Affidavit of Former Student re Porn (4/1/2011)

With regard to what was revealed by me in confession l can incontrovertibly state that Fr. Mark Gruber has never violated the sacramental seal, but rather he has defended it to the point of jeopardizing and losing his teaching career, and to support being wrongly accused of canonical delicts that he has not committed, and any allegation to the contrary is nothing more than rubbish and supposition. – Former Student at Saint Vincent College

Affidavit of Former Student re Porn (9/2011)

View Affidavit as PDF… Here
View this former student’s 2011 interview with police… Here

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA

Archabbot Douglas R. Nowicki, O.S.B.

v

Rev Mark Gruber, OSB.

AFFIDAVIT OF [WITNESS],

BEFORE ME, the undersigned authority, personally appeared [WITNESS] who being fully sworn according to law, deposes and says as follows:

1. My name is [Redacted Name] , and I am over the age of eighteen and otherwise competent to testify. I make this affidavit from person.

2. I make my domicile in [Redacted City], Pennsylvania.

3. I am currently employed as waiter in Greensburg, PA.

4. I was born in Pittsburgh, PA on [Redacted Date].

5. In [Redacted Year] I enrolled as a student at St. Vincent College, in Latrobe, Pennsylvania.
6. I continued my studies at St. Vincent College until [Redacted Date] when I ceased my studies there for a period of time. One of my professors was Rev. Mark Gruber.

7. Fr. Mark Gruber was always attentive to the needs of the students at St. Vincent College. The students at St. Vincent College respected him and knew they could rely on him to be attentive, supportive and a good listener. His demeanor was always very pastoral and his behavior upright. Aside from the events caused by my actions, l am not aware of any complaints, suspicions, or reasons for concern with regard to how he interacted with the numerous young people that interacted with him. There was nothing inappropriate in his manner of relating to those that turned to him for help or guidance.

8. During the time I was a student at St. Vincent College, I had continual access to a computer located in a common room adjacent to Fr. Mark Gruber’s office. This computer was always logged on to the internet, usually through Fr. Mark Gruber’s username.

9. Said computer was constantly used by numerous students, faculty members and staff of St. Vincent College. It was by no means a computer used exclusively by Fr. Mark, nor was said computer under the exclusive control of Fr. Mark.

10. In July of 2009, as on occasion earlier, I used the abovementioned computer to access internet websites from which I was able to download pornographic images. Because it was provided by the College for faculty use this computer, I realized, did not have the filters placed on the computers provided for student use.

11. After use of the abovementioned computer, l sacramentally confessed the use of that computer to Father Mark Gruber.

12. When I learned in Fall of 2009 that Fr. Mark Gruber had been suspended from his faculties and removed as a tenured professor, l immediately realized that he was being wrongly accused for my actions.

13. Shortly thereafter l was able to arrange to go to confession with Fr. Mark Wenzinger. After my penitence I sought guidance and advice from Fr. Wenzinger admitting that I was the person culpable for the allegations brought against Fr. Gruber. Clearly, this second part of my conversation with Fr. Mark Wenzinger was not part of the sacramental penance, and I specifically permitted him to discuss it with Father Mark Gruber. lt was never intended to be covered by the seal of confession.

14. Moreover, l insisted on revealing my culpability through any means which could protect my privacy in order to assist Father Gruber’s case, Father Gruber advised against it through his correspondence to me through Father Wenzinger, but could not stop me.

15. With regard to what was revealed by me in confession I can incontrovertibly state that Fr. Mark Gruber has never violated the sacramental seal, but rather he has defended it to the point of jeopardizing and losing his teaching career, and to support being wrongly accused of canonical delicts that he has not committed, and any allegation to the contrary is nothing more than rubbish and supposition.

16. I always felt at ease, and comfortable around Fr. Gruber. He is a good teacher who knows how to involve people in their Catholic Faith.

FURTHER AFFIANT SAYETH NAUGHT.

Signed by [WITNESS] and Notarized by [Notary] on September XX of 2011