. “John Leary was highly regarded by many alumni, friends and other members of the community.”
Spitzer and Whitney both noted that procedures dealing with allegations of sex abuse have been changed in the wake of a nationwide scandal to prevent cover ups.
Allegations against Leary first surfaced in 1966. He denied them and remained in office, the Jesuits said. No investigation was undertaken.
In 1969, Spokane authorities raised new allegations against Leary, giving him 24 hours to leave Spokane or face arrest, the press release said.
The leader of the Jesuits in the Northwest accepted the offer, and created a story that Leary was resigning for health reasons and leaving Spokane, the press release said.
“Going briefly to New York then to Massachusetts, Leary was later assigned to positions throughout the western United States,” the release said.
There have been no accusations against Leary from the later assignments, the Jesuits said.
“I can only surmise that fear of scandal and of harm to Gonzaga University gripped those Jesuits,” Whitney said.
“The Jesuits wish to publicly acknowledge the failures of our history and apologize to those who have suffered, in the hope that it might bring some healing and reconciliation,” Whitney said.
Dozens of claims of sexual abuse by priests led the Spokane Diocese to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in December 2004. In its bankruptcy petition, the diocese listed assets of $11 million against liabilities of at least $81.3 million, most from sex abuse claims.
The diocese serves about 90,000 Catholics in 82 parishes in 13 Eastern Washington counties.
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