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Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests
| Death of Disgraced Priest
Brings Conflict Over Burial
New York Times
Last Monday, 82 years after his birth, 52 years
after his ordination, 14 years since his retirement, 11 years since his
suspension from the Roman Catholic priesthood and almost 3 years after
the flood of lawsuits
His end brought a new problem: what was the archdiocese to do with his remains? Offer a cathedral Mass, like those most priests receive, with the archbishop presiding? Or ignore the death? What is the funeral ceremony for a disgraced priest? In life, Father Grammond was remarkable not for his handful of rural parish assignments, where he is remembered as aloof and cranky, but for the scope of the accusations against him. Former altar boys from the 1950's into the 1980's described in court filings and interviews Father Grammond's groping - or worse, violent attacks - on camping trips, in his car, in the rectory, even during fake confessions. Before his dementia, and before his first accuser
went public in 1999, Father Grammond made a will asking for a funeral Mass
in Portland's Church of St. Ignatius of Loyola, where he said his first
Mass, and burial at Mount
After he died, his only living relative, his sister,
Dolores Grammond, 73, told the archdiocese of his wishes.
"They want to stay clear away from anything connected to him," she said. "He wasn't excommunicated; he just wasn't allowed to say Mass. That was pretty coldhearted." She is her brother's defender only in death. Two years ago, her sons told her he had abused them, too. She said she was disgusted and confronted him. He seemed confused, she said, and did not seem to know what she was talking about. She said she thought he was faking. But Ms. Grammond, who asked that her married name not be used to protect the privacy of her sons, was appointed executor in her brother's will. He had given many years to the church, and she said she felt his wishes should be met, so she called the St. Ignatius pastor, the Rev. Peter Byrne. "I said, `Look, I don't enjoy this any more than you do, but we have an obligation,' " Ms. Grammond said. Father Byrne turned her down. "Some of the people
Father Grammond had abused are still parishioners here," Father Byrne said
in an interview. "I made the call that this would be so harmful to those
that are still living."
"I feel they are responsible in some way," Father Byrne said. "It's just kind of the pastoral care of anybody who's baptized." The statute of limitations had elapsed for criminal proceedings against Father Grammond; he was never charged. He denied any wrongdoing when the archdiocese confronted him in 1991 but told a former altar boy in 1999 that children "throw themselves" at him. The altar boy recorded the conversation. The first lawsuit against Father Grammond, in 1999, was among a handful of cases to name Oregon priests. Since then, about 100 people have sued the Archdiocese of Portland, claiming abuse by about 30 priests dating to 1938. Father Grammond had the most accusers. Twenty-three of the cases against him ended in 2000 in confidential financial settlements, with apologies from the archbishop and changes in archdiocese policies. In hindsight, Father Byrne said, the handling of the funeral arrangements troubled him. "I don't feel real great about even my response," he said. "I'm confused, in this whole thing. If any compassion is shown to the priest, does that mean you're insensitive to the victims? In this climate, I think you are." The archdiocese's delegate in the matter, the Rev. Dennis O'Donovan, the vicar general, was unavailable for comment. The archbishop, John G. Vlazny, said through a spokesman that he was not directly involved in the talks between the church and Ms. Grammond. "The archdiocese did not deny him a Christian burial," the spokesman, Bud Bunce, said. But the archdiocese did not offer a burial, either, Ms. Grammond said. Father O'Donovan agreed to say a rosary at the
funeral home and to bless the remains. Several retired priests attended
that service. Ms. Grammond did not. "I just figured, the heck with it;
I won't be bothered with them anymore," she said. (Father Grammond had
received last rites.) Ms. Grammond had her brother cremated. She considered
spreading her brother's ashes in Seaside, a resort town where he had been
a parish priest. But her parents are buried at Mount Calvary. Their mother
doted on Father Grammond, addressing him as "Father" from the moment he
was ordained. "If he didn't get a priest plot, he wanted to be close to
Mother
She buried his ashes with their mother. There is no stone for Father Grammond. His sister does not want vandals to find him. http://www.nytimes.com/2002/10/07/national/07BURY.html?ex=1035706813&ei=1&en=f2c4caa613ba87a8
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