SNAP Press Release: Former Toledo priest subject of search warrant
MJS
warrant
Link: http://pokrov.org/display.asp?ds=Article&id=1191
Date Published: 12/3/2009
Publication: Pokrov.org
Related Document: Warrant
Police in Houston believe defrocked clergyman in possession of child
pornography
Support group commends the citizens who came forward and the peace
officer who followed through
Due to volume of materials seized, investigation expected to extend
into next year
SNAP urges anyone with additional information to contact the Houston
PD
A support group for people who were sexually abused by priests has
learned that a former Toledo area clergyman was the subject of a
search warrant in Houston, Texas, following a tip provided by two
concerned citizens.
SNAP, the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests, recently
became aware that a search warrant was executed on the home, business
and person of the former Archimandrite Gabriel Barrow on September 9,
2009. The affidavit accompanying the warrant alleged that Barrow was
in possession of child pornography. A copy of the warrant, which
includes the supporting affidavit, as well as a list of the items
seized, is linked above.
”I am so proud of the young men, including one survivor, who provided
information to the Houston Police Department, said Cappy Larson of San
Francisco, California. Larson is the co-founder of SNAP Orthodox.
”It’s not everyday that you find concerned citizens who is willing to
go the extra mile to help protect kids.”
Larson also commended the Houston Police Department, Juvenile Sex
Crimes/Houston Area Cyber Crimes Task Force (FBI), especially Officer
John Barnes, for their efforts in this case.
”Officer Barnes took the tipsters’ information and ran with it,” said
Larson.
Barrow was serving at St. Elias Church in Sylvania, Ohio in the mid to
late 1970s when he was suspended by the Antiochian Orthodox Christian
Archdiocese of North America in the wake of credible charges that he
had sexually abused teenaged boys.
In the mid-1990s Barrow was received into the Greek Orthodox
Archdiocese of America, and began serving at St. John the Theologian
Greek Orthodox Church in Webster, Texas.
When victims from Toledo discovered that the priest was again serving
in a parish, they brought the matter to church court. The clergyman
was suspended from the priesthood in 2004, and defrocked the following
year.
Larson urged anyone who has additional information about Barrow to
contact Officer Barnes at 281-957-5179.
Larson stressed that victims can also contact SNAP, the nation’s
oldest and largest support group for survivors of clergy sexual abuse.
”We let victims know they are no longer alone, that they are supported
no matter how they choose to start their healing journey, and that
despite the pain, there is hope,” said Larson.
SNAP has a nation-wide toll-free hotline, 1 877 SNAP HEALS. The
organization's web site is SNAPnetwork.org
++
Thanks for the story, Melanie,
Articles like this show that we need cross jurisdictional
information. Someone defrocked by the Antiochian Orthodox Church
should not be refrocked by the Greek Orthodox Church.
And all candidates for priesthood should have a background check.
This case is a real slip up in every respect.
MJS
<<Someone defrocked by the Antiochian Orthodox Church should not be
refrocked by the Greek Orthodox Church.>>
I agree that there should be more interjurisdiction communication, but
Barrow was not refrocked by the GOA. The Antiochians only suspended
Barrow.
Melanie Jula Sakoda
++
Perhaps the victims should sue the Antiochians for having known better
than to keep this guy active?
MJS
<<Perhaps the victims should sue the Antiochians for having known
better than to keep this guy active?>>
It's my understanding, from those that inquired, that the statute of
limitations has elapsed.
Melanie Jula Sakoda
John Galt
It's a little more nuanced than that.
1) The Toledo incident occurred when Fr. Gabriel was a deacon. Despite
this, the Antiochians ordained him. Question #1 is "why?" (And only Mtr.
Philip can answer, I suspect.)
2) Fr. Gabriel was tied to Houston because of the need to care for his
ailing mother. So, he found himself without an assignment in Houston.
The Greeks were starting a mission in Clear Lake, Texas, so he was
LOANED (yes, loaned) to the GOA. Question #2 then is "did the Greeks
know about Toledo when they borrowed him?"
3) Fr. Gabriel had, to my knowledge, no incidents while a priest. He
was, as far as I am aware, extremely well liked by his congregation, ex
post facto 10 years when the Toledo events resurfaced. We know people
there, and they were deer-in-the-headlights-shocked when all this went
down. As we all know, there is no "cure" for this "disease", and there
is always the possibility of victims who are remaining silent, but as
far as we know, he controlled himself while serving in Clear Lake.
4) When the Toledo events resurfaced, Fr. Gabriel was relieved of his
assignment by the GOA and permitted to retire (I believe he was within a
year of retirement-eligibility) by the Houston Independent School
District, where he was an assistant superintendent.
At any rate, being a bit closer to this situation than I care to be,
that's what comes to mind.
JG
MJS
<<The Toledo incident occurred when Fr. Gabriel was a deacon.>>
"Toledo incident?" I'm aware of at least three men who came forward
from this period of time, and two of them definitely identified Barrow
as a **priest.**
<<Despite this, the Antiochians ordained him. Question #1 is "why?" >>
If Barrow's proclivities were known before he was ordained a priest,
that is the question, isn't it?
<<Fr. Gabriel was tied to Houston because of the need to care for his
ailing mother. So, he found himself without an assignment in Houston.
The Greeks were starting a mission in Clear Lake, Texas, so he was
LOANED (yes, loaned) to the GOA. Question #2 then is "did the Greeks
know about Toledo when they borrowed him?">>
Barrow may have been loaned to the GOA at some point in time, but
according to a GOA publication, he was received as a GOA priest in
1995.
