By Joan Garvin

Town Crier Correspondent

Church forum probes the behavior of former pastor

The St. Nicholas parish community, led by Pastor Fr. Gary R. Thomas and Pastoral Associate Rosheen Glennon, C.S.J., held an open forum April 29 to discuss possible sexual abuse by the previous pastor, Fr. Joseph T. Pritchard.

Larry Percell, who has a doctorate in psychology and 30 years experience in clinical psychology in private practice and working with the criminal justice system in San Mateo County, facilitated the program. Percell is a student at St. Patrick’s Seminary in Menlo Park.

Many shared their personal shock, frustration and anger on learning of the alleged abuse by Pritchard at St. Martin of Tours, San Jose, and his 1979 transfer to St. Nicholas - apparently with no warning of his past history.

“I do not want to convict Fr. Pritchard, but those who came forward (at St. Martin’s) sound convincing,” said Percell. Not one of the many speakers questioned the credibility of the St. Martin’s report.

Coupled with Percell’s opening statement that “there is no cure for pedophilia and priests who have this disease should not be returned to ministry,” this led the St. Nicholas community to anticipate an onslaught of similar reports of sexual abuse.

Instead, speakers communicated their affection and trust of Pritchard. One father told of phoning his son, currently living in the East, and asking him to read the article, then call back. His son had been an altar boy during Pritchard’s time. He and his friends participated in card parties at the rectory and the annual altar boys’ trip to the Boardwalk at Santa Cruz - which paralleled the St. Martin’s pattern. His son called back after contacting several classmates, “Dad, there was no negative information. It was just great” when we were there.

Charlie Krackeler, also an altar boy in the 1970s, said he had “none of the experiences alleged at St. Martin’s.” He expressed concern that there was a lot of protection for child offenders not just within Catholic church. Krackeler pointed out that anyone who wants to examine the file on child molesters at the Los Altos Police Department has only 15 minutes to look. He suggests parents should tell children what to do if an adult behaves inappropriately. “We didn’t talk about it when I was a kid; now we talk about it,” he said.

Another former altar boy said he immediately queried his brothers and friends to see if anyone had any questionable experiences with Pritchard. They reinforced the discrepancy between their own experiences and the reports from St. Martin’s.

St. Nicholas Rev. Gary Thomas repeated his statement from the Sunday address that no one has come forward with any report of inappropriate behavior on Pritchard’s part at St. Nicholas.

“Pedophiles are adept at gaining trust and loyalty,” Percell said, “Father Pritchard was an admired and trusted priest; therefore the fact that no one reports abuse, doesn’t surprise me.”

It is impossible to prove a negative and the St. Nicholas parish is not able to deny categorically or explain why Pritchard apparently did not continue his abuse when he transferred.

“Several people say nothing happened here from Father Pritchard. … It was mentioned that Father Pritchard was a recovering alcoholic,” said Percell. “Alcohol can be a key factor in pedophilia. Pedophiles may need alcohol to overcome their inhibitions and act-out. If, (Pritchard was) in recovery, that may have helped (his) control.”

Dave Parker summarized the agony of many of the parishioners when he recalled his close friendship with Father Pritchard which deepened his feeling of betrayal. Parker said he felt like the tear-stained little boy, looking up at Shoeless Joe Jackson after the White Sox scandal, who begged, “Say it isn’t so, Joe.”