The second accuser came forward about three weeks ago. The man, Timothy Bartin of rural Missouri, said Friday that he was about 12 when the inappropriate conduct took place.It is my understanding that Fr. Freymuth was not available for comment because he is on some sort of cruise at the present time. His family also denies the allegations and they have called for retractions to be made by the Post and a local TV news station here.
Bartin said he was invited to a private dinner at the rectory with Freymuth and given wine by the priest. He alleged the inappropriate conduct occurred while watching a movie.
I have no doubt that Archdiocese would remove a priest if a credible allegation comes to light, but the allegation states (according to the Post) that the "inapproriate behavior" occurred when Bartin was about 12, that is roughly 23 or 24 years ago, considering that Bartin is now about 36 years old. That would have been around 1980.
It seems that Fr. Freymuth was an Associate Pastor from 1985-1991 at Sts. Mary and Joseph Parish in St. Louis. I am not certain at this time when he was ordained, but there is something which seems to be out of order here.
Timothy Bartin states he was also abused by a Fr. Romano Ferraro at about the same time as the Post claims the Freymuth thing occurred in this article from the Kansas City Star in May 2004:
Tim Bartin, 35, alleges he was abused by Ferraro in the early 1980s as an 11- or 12-year-old altar boy at St. Joan of Arc Parish. He filed his lawsuit in St. Louis Circuit Court against the priest, the Archdiocese of St. Louis and its Archbishop Raymond Burke.The Ferraro case has been adjudicated and SNAP had a press release after Ferraro's sentencing. Timothy Bartin has own comments at this site as well.
I'm certain that the facts will be known in time regarding this case. I hope and pray that Fr. Freymuth's family are correct and that these allegations are without merit.
1 comment:
I know Fr. Mike very personally. I was a student as well as a mentee of his. I can be completely positive that he did not do the things that he has been accused of. He was with us alone all the time. If you molest someone, that feeling will not go away without treatment, so i feel that he could have at any time, but he never did. For so many reasons he is innocent. I know i am late with this, but i was trying to get in touch with him, and i cam across this page and had to say he did not do this. Sincerely a red headed former student from CRCP!
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