12-20-2018
SPOKANE, Wash. — A report this week showed at least 20 Catholic clergy members accused of child sex abuse were sent to retire at the Cardinal Bea House on Gonzaga’s campus, and Jesuit leaders say they will not “knowingly” let it happen again.
The house is on the university’s campus, but not actually part of the school.
The report shows at least one man, Reverend James Poole who admitted abusing young indigenous girls in Alaska, was still permitted to go to the school’s library and basketball games.
The University President says it’s disturbing that the Jesuits “knowingly sent a man with Poole’s record of sexual abuse to live” on campus, “which serves not only as the home of college students, but regularly hosts grade-school children.”
Jesuit leaders had personnel files on Poole which include the sexual abuse accusations, but did not inform the school.