This commentary is by Bob Stannard of Manchester, an author, musician, and former state legislator and lobbyist.
“We don’t need no education. / We don’t need no thought control. / No dark sarcasm in the classroom. / Teacher, leave them kids alone. / Hey, teacher, leave them kids alone.”
— Pink Floyd
A few weeks ago my wife and I attended a presentation and exhibit with former Lt. Gov. Molly Gray at the Manchester Community Library. The event was about what happened at St. Joseph’s Orphanage in Burlington. You can read some of the painful quotes from kids that were raised in this orphanage here.
The Children of St. Joseph’s Orphanage organization is working to raise funds to create a public memorial and healing space in front of the building that once housed the orphanage.
This orphanage was supposed to be a place of refuge for kids who were either abandoned by their parents or taken by the state. The facility operated from 1854 to 1974, and during that time atrocities occurred that would unnerve Stephen King. These kids were not raised in a secure and loving environment.
From Vermont Folklife: “The St. Joseph’s Orphanage in Burlington was home to more than 13,000 children from 1854 to 1974. Although the Catholic-run institution was held in high regard in the community, accounts began to emerge in the 1990s from scores of former orphanage residents describing abuse at the hand of nuns and other clerical personnel.”
According to a story in VTDigger, on April 1, 2021, the Senate Judiciary began taking testimony from some of the survivors of this orphanage. The committee heard heartbreaking testimony. The chair of this committee, and my senator, Dick Sears, ushered through S.99, sponsored by Sens. Chris Pearson and Kesha Ram Hinsdale. The bill proposed to recognize the hideous acts that transpired in this building and to allow the survivors to sue for retribution. It later passed as Act 26.
From WGBH’s program Greater Boston on Aug. 28, 2023: “Children at Saint Joseph’s Orphanage in Burlington, Vermont suffered incredible abuse at the hands of the Catholic Church, author Christine Kenneally reveals in her new book ‘Ghosts of the Orphanage: A Story of Mysterious Deaths, a Conspiracy of Silence, and a Search for Justice.’ Kenneally, speaking on Greater Boston, described the abuse as ‘violent and unhinged,’ detailing stories of children being thrown down the stairs or held outside windows upside down as a punishment. ‘They suffered emotional abuse, physical abuse and sexual abuse and at the time, it was completely invisible to the outside world,’ Kenneally said. Kenneally said this type of abuse was not exclusive to Saint Joseph’s, and happened at other orphanages around the country. She said both priests and nuns were abusive, and a culture of obedience, silence and protecting the church encouraged predators. She said many people did not believe the children’s stories. That’s why she wanted to write the book.”
According to the Massey Law Firm in Scottsdale, Arizona: “In recent times, more than 19,000 victims have come forward with credible accounts of abuse by over 6,800 Catholic priests. After trying to cover up these crimes and abuses, the Church has paid over $4 billion in settlements.“
It was stunning to sit in the Manchester Community Library and listen to courageous men and women who were victims of the St. Joseph’s Orphanage. One by one they stood up before a room full of strangers and told their disturbing stories.
It’s mind boggling to think that this could ever happen anywhere in the world. It’s beyond comprehension that this could have happened in our great state of Vermont. Did people back then not know what was happening or did they know and simply turn a blind eye? It appears as though they turned a blind eye.
Of course some people knew what was happening in the St. Joseph’s Orphanage just like people knew what was happening with priests, nuns and vulnerable kids throughout the world. The horrible crimes committed by these perverted people may only be dwarfed by the silence of those who knew what was happening but were too cowardly to speak out.
In 1933 Hitler began his anti-Jew campaign. Six years later he was quoted saying, “If war erupts it will mean the Vernichtung (extermination) of European Jews.” By the end of World War II, this horrible creature had executed more than 6 million Jewish people.
The world wondered how this could possibly have happened. It’s easy. Good people did not speak out. If you think it cannot happen again, you’re wrong. It’s happening again. Our society only works when those who want to remain silent for fear of retribution find the courage to speak out — not only for themselves but for the defenseless among us. Think of Alexei Navalny.
