Carole Stephens, the mother in Rape and the Holy Man, shared this early email exchange with JTO. After an initial letter of support, Carole Stephens says a priest she consulted, Father Kent McCaffery, changed his tune, questioning the veracity of the story and her other children's testimony regarding the event with her daughter.
"An old email from Fr. Kent back in the day. If you post it take [daughter's] name out. Fr. Kent ended up gaslighting me and calling my older siblings liars for bringing it up with me. [Redacted sentence]. Everyone thought I was a trouble maker in the day."
Dear to Christ Juliana, [*]
[Daughter] was a child when this happened. She was grievously assaulted and then coerced into silence and cover up. Horrible violence has been done to [daughter]. The fact that [daughter] is now an adult is immaterial. You still have a mother's responsibility to report this horrible crime to ROCOR and to law enforcement and to seek legal council. If you choose to fulfil your responsibility you should send a written complaint against Fr. Matthew and his Matushka stating the facts as you know them. Make sure that you keep copies of all correspondence you have had with all parties involved. May God give you grace to do the right thing for the glory of Christ's Kingdom.
Address to send complaint to ROCOR:
His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion (Kapral)
Synod of Bishops
75 E. 93 Street
New York, NY 10128
I am praying for Christ to strengthen and comfort you in this trying matter.
Blessings to you!
Carole Stephens did report it to ROCOR.
*NOTE: Juliana is Carole Stephen's baptismal name.
Carole, how did people in your parish treat you and your family when this came out? Did it become as volatile and divided as St Tikhon has become?
ReplyDeleteDid Fr Kent even give a reason? Or just straight to gaslighting?
ReplyDelete