Carr Letter to Archbishop Chaput
Dear Archbishop Chaput,
It is with some regret that I find myself in a position, that I have to email to highlight the unacceptable intransigence of our Church. In the past, you received correspondence from Mr. Patrick Marker that highlighted the serious sexual misconduct of Fr. Douglas Nowicki, the perfidious superior of St. Vincent Archabbey, Latrobe. Said correspondence made reference to the fact that would be wholly inappropriate for Fr. Nowicki to attend the consecration to the episcopate of Bishop-elect Persico, at the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter, Erie Pennsylvania. It is duly noted that Fr. Nowicki did attend, and was photographed with Bishop Persico, which was deeply regrettable and besmirched what should have been a joyful occasion in the minds of many. Res ipsa loquitur.
Purportedly, you are scheduled to attend to give a lecture for this the Year of Faith, at the Archabbey of St. Vincent. Respectfully, it is submitted that it would be wholly inappropriate for you to attend, and give such a lecture until a public announcement is made with respect to this serious sexual misconduct of Fr. Douglas Nowicki, and the egregious violations of Canon Law, which are wholly unacceptable. No public announcement has ever been made by the Archabbey, St Vincent College, Latrobe, and/or the Diocese of Greensburg about these serious allegations. During the entire time, Fr. Nowicki was allowed to masquerade as a priest in good standing, his priestly faculties were never suspended; nor was he prohibited from publicly celebrating the Eucharist.
Regrettably, the incumbent Ordinary of the Diocese of Greensburg, bears a significant amount of responsibility for this escalating scandal, due to his lamentable failure to act. The issues concerning Fr. Nowicki are intractable, and will not ameliorate with the passing of time. For the greater good of the Church, the avoidance of further scandal, the good of the Archabbey of St. Vincent; St. Vincent College, Latrobe; respectfully, I suggest that you petition discreetly Fr. Nowicki to resign and/or step aside until this matter is resolved; and, supplicate the competent Dicastery of the Roman Curia; namely, the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life Congregation to expeditiously deal with matters at the Archabbey of St. Vincent, Latrobe. An important first step would be their immediate predisposition of an Apostolic Visitation at the Archabbey.
The ancient tradition of the Church has always recognised that the Metropolitan Bishop of a canonical territory should exercise a watchful/prudent eye of a “Shepherd” over the metropolitanate. Indeed, the convention is that the metropolitan archbishop is the principal consecrator of any new bishop within this metropolitan area is richly symbolic. Although, cognisant that you have no jurisdiction, respectfully, I submit that you do have a moral obligation for the greater good of the Church in your metropolitanate to ensure this matter is resolved in a timely manner.
You are further respectfully invited to review some of the content of the Misconduct in Latrobe website; the YouTube link, which features the Channel 11 News announcement highlighting Fr. Nowicki’s sexual misconduct; and, the statement issued by SNAP with respect to Fr. Nowicki.
The unacceptable violations of the Norms of the Dallas Charter, should deeply concern every right minded Catholic in the United States. Thus, I would further submit this is a matter that needs to be discussed with H.E. Timothy Cardinal Dolan, in his capacity as President of the USCCB, as the violations of the Norms of the Dallas Charter are egregiously unacceptable; and, H.E. Francis E. Cardinal Gerorge, O.M.I., in his capacity as a member of the Congregation for Religious for the Dicastery to deal with the matter in an expeditious manner.
Given that H.E. Donald W. Cardinal Wuerl is due to speak at the St. Vincent College, Latrobe, commencement on May 11, perhaps, it would not be advantageous for the Cardinal Archbishop of Washington to attend this event, given the very real issues and allegations surrounding Fr. Nowicki’s serious sexual misconduct.
Finally, please be advised that I have no pecuniary interest in this matter.
Respectfully in Christ, I remain,
Sincerely yours,
James Carr
