Thomas can still serve as priest but under Bishop’s guidance, says Rome

Monsignor Thomas

Monsignor Eustace Thomas can still serve as a priest but under the Bishop’s guidance and he will hold no parish or official designation.

This is the decision that’s been handed down by Rome following an investigation into alleged sexual misconduct by the Catholic priest against a female complainant.

After two years, the Vatican has issued its findings and recommendations to Bishop of Roseau, His Lordship Gabriel Malzaire.

“Rome is saying given the circumstances and the time that the alleged incident may have taken place, he can still serve as a priest but under the guidance of the Bishop,” Malzaire stated in an interview.

The Bishop also said that Monsignor Thomas will hold no parish or official designation and will be required to function under the guidance and direction of the Bishop.

He said the recommendations from Rome did not say if the priest was “guilty or not guilty.”

“I can’t say he was found guilty. The letter said considering the “alleged allegations.” The letter and recommendations from Rome do not say that he was found guilty or not,” he explained.

The aggrieved female said that in September of 2016, she filed a letter of complaint addressed to the Bishop of Roseau.

“The follow-up response came from the Church’s Delegate based in Trinidad. This letter outlined the Delegate’s role in the process, what I should expect, and a list of prospective venues where I could go to give a face-to-face deposition. My family and friends persuaded me not to go to Dominica as they were scared for my life and safety, so we opted to go to Trinidad instead, where my deposition took up to 12 hours…and there was so much I did not remember to tell…,” she said.

She continued, “After my deposition, the accused was given the opportunity to respond with his defense and after a waiting period of a few months, the review board made their decision and provided an additional 15 days for the accused to put forth a defense.”

Bishop Malzaire said he used the review board of Trinidad to ensure that the process “was objective and fair” and when the board returned its findings, the report was sent to the Vatican which then issued its recommendations.

He said, as Bishop, he tried to deal objectively with a difficult situation.

“The church has a process, when a complaint is made there is a preliminary investigation with the results going to a review board,” he pointed out, adding, “It’s not one of those pleasant things to deal with…but in the process you have to deal with such situations objectively with compassion and love. The integrity of people must be maintained the church tries as best as possible not to cover these things and be as transparent as possible.”

Bishop Malzaire reiterated that Monsignor Thomas is still a priest and part of the clergy and has not been defrocked.

“Considering he’s retired; that was a factor. The Doctrine of Faith in Rome took into consideration [the fact that] the accused is over 75 plus; the statute of limitations has passed based on the laws of the church at that period in time and  no additional complaints were made against the accused to say that he was a threat to minors,” the Bishop further explained.

Meantime, the individual at the centre of the allegations against Monsignor Thomas, said she understands Rome’s decision.

She thanked her family, neighbors and friends who testified on her behalf and other Dominicans who supported her through what she described as a “harrowing experience.”

“I also want to thank the church who listened and carried out their duties unbiased and diligently… I am also thankful for the sincere apologies rendered to me and my family by the church through the Bishop of Roseau,” she said.

In his letter to the victim, Bishop Malzaire wrote, “On behalf of the Church in the Diocese of Roseau, I deeply regret the pain that this situation caused you and your family. I am conscious of the fact that it took tremendous courage and strength on your part to pursue this matter, especially as it concerned a member of your family. I pray that this will bring closure to the situation and that you and your family will be able to find the necessary healing and solace.”

He said as far he is concerned, this chapter is now closed.

“Both parties have been kept informed all the way while the process was ongoing. When the decision was taken they were informed, so that each party can move on,” Bishop Malzaire said.

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31 Comments

  1. Jack
    January 4, 2019

    How is what he is saying not clear to you ?

  2. fbi
    January 2, 2019

    To me this is a criminal complaint that should have been reported to the police, why the police in Dominica didnt get involved and investigate this matter and if any evidence is found, then charge the priest like any other person would be charged, does the vatican laws takes precedent over the laws of the common wealth of Dominica?, this is nonsense.

  3. InTheKnow
    January 1, 2019

    All you see how many reviewers looked at the case. Bishop, delegate, review boards and they decided it must reach Rome. Despite the statute of limitations they waived it to hear the case. These people are objective. They don’t know either parties. They deal with the facts. That’s why he was forced into retirement and stripped of office. Bon

  4. JBaptiste
    December 31, 2018

    Never trust a grown man wearing a wizard’s costume. This dude should grow up, find a real job like everyone else and get a girl/wife. Stop following archaic pagans systems.

  5. Tom
    December 31, 2018

    You wanted spiritual drones dropped on the opposition UWP. Now look at where the drones dropped their destructive bombs eh…. Take note what you wish for the righteous!!!

    • JAH KAL
      January 1, 2019

      Yes my brother kama is a B now the drones looking for him.

  6. Jonathan Y St Jean
    December 31, 2018

    Thomas was allowed to act like he was a law unto himself. The man divided the flock with his politically laced sermons in the house of God’s people who belong to different political stripes. Now we know why he aligned himself publicly with a corrupt regime rather than the body of Christ. This stinks to high heaven and cries out shame

  7. Radio River Street
    December 31, 2018

    Really 😕. This was just a vindictive accusation. Unfortunately no winners

    • JAH KAL
      January 1, 2019

      You sound like a parent that would slap your sons and daughters if they come home and tell you the priest abuse them ,and later u gonna say am sorry, good luck with that.