<<Fr. Gabriel had, to my knowledge, no incidents while a priest.>>
That is **not** true, to the best of my knowledge. In addition to the
men who claimed they were abused as teenagers in Toledo, there are
also reports of abuse from the Houston years.
<<When the Toledo events resurfaced, Fr. Gabriel was relieved of his
assignment by the GOA and permitted to retire (I believe he was within
a year of retirement-eligibility) by the Houston Independent School
District, where he was an assistant superintendent.>>
While there is some disagreement as to whether the Antiochians
informed the GOA of Barrow's past before he was received in 1995, it
is indisputable that Metropolitan Isaiah Chronopoulos and Archbishop
Demetrios Traketellis were informed of one set of charges in 2000 by
Bishop Antoun Khouri. A second man joined in this outcry by way of a
written statement in August 2003. The first man then added his own
written statement in December 2003. Barrow wasn't suspended until
three months later, in March 2004. The SNAP press release didn't make
the situation public knowledge until the end of April, 2004.
The spiritual court which recommended that Barrow be defrocked heard
testimony from the two men who had submitted written statements about
their abuse. A third, who was abused in Houston, was ready to come
forward, but was told his testimony wasn't needed.
Melanie Jula Sakoda
John Galt
> On Dec 5, 6:42 pm, John Galt <kady...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> <<The Toledo incident occurred when Fr. Gabriel was a deacon.>>
>
> "Toledo incident?" I'm aware of at least three men who came forward
> from this period of time, and two of them definitely identified Barrow
> as a **priest.**
Three incidents, then. My understanding was that he was a deacon at the
time. He most certainly was *moved* to St. George of Houston after
Toledo to serve, and was priest then. It's possible I'm wrong about the
ordination date.
>
> <<Despite this, the Antiochians ordained him. Question #1 is "why?" >>
>
> If Barrow's proclivities were known before he was ordained a priest,
> that is the question, isn't it?
Indeed. Or, why wasn't it handled at the time, prior to the move to
Houston.
>
> <<Fr. Gabriel was tied to Houston because of the need to care for his
> ailing mother. So, he found himself without an assignment in Houston.
> The Greeks were starting a mission in Clear Lake, Texas, so he was
> LOANED (yes, loaned) to the GOA. Question #2 then is "did the Greeks
> know about Toledo when they borrowed him?">>
>
> Barrow may have been loaned to the GOA at some point in time, but
> according to a GOA publication, he was received as a GOA priest in
> 1995.
It was always a loan. I know this for a fact.
>
> <<Fr. Gabriel had, to my knowledge, no incidents while a priest.>>
>
> That is **not** true, to the best of my knowledge. In addition to the
> men who claimed they were abused as teenagers in Toledo, there are
> also reports of abuse from the Houston years.
I'll have to take your word for that. That was not my understanding.
When did those reports surface?
>
> <<When the Toledo events resurfaced, Fr. Gabriel was relieved of his
> assignment by the GOA and permitted to retire (I believe he was within
> a year of retirement-eligibility) by the Houston Independent School
> District, where he was an assistant superintendent.>>
>
> While there is some disagreement as to whether the Antiochians
> informed the GOA of Barrow's past before he was received in 1995, it
> is indisputable that Metropolitan Isaiah Chronopoulos and Archbishop
> Demetrios Traketellis were informed of one set of charges in 2000 by
> Bishop Antoun Khouri. A second man joined in this outcry by way of a
> written statement in August 2003. The first man then added his own
> written statement in December 2003. Barrow wasn't suspended until
> three months later, in March 2004. The SNAP press release didn't make
> the situation public knowledge until the end of April, 2004.
They weren't in any hurry, were they?
JG
MJS
<<Three incidents, then. My understanding was that he was a deacon at
the time. He most certainly was *moved* to St. George of Houston after
Toledo to serve, and was priest then. It's possible I'm wrong about
the ordination date.>>
Not three incidents, three men, at least two of them victims, have
come forward about abuse in Toledo. The three also mention other
victims in their testimony. For the record, I should have said before
that it doesn't matter one whit whether Barrow was a priest or a
deacon when he abused those boys. Either way, he should have been
immediately deposed.
<<It was always a loan. I know this for a fact.>>
Without knowing what your basis for saying this is, I can't really
comment. However, I do know that two different Antiochian bisops
referred a victim to the GOA when he made his outcry (in 1998 and in
2000). I also know it was the GOA who suspended Barrow in 2004 and
defrocked him in 2005. Those four actions don't make any sense unless
at some point the loan became a reception. Moreover, this was
announced by the Denver Metropolis in September 11, 1995.
http://www.goarch.org/archdiocese/affiliates/apc/presbyter/nov95.pdf
<<When did those reports surface?>>
I can't remember offhand, with the exception that I recall one victim
came forward in response to the 2004 SNAP press release.
<<They weren't in any hurry, were they?>>
They certainly didn't seem to be.
Melanie Jula Sakoda
John Galt
> On Dec 5, 8:01 pm, John Galt <kady...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> <<Three incidents, then. My understanding was that he was a deacon at
> the time. He most certainly was *moved* to St. George of Houston after
> Toledo to serve, and was priest then. It's possible I'm wrong about
> the ordination date.>>
>
> Not three incidents, three men, at least two of them victims, have
> come forward about abuse in Toledo. The three also mention other
> victims in their testimony. For the record, I should have said before
> that it doesn't matter one whit whether Barrow was a priest or a
> deacon when he abused those boys. Either way, he should have been
> immediately deposed.
Concur. It just changes the questions.
JG