We victims of pedophile priests
Paul Tessadri
(from L'Espresso 01.22.2009)
Dozens of children and deaf children raped and molested in a school in Verona until 1984. And after decades of torment, former students find the strength to denounce the horrors. But many of the priests are still there
er than a century has been a symbol of love of the Church: a specialized school to ensure a better future for the deaf and dumb children, supporting them in their studies and entering the work. The Institute of Verona Provolo Antonio hosted the children of poor families, children of a rural North-east where the economic boom was yet to come. Until the mid-eighties was an international model, but in the gloomy building of Chievo, a building halfway between the seminary and the prison were terrible incidents occurred.
Only today, heartened by the words of condemnation spoken by Pope Ratzinger against pedophile priests, dozens of former guests have found the strength to come out and report their tragic experience: "Priests and religious brothers sexually abused us." An indictment signed by more than 60 people, boys and girls who lived in the Institute, and now they write: "We have overcome our fear and our reluctance."
The abuses of which they speak would be continued for at least thirty years, until 1984. They are ready to enumerate a long list of victims and witnesses, but may no longer apply to the judiciary: all crimes are now required, erased by time. The deaf who claim to bring in this drama, however, argue they are not interested or convictions or to financial compensation. Them, they write, they want to prevent others from running the risk of suffering the same violence: a dozen of men who accused are elders, but they are still in service in the Institute, in the forums and Chievo Verona. For this, having turned to the bishop of Verona and at the top of Provolo, 15 alumni have sent to 'The Express' testimony - written and filmed - of their experience.
Documents shocking, that could open up a gash on one of the most serious cases of pedophilia in Italy: the episodes about 25 men, the victims could be at least a hundred.
The complaint
alumni, despite the difficulties in hearing and speech, have managed to build a way of life, carrying traces of the horror inside. After the explosion of the scandal that forced the U.S. church to take note of the pedophile problem, and the tough stance of Pope Benedict XVI also they have decided not to hide anything. They gathered in the Association deaf Provolo Antonio and then turned to the curia and the top of the Institute. One of the last letters were addressed to Monsignor Giampietro Mazzoni, the judicial vicar, or the judge of the Ecclesiastical Court of the diocese of Verona. It is November 20, 2008: "Deaf people have decided to present to His Eminence the Bishop what had happened to them. In the room used as a confessional of the church of Santa Maria's Western Institute Provolo, some priests took advantage to be masturbating and fingering themselves from girls and boys deaf (the door was in those moments always locked).
Reports sodomitic occurred in the dormitory, rooms for priests and in the bathrooms and the Institute of Provolo at Chievo Verona and, during the period of the colonies, Deer Villa San Zeno di Montagna. " And again: "What's more, children and deaf children were subjected to harassment, beatings and beatings. Deaf people can do the names of priests and lay brothers involved and give testimony." For the Government: first and last name of 67 former students.
stories
The protagonists of the complaint cited a list of cases even much longer, that started in the fifties. Descrivonomezzo century of abuse, even under the altar, in the confessional, in the most sacred places.
Those kids today are on average between 50 and 70 years: the youngest will turn 41 years in a few days. Someone says he was tortured almost to the age of majority. The abuse, they say, also occurred in groups, in the shower. Gruesome scenes, etched in their memory. Remember Joseph, who like everyone else has given to 'The Express' general complete: "Three boys and three priests masturbated each other under the shower." But more distressing is that the story of Bruno, now in his sixties, who in the late fifties stood out on other children for angelic features: it was 'beautiful' in its class. And only now pulling out of the nightmare that has plagued him throughout his life: "I became deaf at eight years, nine attended the Provolo that I left at 15 years. Three months after my entry into school and until the fifteenth year were the subject of sexual attention, I was sodomized and forced to relationships of any kind by the following priests and brothers. ". He listed 16 names. The list is also a high priest, very famous in Verona, two priests would accompany the Provolo Bruno in the palace of Ecclesiastes.
"It was 1959, I was 11 years. He allegedly sodomized and other sex toys. It was a terrible experience that left me with serious psychological problems as an adult."