  8. mine
    December 31, 2018

    IF he did whatever the accuser said he is wrong but if he is innocent I feel sorry for the accuser. the article did not he is guilty or not so why take away some of his privileges form him. God knows the truth.

  9. JAH KAL
    December 31, 2018

    Dominicans if thomas was in NY he would be wearing an orange jump suit like the other priest that morlested the little boys some of them hang themself in jail .When u are molester the church should get rid of you that’s the bigboys club.

    • George AE
      December 31, 2018

      So are you saying that he is guilty????

    • Anon
      January 1, 2019

      The Roman Catholic Church has long had an association with pedophillia. They don’t punish their own. It is rampant in Rome also but hidden underground.

  10. Tom
    December 31, 2018

    Yeah not you to drop spiritual drones on certain members of our Christian society.. No we should be asking for spiritual B52s and SR71 BlackBirds to be dropping their payload on you!?

    • Malatete
      January 1, 2019

      The SR71 Blackbird, now obsolete, was never a bomber but a long-range surveillance aircraft.

  11. max
    December 31, 2018

    Given the decision of ROME, I see that this is a form of reprimanding…I guess the logistics ….he is soon retired so just let him off peacefully. However, as a big man, and furthermore a “Man of the Cloth” he should do the right thing and retire quietly. But sometimes mankind is full of pride and has the “I win mentally” Bro this ain’t time for “I win” there is not win here. Whatever happen….it’s the past, but hey people felt hurt. no hypocrisy here BE A MAN,,,,,cause you know what transpired, the woman know and GOD knows so be careful.

  12. Asaka W
    December 31, 2018

    TGBTG.

    Monsignor Thomas has been a pillar to many of our lives and so I am thankful that he will continue to be a messenger of God’s love always. Man and evil will work against the messengers of God always but where there is love, Jah prevails. Monsignor, I continue to pray that the good Lord will continue to hold you and bless you.

  13. Shaka Zulu
    December 31, 2018

    This article leaves more questions than answers. When is politics bishop know how to speak clear. Matters of the church he knows how to speake in vague tones and language. I would like to ask him who has it been most difficult for? He, thomas or the victim?

    • Pipo
      December 31, 2018

      The bishop speaking just like Pontius Pilate. Im not impressed by his attitude.

    • Jack
      January 4, 2019

      How is what he is saying not clear to you ?

  14. Catholic Till I Die
    December 31, 2018

    DNO, why is it only certain priests get written about and others get a pass?? Why is it we never heard about the Priest from the “territory” who got defrocked for sexual misconduct, and sexual abuse of minors? Why is your broadcasting seems to have a bias against some priest and not other???

    ADMIN: We normally publish information from official sources, in this case it was a statement from the Bishop. In the incident you are referring to we did not receive any verifiable or official information (we won’t publish based on rumours).

  15. Petrolina Labadie
    December 31, 2018

    At the endvof the day whether Rome finds him guilty or not God is the only judge. Lots of questions needs answers and it is the world over. As adults we just need to beahave more responsibly. And where we fail own up. Lord help mankind.

  16. Julia
    December 31, 2018

    This article is written as if everyone knows about the matter. DNO your responsibility in reporting is to educate your readers with background information. What was the crime for which Father Thomas was accused? No need to publish names of the accuser but to be better informed give a more comprehensive story.

    First time readers to your site must be wondering what the hell is this article all about.

  17. Your auntie brother
    December 31, 2018

    Does that mean he can still give holy communion? Carcon, if I think where his hand could have been I cannot take communion from him,. The church saying he is not found guilty so why they are putting restriction on him then? Typical of the church, they have a habit of protecting their own and covering the truth. Is that church subject to a different law than their believers? No different from Sharia law then.

  18. Interesting
    December 31, 2018

    Interesting decision. I though all priests served under the Bishop’s guidance hence Thomas being transferred to Salisbury and never actually going.

    And Rome can’t say if he’s guilty or not guilty? Even more interesting.

  19. Neville
    December 31, 2018

    Ordinary people in civilised countries get sent to jail for that. But the Catholic Church is still wondering why their flock is more and more diminishing. Hypocrisy is rife where ever you look.

    • Galileo
      December 31, 2018

      Why do you all make yourselves sound so silly. You read the article but apparently did not understand. It clearly says that the statute of limitations have passed on the matter. It would have been the same for you. It’s the law.

      • Badbaje
        December 31, 2018

        You are like the silly one. You apparently read but did not fully understand the article, or chose not to understand. According to the article.
        Bishop Malzaire reiterated
        “the statute of limitations has passed based on the laws of the church ”
        the Bishop further explained..
        it clearly states BASED ON THE LAWS OF THE CHURCH.
        What about laws of the land, that is the important thing here., not laws of a church which has proven over and over again it is a morally corrupt body. I do not even want to read a response to my observation. Go to the ant thy sluggard!

      • Puzzled
        December 31, 2018

        So if the statue of limitation has passed, why was there a case in the first place?

      • Anonymous
        December 31, 2018

        No it is not the law, it is the church law. Nazi criminals are prosecuted not matter how old they are.

      • Galileo
        January 1, 2019

        The statute of limitations have also passed where the judicial system is concerned. This is why the law could not get involved and this is what I was commenting about. The comment to which I was responded mentioned imprisonment. If you all can’t understand a matter refrain from commenting. If you do you are only showing yourself to be guilty of disobeying Matt,s daily warning.

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