Subject:Subject: Re: Complaint Against Rev. Ruth Casipit-Paguio - Diocese of El Camino Real
Date:Date: Sunday, May 19, 2024 at 3:55:05 PM Pacific Daylight Time
From:From:
To:To: Ann Clarke, Mediator
Hello Ms. Clarke:
My name is
I am requesting to move forward with the following Title IV complaint against Bishop Lucinda Ashby, Rev Ruth Casipit-Paguio, Rev. Salying Wong, and Canon Martha Korienek.
I am writing to lodge a complaint against Rev. Ruth Casipit- Paguio for taking no steps to enforce safe church requirements for the past 8 years (in regards to conducting criminal background checks for employees and volunteers of the parish).
In December 2022, Ruth came to me, and asked me to participate in a Vestry meeting because I . In that meeting, Ruth indicated that a volunteer in a leadership position, who had keys to the church was a convicted sex offender and that another parishioner discovered him on Megan’s List. Although this person was removed from leadership, Ruth had not conducted any criminal background checks for the past 8 years and did not conduct any criminal background checks at least through March 2024. Ruth’s failure put my child at risk, me at risk, as well as the rest of the parish. Ruth has refused to report this issue to the police – although the volunteer was discussing organizing a youth group. His wife was running Sunday School.
Bishop Ashby was aware of this issue in December 2022, but took no action to correct this issue. I raised concerns in an email to the bishop in late Feb or early March 2024, and the bishop still took no steps to enforce safe church requirements. The bishop declined to report the issue to police.
I raised the issue with Rev. Salying Wong (president of the standing committee) and Canon Korienek via email in March 2024, and they both took no steps to correct the issue, nor to report it to the police, nor report it as a Title IV violation. I have also reported this to all of the clergy on the 2024 standing committee and board of trustees, and they have also failed to take no action.
I have lodged a Title IV complaint against Bishop Ashby with the Episcopal Church intake officer in New York city as well. I ask that Bishop Ashby recuse herself from this Title IV investigation, and that this investigation be referred to another diocese for investigation, due to conflicts of interest.
Holy Family Parish,
DECISION BY REFERENCE PANEL
July 9, 2024
Via email
Dear
Please be advised that Ms. Ann Clarke has resigned her position as Intake Officer, and Bishop Lucinda Ashby has appointed me to act as Intake Officer with respect to your complaint. I am writing to inform you of the decision of the Reference Panel in regard to your allegations concerning The Rev. Ruth Casipit-Paguio in regard to questions related to criminal background checks reported on May 19, 2024. Upon review of the materials presented, the Reference Panel has determined to take no action other than an appropriate pastoral response under Canon IV.8 This referral action is taken pursuant to Canon IV.6.8 on the basis that the alleged harm is of a personal nature best addressed through pastoral response.
The Rev. Cn. Anna Carmichael Intake Officer
cc: The Rt. Rev. Lucinda Ashby, Bishop (via email)
The Rev. Laurel Coote, Disciplinary Board President (via email)
The Rev. Ruth Casipit-Paguio (via email)
Mr. Steve Kottmeier, Chancellor (via email)
An Open Letter to the Members of Holy Family Episcopal Church & To The Episcopal Church
San José, California
June 8, 2024
To the Members of Holy Family Episcopal Church,
I am writing to you today because our rector, vestry, bishop, standing committee, and board of Trustees have kept a secret that is harmful.
In December 2022 or January 2023, it was discovered that a volunteer with Holy Family Episcopal Church, who served in a leadership position and who had keys to the church buildings, was a convicted sex offender, listed on Megan’s List in California.
In 2024, I was advised that the above-referenced church volunteer had signed into the parish guest book as “pastor.” His wife was running Sunday School, and I was advised that he was discussing his desire to start a youth group program at Holy Family. This incident should have been reported to the police as a parole violation. In addition, other Episcopal churches in the Diocese of El Camino Real should have been advised of the incident – to prevent it from recuring at other parishes. I do not know his name nor his spouse’s name, otherwise I would have reported it myself.
Although there were already diocesan and Episcopal Church policies in place, the diocese advised Pastor Ruth to develop a policy regarding sex offenders attending parishes. The vestry then developed a policy that indicated that all people are welcome to attend church, but that a convicted sex offender may not hold any positions of leadership. Pastor Ruth and Nancy Brock then met with the volunteer and retrieved the keys to the church. I believe that this volunteer did not attend Holy Family again, nor did his family members. My concern is that they have moved onto another church and will repeat the same behaviors.
I have consistently requested that Pastor Ruth advise the parish of this incident so that all parishioners can be aware and so that they can talk with their families and children to discuss what to do in case there were any other incidents that occurred.