The drama
Another former student, Guido says that he was molested by a priest: "It happened in his room on the top floor. It forced me to do these things even at Villa Cervi during summer camps and camping on Lake Garda. " Charles remained Institute from 7 to 18 years, and calls into question another priest: "I am often forced punishment (kneeling for hours in a corner) and beatings (violent slaps and beatings) to have sex with him. "Other times it would have been slapped on the hands, while at night" in the room where I slept with other deaf people often wake me to take me in the bathroom where I was sodomizing or masturbate. I have never forgotten. "
stories are similar. Tragedy experienced by children of poor families affected by deafness and then trapped between the walls of the institution; dramas kept inside for decades. Rebuilds Herman:" The violence took place in the bathroom Provolo Institute and rooms and also in the adjacent church. "" If I refused threatened to give me a bad grade in practice, I always return to these facts in mind, "writes another. sometimes in Verona Joseph meets her rapist, "Even now when I see him I feel very uncomfortable. I could never forget." According to reports, the victims were mostly children. But there are also episodes witnessed by children. Lina fifty years now, has remained "deaf and dumb institute for six to 17 years. Thirteen years in the church during confession face to face (no fence), the priest touched my breasts several times. I remember his name. I got scared a lot and since then I have never confessed. " Joan writes that another priest "has pulled out of the State and he wanted me to touch her." And for many girls the facts took place in the church of the institute, under the altar. A few, however, has been a lot worse.
Complaints
Antonio Provolo Today the Institute has completely changed the structure and mission. Initiatives to support deaf people have been resized and are also financed by the Veneto Region. Now the main activity is the educational and vocational training center, run entirely by lay people, which offers advanced courses for young people and specializes in retraining of the unemployed. The Sum of all there are always the religious of the Congregation of the Society of Mary for the education of deaf and dumb, which depend directly on the Holy See. Turned to the congregation's former students asking for the expulsion of priests called causa.Secondo in their association, "There's been more than an admission of guilt." The most important was in 2006, when Don Danilo Corradi, superior general of the Institute Provolo would have met more than 50 former students. According to the Association, the Institute would have asked for more than 12 times as an excuse for the abuses committed by other religious. Witnesses reconstruct a meeting by the dramatic Don Corradi clutching his head in his hands, sweat and asks forgiveness, kneels. But deaf people would have demanded the expulsion of priests involved, without getting it. A 'The Express' Don Danilo Corradi gives a different version: "I heard something, but I arrived in 2003 and what happened before I do not know. Not respond to the allegations, I do not know who the face: We will respond after reading the article ".
The Curia
For nearly two years alumni have also appealed to the Curia of Verona, the information in more meetings . The President of the Association of Deaf Provolo Antonio, Giorgio Dalla Bernardina, lists three: one was attended by 52 people. And the bishop writes: "Despite our meetings in the Curia during which we have done this also and above all acts of pedophilia and sexual abuse suffered by the deaf institute during their stay, to date there has been given no answer. "The last letter of 8 December 2008. A few months earlier, in September, had made yet another attempt by sending a letter to the Bishop of Verona, Monsignor Joseph Zenti. Missed, "despite his assurances and promises of action." This letter was signed by three associations of deaf people: Deaf Association Provolo Antonio, Provolo Association of the Deaf, Deaf Association Basso Veronese-Legnago.
Bishop, interviewed by 'The Express', replies with a written note: "The Provolo is a religious congregation. As such it is of pontifical right and therefore under the jurisdiction of the Congregation of Religious. The diocese of Verona, the territory of which the congregation was founded, appreciates the work of a social nature in its action in favor of the deaf. " Then Monsignor Joseph Zenti enters the matter: "Regarding the accusation of possible child abuse, addressed to priests and lay brothers, which was written several decades ago, the diocese of Verona is in the dark. I nodded some of the problem of a group linked to Provolo, but like blackmail than two applications of an economic nature, in the event that were not answered. But I do not turned any substantiated accusation related to specific people, but only allegations of a general nature. Not I have nothing to add except a commitment to follow through and all the information contained in the Code of Canon Law and in the subsequent positions taken by the Holy See. In the hope that will soon be reached the objective of knowing the truth of the facts. "
Deaf Association responds to Bishop Antonio Provolo denying any blackmail or economic interest," We only made this problem, we want to be moved because those priests what they have in fact we do not happen to others. "
