FatherDillard.org    HOME                          FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS                                                  What are the allegations against Father Dillard? As of April 21st, Archdiocesan officials have not responded to requests from Father Dillard or his attorney for a complete copy of Kathryn Barrett Gaines’ allegations, and those of her sister. From what is known, Ms. Barrett Gaines has accused Father Dillard of inappropriate physical contact with her and a younger sister when they were members of St. Anthony of Padua parish in Northeast Washington, DC from 1979-1984. According to the specific accounts printed from Washington Post interviews with Ms. Barrett Gaines, there are no allegations of contact that would meet the definition of sexual abuse as detailed in section 1.4 of the Updated Policy of the Archdiocese of Washington Concerning Child Abuse by Archdiocesan Personnel. (www.adw.org%20/commun/pol_childabuse.html) While Kathryn Barrett Gaines has given interviews to The Washington Post, WTOP 1500 Radio and WUSA-TV (Channel 9 News), her sister has refused interview requests and asked that the media and Archdiocese of Washington not release her name. It is not clear if she has ever made any independent allegations. Didn’t he admit that he had relationships with his accuser(s) that included kissing and physical contact? Father Dillard has admitted having physical contact with the two women. He had relationships with them that he described as like that of a father-daughter and not inappropriate. The two women were members of a youth group for high school (9th-12th grades) students that he moderated at St. Anthony’s Parish. As with others, both male and female, Father Dillard hugged and kissed them on the cheek, forehead and/or side of the head in greeting or upon departing. While Kathryn Barrett Gaines told the Post that he was "pretty much her boyfriend for four years", Father Dillard has consistently maintained that none of the contact that he had with the two sisters was inappropriate or out of the ordinary. Six individuals who grew up with the Barrett Gaines sisters and participated in the youth group, as well as two priests who lived in the rectory with Father Dillard at the time, have gone on the record with The Washington Post, to say they do not recall any events that would indicate that Ms. Barrett Gaines allegations are accurate. Isn’t this over? Father Dillard’s situation is far from over. He has not been fully afforded due process by the Archdiocese of Washington. Nor has he been given an opportunity to completely address the Barrett Gaines sisters’ allegations. According to Section 8 of the Updated Policy of the Archdiocese of Washington Concerning Child Abuse by Archdiocesan Personnel, titled "Internal Archdiocesan Procedures When Allegations Are Made Against Clergy or Religious in Service to the Archdiocese or Residing in an Archdiocesan Rectory, Convent or Facility"; the following procedure is to be followed when allegations of abuse are made against Archdiocesan clergy: 1. "The Archbishop (Theodore Cardinal McCarrick) will be immediately notified by the Vicar General in Curia (Bishop Kevin Farrell)." 2. "The cleric or religious suspected of abuse will be called for an immediate meeting with the Vicar General in Curia, who will inform him or her of the nature of the allegations." (Father Dillard first met with Bishop Farrell on Thursday, March 14th.) 3. "The Vicar General in Curia will advise the cleric or religious suspected of abuse of his or her right to obtain a private attorney." (Father Dillard has retained an attorney.) 4. "An Archdiocesan cleric will be immediately placed on administrative leave and, at the discretion of the Vicar General in Curia, referred to a facility for a comprehensive psychological evaluation." (Father Dillard was notified on Thursday, March 21st, that he had been placed on administrative leave effective Monday, March 18th. On that same day, he was taken to St. Luke’s for a comprehensive psychological evaluation, which has been completed.) 5. "In the case of a cleric or religious from another diocese, the Vicar General in Curia will immediately direct the cleric or religious to leave the Archdiocesan facility (ies) and will notify the appropriate superior advising of the individual’s immediate removal from the Archdiocesan facility (ies)." (While this does not directly apply to Father Dillard, he has been instructed not to return to the rectory at St. Augustine’s Parish until further notice.) 6. "At the discretion of the Vicar General in Curia, allegations of past misconduct of many years ago may be referred to the Review Board (cf. Section 8.8), which will determine, in its judgement, whether there is probable cause for the allegation. The Review Board will present a written recommendation to the Archbishop. If the Review Board determines that probable cause exists, the person suspected of abuse will be referred to an appropriate residential facility for evaluation and/or treatment. The Vicar General in Curia, with the assistance of the Secretary for Clergy, will be responsible for making these arrangements." (Father Dillard was sent to a residential facility for evaluation prior to the selection of the review board members. Exactly who appointed the review board members and their criteria for selecting them has not been disclosed.) 7. "When accusation of child sexual abuse are brought against clerics or religious working for the Archdiocese, a Pastoral Team will be immediately activated to respond to the needs of the alleged victim, family, schoolmates, parish members and the accused. The Secretary for Parish Life and Worship will serve as Team Leader and will be assisted by a psychologist-consultant and the Secretary for Education or other appropriate leaders. The mission of the Pastoral Team is to reach out in Christian care and concern to the victim, family, schoolmates, parish members, the accused and all of the faithful." (A Pastoral Team visited St. Augustine’s on Thursday, March 28th, one week after Father Dillard’s suspension was announced and he was taken away in front of K-8th grade students at St. Augustine’s school.) 8. "When a cleric or religious is suspected of child sexual abuse, and at such time as a determination is required to be made whether the cleric or religious should be returned to parish ministry or allowed any other form of ministry, the Archbishop will consult with the Review Board. This Board consists of three lay professionals, namely a psychiatrist or psychologist, a social worker with experience in the area of child abuse and a lawyer (other than the Archdiocesan attorney), five lay representatives from the Archdiocese at large and one Archdiocesan priest. This board will review the facts of the case and the psychological evaluation if one has been received. This Board is an advisory body to the Archbishop and will report to him directly or through his delegate. The Archbishop will review the recommendations made to him by this board in determining the future of the accused." What can I do to help? Father Dillard needs our support and prayers. Please pray for him daily. Please pray for the Church and all clergy. Remember: Your priest could be next! If you are able, please donate to Father Dillard’s defense fund (www.dillarddefense.org). Every donation helps! Please check the Prayer Vigil section of the site for frequent updates and feel free to join us at scheduled events. You can also write to Cardinal McCarrick and the US Conference of Catholic Bishops requesting that all diocesan child abuse policies afford accused clergy to due process and equal treatment. Theodore Cardinal McCarrick Archdiocese of Washington PO Box 29260 Washington, DC 20017-0260 301-853-4500 ph 301-853-4520 fx chancery@adw.org Bishop Wilton D. Gregory US Conference of Catholic Bishops 3211 Fourth Street, NE Washington, DC 20017-1194 202-541-3000 ph