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Questions answered about LeBrun letter

Father Paul LeBrun is on trial for child molestation
Father Paul LeBrun is on trial for child molestation

The purpose of the letter was to raise money to help pay legal expenses of Father Paul LeBrun, a man currently on trial for charges of child molestation
The purpose of the letter was to raise money to help pay legal expenses of Father Paul LeBrun, a man currently on trial for charges of child molestation.

10/28/2005

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NewsCenter 16 has learned more about the mysterious letter from a Detroit non-profit organization attempting to raise money for Father Paul LeBrun's defense trial. We have also come across another letter being sent exclusively to priests and pastors.

Father Paul LeBrun, a former South Bend priest, is on trial for child molestation in Arizona.

The big question on everyone's mind was how did this organization get a hold of names and addresses for various Catholic parishioners? The founder of Opus Bono, Joe Maher, says the answer lies with LeBrun supporters: someone you know may have given-up your information.

The two different letters are circulating through the Ft. Wayne-South Bend Catholic Diocese. Both from the same source, a Detroit non-profit organization known as Opus Bono Sacerdotti.

Father Charles Lavely C.S.C. of St. Augustine Catholic Church says, ”The letter I got didn't say anything about raising money. Didn't send an envelope to send money back.”

Parishioners got the letter, asking for donations to help pay for Father Paul LeBrun's legal defense. Opus Bono wants to raise more than $100,000 for LeBrun. The organization's sole purpose is to help priests accused of sexual misconduct.

Supporters of LeBrun contacted the organization about a month ago asking for help. It was those supporters that supplied names and addresses to Opus Bono.

“Those supporters know other people that are like-minded and support the priest and we ask them if they can put a group together so we can talk to them and they can make a contribution to Opus Bono,” says Maher.

Father Lavely says whoever is responsible for sending the mailing addresses is wrong; especially because the leader of the Ft. Wayne-South Bend diocese, Bishop John D’Arcy, does not approve.

"We are not in support of that statement at all and we are not in support of any financial assistance of Father LeBrun. Absolutely none," said Bishop D'Arcy.

 “I think it's a serious mistake on somebody's part that made these addresses available to them. I think coming in and raising money without the bishop's approval, that's just not done,” says Father Lavely.

Since April 2002, Opus Bono has helped more than 2,000 priests.

The first priest they helped was accused of raping a choir member in Detroit. The organization raised the defense funds and the helped to acquit that priest.

Some in the diocese say they support this organization's mission, but would not send money to help the former South Bend priest, Father Paul LeBrun.