I also consistently asked Pastor Ruth and the Holy Family Vestry to conduct criminal background checks and to check personal references of volunteers and employees. Shockingly, this did not happen through at least the end of February 2024. Holy Family and the Diocese of El Camino Real appear to be insured by Brotherhood Insurance and supported by the resources of The Church Insurance Company/Church Pension Fund – both of which have low cost online resources to conduct background checks for a nominal fee $10 to $20.
Nancy Brock and Pastor Ruth were waiting for the parish to be approved for livescan background checks, now required under a new state law and this process took over a year. In the meantime, new church staff and volunteers were brought in to assist with children (without background checks being conducted and personal references being verified).
Although some vestry members agreed that these background checks should be taken – the rector and the vestry failed to enforce “Safe Church” guidelines. Although some vestry members disagree –the parish leadership has been silent.
In early 2024, I requested that the vestry address these issues I understand that some vestry members believed that this should be addressed, but the vestry and Pastor Ruth took no new action to address these issues that I am aware of. They have also not responded to my concerns regarding these issues.
In February 2024, I requested that Bishop Lucinda Ashby take action to support changing compliance with Safe Church requirements. She took no new action that I am aware of. I then asked that the diocesan Standing Committee and Board of Trustees take action – the leaders of both of these committees indicated that they believed this was not an “appropriate” request of their committees.
This culture of denial is why abuse thrives in many church communities.
I cannot remain quiet.
To quote a letter that 55 Episcopal bishops recently signed onto: we should be, “angered by and deeply concerned about the perception or the reality that” rectors and “bishops get a free pass on behavioral issues,” in this case, by refusing to enforce safe church policies that keep vulnerable church members safe from sexual abusers.
I ask you to call on Pastor Ruth and Bishop Lucinda to resign their roles. I also ask you to call on the members of the Holy Family Vestry, the Standing Committee, and the Board of Trustees to resign. They have failed to protect the vulnerable.
I also ask you to demand that the Diocese of El Camino Real and Holy Family Episcopal Church hire an outside service to evaluate the diocese and parish and to make recommendations as to how to prevent failures like this from happening again in the future.
Our leaders have ignored the legal and canonical requirements of their roles. We cannot wait for someone else to protect the vulnerable. We have gifts, making some of us advocates and some of us leaders – when others fail to rise to the occasion. We are equipped to protect each other – to demand change, to protect our families, and to repair the church.
I have filed a formal Title IV complaint with The Episcopal Church in New York City regarding Bishop Lucinda Ashby’s failure to act. The Most Rev. Michael B. Curry, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church is unavailable to oversee this complaint, due to his health. The Right Rev. MaryGray Reeves is currently performing Bishop Curry’s duties, due to her role as Vice President of the House of Bishops. Bishop Gray-Reeves has recused herself from overseeing this complaint because her experience as the prior Bishop of the Diocese of El Camino Real may cause her impartiality to be questioned (pursuant to Canon IV.19.14.a), and she has appointed The Right Rev. J. Scott Mayer, Bishop of the Diocese of Northwest Texas to act in this role.
Please call on Bishop Mayer to ensure that Safe Church policies are followed by Bishop Lucinda Ashby in the Diocese of El Camino Real; that he require that Bishop Ashby recuse herself from the diocesan Title IV investigation; and that Bishop Ashby be suspended from ministry until this investigation is completed.
I have also lodged a formal Title IV complaint with The Episcopal Diocese of El Camino Real related to the clergy in this diocese who have failed to act. I have requested that Bishop Lucinda Ashby recuse herself from the diocesan Title IV complaint, because she cannot be impartial in overseeing this Title IV investigation (pursuant to Canon IV.19.14.a). It is not clear whether she has recused herself.
Please call on Bishop Lucinda Ashby to recuse herself from the diocesan Title IV investigation. Please call on the Diocese of El Camino Real to suspend Pastor Ruth Casipit-Paguio from ministry until this investigation is completed.
Please see the contact information below.
Everyone Deserves Basic Respect
If you have someone in your life who makes you afraid, who hurts you, your children, or your pets; damages or destroys your possessions, or threatens to do so, it is important to get help immediately.
Please visit the National Domestic Violence Hotline (https://www.thehotline.org/) or call 1(800) 799-7233. Help is free, confidential, and available 24/7.
Santa Clara County Department of Child Support Services, Reporting Child Abuse & Neglect (833) SCC-KIDS (722-5437). https://socialservices.sccgov.org/protective-services/child-abuse-neglectcenter-canc
In case of an emergency, call 911.
CONTACT INFORMATION
The Episcopal Church Rev. Barbara Kempf, Title IV Intake Officer for Complaints Against Bishops, bkempf@episcopalchurch.org
The Right Rev. J. Scott Mayer, Bishop of the Diocese of Northwest Texas, Overseeing the Title IV Complaint Against Bishop Lucinda Ashby mehmer@nwtdiocese.org
Episcopal Diocese of El Camino Real
Ann Clarke, Title IV Intake Officer for Complaints Against Clergy, annclarkemediator@gmail.com
