From Stephen Brady, founder and president of the Petersburg, Ill.-based Roman Catholic Faithful (www.rcf.org), regarding the Springfield, Ill. diocese:
“Yet another individual -- Scott J. Kastel -- has come forward with first-hand testimony regarding Msgr. John Renken’s predatory homosexual nature.
[Renken is the director of deacon formation for the diocese, and, according to the diocese’s Web site, “is past president of the Canon Law Society of America and a member of several canon law societies around the world. He chaired the committee for the new American translation of the Code of Canon Law and has composed several articles on canon law. He has served as episcopal master of ceremonies, diocesan chancellor, episcopal vicar for canonical affairs, coordinator of the tribunal, defender of the bond and moderator of the curia. He is a consultant to the USCCB Canonical Affairs Committee, and was a canonical consultant to the USCCB ad hoc Committee on Sexual Abuse.”]
“Mr. Kastel has allowed me to use his name publicly because he is scandalized by the fact that Bishop George Lucas, while claiming to want information regarding clergy misconduct, refuses to act once he receives it. Kastel provided both former Bishop Daniel Ryan (himself a predator) and Bishop Lucas with statements and came to Roman Catholic Faithful, Inc., only after Lucas refused to take action. Mr. Kastel is the fifth individual I am aware of to come forward with information on Renken’s homosexual activity.
“Now on to another matter: Shortly after our chancellor, Msgr. Eugene Costa -- another predatory homosexual -- was found beaten in a Springfield park by two teenage boys he solicited for sex, Mr. Thomas Munoz became a suspect in that beating. Munoz contacted RCF after the police accused him of beating Costa. Munoz’s story was covered by the Illinois Times and written about in the last issue of our newsletter.
“Munoz told RCF that he believed he was being set up by the diocese (Msgr. Renken) because of things he had witnessed. Munoz said he had been paid for sexual favors by several members of the Springfield clergy and knew of others who were active homosexuals. Munoz gave RCF the names. After our interview with Munoz, he was arrested on an attempted burglary charge stemming from an incident at a Rochester Catholic church. The charge was later dropped and is now the subject of a false arrest lawsuit filed by Munoz.
“Munoz, through discovery, has obtained copies of police documents regarding Msgr. Costa’s beating and arrest of Munoz. In a sworn statement by a Springfield police detective, the detective states that it was Msgr. Renken who suggested Munoz may have beaten Costa and went on to state that, according to Msgr. Renken, Munoz had had sex with Catholic priests. Renken’s statement confirms what Munoz had told RCF and raises other serious questions. How did Renken learn this information, and why are the priests Munoz had sex with still active as pastors? Anyone wishing to be provided with more information need only contact RCF.
“One more item: RCF recently interviewed a St. Louis man who claimed, at the age of 17, while he attended St. Louis Prep Seminary (1987 – 1988), then Father George Lucas on several occasions asked him what he liked sexually and if he liked older men. He went on to state that Father Lucas repeatedly asked him to meet him after school, but our informant always refused and stated Lucas eventually left him alone.”
Matt C. Abbott is a Catholic journalist and commentator. He is a columnist for and/or contributor to TheConservativeVoice.com, RenewAmerica.us, MichNews.com, Catholic.org, Opeds.com and Speroforum.com. He can be reached at mattcabbott@gmail.com.
