Diocese Denies Knowledge Of Past Abuse By Long Island Priest

The Catholic Diocese of St. Petersburg has pledged to support a 45-year-old man who said he was sexually abused by a priest from Tampa when he was 9 years old. However, the diocese denies knowing about past abuse allegations leveled against the priest before he began at Christ the King Catholic School until four months ago.

The priest's abuse allegedly spans back to his time spent on Long Island at St. Dominic Catholic Church in Oyster Bay during the 1960s and 1970s.

Mark Cattell, who is now an attorney in Virginia, has filed a suit against the diocese claiming he was sexually abused by the late Rev. Robert D. Huneke while attending Christ the King Catholic School, 3809 W. Morrison Ave., in Tampa, FL.

Huneke was the parish priest at Christ the King Catholic Church from 1979 to 1982. Cattell said the sexual abuse by the priest started in 1981.

During a press conference on Wednesday, Cattell's attorney, Jeff Herman, said the head of the diocese was aware of past allegations of abuse against the priest during his tenure at a church on Long Island but failed to take action.

Huneke died in 2002 and Bishop W. Thomas Larkin, head of the diocese, died in 2006.

But Herman said their betrayal lives on in his client.

Huneke was assigned to St. Dominic Catholic Church in in Oyster Bay, New York, in the Diocese of Rockville Centre, from 1969 to 1974. During that time, Huneke was accused of abusing a boy over several years beginning when the child was 13 years old.

Despite the abuse allegations, said Herman, Huneke was subsequently appointed as parish priest at Christ the King Catholic Church and School in 1979.

Herman said he has letters that prove both Larkin and the bishop of the diocese in Rockville Centre knew about the accusations of sexual abuse against Huneke.

"Some years later, this boy, then an adult working in the mental health field, wrote a letter to then-Bishop of Rockville Centre John McGann, dated Feb. 13, 1980, disclosing to him the sexual molestation by Father Huneke," said Herman.

He said Huneke's accuser, John Salveson, believed action would be taken to prevent Huneke from sexually abusing boys in the future.

McGann contacted Huneke in Tampa and arranged a meeting to discuss the allegation. Afterward, in a letter to Salveson dated Aug. 1, 1980 McGann said, "Father [Huneke] acknowledged his responsibility and assured me that he has been receiving counseling and spiritual direction and that this matter has not been a problem for over a period of approximately two years. He seemed relieved to be able to discuss the matter with me. … I will keep all this material in father's confidential folder and I hope and pray that this is a closed chapter."

Salveson followed up with a letter to McGann on Sept. 2, 1980, expressing concern and urging the church to take action to ensure that Huneke does not molest children at Christ the King.

"As I understand it, you have accepted Father Huneke's word that he has not been sexually abusive recently, and that he is receiving counseling and spiritual direction for his problem," said Salveson in the letter.

"Personally, I am skeptical of Father's word. Father also claims that this matter has not been a problem for a period of approximately two years. This means that I was not the only person abused by Father Huneke. In fact, it means that he continued to be sexually abusive for two years beyond his abuse of me. Obviously, there are other victims. All of these factors concern me very much. I honestly feel that more than Father's word is needed to back up his presentation of the facts. I suggest that you request a letter from his psychotherapist outlining Father's presenting problem and confirming his involvement in therapy. I also feel strongly that something needs to be done regarding Father's placement in Florida. There is no one there who is aware of Father's problem and history. Consequently, there are no checks on either his behavior or the appropriateness of his assignments. He could easily continue to be sexually abusive."

Salveson also sent a letter to Larkin dated Aug. 7, 1981, telling Larkin he had been sexually abused by Huneke and expressing concern about the priest's interaction with children at Christ the King.

Larkin wrote back on Aug. 14, 1981, saying he did not know "whether [Father Huneke] is undergoing any kind of therapy but will look into the matter."

That same year, Cattell said Huneke began sexually abusing him.

"Father Huneke was a charismatic and friendly priest, who was well liked by parishioners," said Herman in the lawsuit. " He would greet parishioners one on one after Mass."

On one occasion while greeting Cattell, Cattell said Huneke grabbed and fondled his penis over his clothes while smiling and making small talk. A few weeks later, the same thing happened. Not understanding what was happening, Cattell said he pretended that nothing had happened.

But in the fall of 1981, Cattell said Huneke lured him into a dark room, pulled down his pants and thrust his penis into Cattell's mouth. Cattell said the abuse continued into the spring of 1982.

Current head of the St. Petersburg Diocese, Bishop Gregory L. Parkes, appointed by Pope Francis on Nov. 28, 2016, said he is aware of Cattell's lawsuit although the diocese has not yet been served with a copy.

In a statement on the diocese website dated Wednesday, Oct. 17, Parkes said Huneke came to the St. Petersburg diocese in 1979 with a letter of recommendation from the Rockville Centre diocese bishop.

"...At that time the diocese was unaware of any prior misconduct with minors," he wrote. When the diocese learned about the Salveson's accusation against Huneke in 1982, Parkes said he was immediately removed from the priesthood.

He added that the diocese never received any complaint from parishioners of Christ the King before Huneke was fired.

Parkes said the St. Petersburg diocese first learned about the accusation of sexual abuse of a student at Christ the King this year, on July 16.

"The individual was referred to the victim assistance coordinator and advised to report the incident to law enforcement if he believed a crime was committed," the statement read. "The diocese also reported the allegation to the State Attorney in accordance with our Policy for the Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults."

Herman said Cattell silently struggled with the abuse until he got married two years ago. Herman said he wants to deal with the issue and move forward with his life.

In the statement, Parkes said he understands and respects Cattell's decision to file a lawsuit.

"The Diocese of St. Petersburg stands with victims of sexual abuse and we recognize the courage it requires to speak out about their betrayal and hurt," the statement continued. " Our hearts continue to go out to the victims of priests and others who have betrayed their trust."

At the same time, he assured current parishioners that steps have been taken to prevent sexual abuse from ever occurring again.

"We have established policies that include a zero tolerance for sexual abuse of minors and vulnerable adults, a lay review board to assess all reported allegations against clergy and mandatory safe environment training for everyone who works or volunteers with minors and vulnerable adults," he said. "Since 1992, the Diocese of St. Petersburg has completed fingerprint background screenings on 59,000 priests, deacons, lay employees and volunteers entrusted with the care, responsibility and/or supervision of minors or vulnerable adults, as well as contractors and vendors working in close proximity to these persons."

Cattell is suing both the Diocese of St. Petersburg and the Diocese of Rockville Centre. Herman said he wants to hold the Catholic Church both legally and financially accountable for what happened and expects to receive more than $10 million when the lawsuit is resolved.

Image via Bishop Accountability

• The Rev. Robert Huneke— Image via Christ the King
• Christ the King Catholic Church in Tampa— Image via Google Earth
• St. Dominic Catholic Church in Oyster Bay— Image via Google Earth

Story By D'Ann Lawrence White, Patch Staff