Will Cross International Catholic Outreach demand that children be protected from sexual abuse at Pwoje Espwa?

June 1, 2011

Jim Cavnar

President

Cross International Catholic Outreach

2700 N. Military Trail, Suite 240
PO Box 273908

Boca Raton, Florida 33427-3908
561-392-9212

Dear Mr. Cavnar,

Cross international Catholic Outreach has contributed nearly $1.5 million over the past four years to Pwoje Espwa, an 800 child orphanage located in Les Cayes, Haiti.

Recent events at Pwoje Espwa are disturbing. In February 2011, Rev. Marc Boisvert, the founder and executive director of Pwoje Espwa, permitted two men who belong to a religious group called the Franciscans of San Damiano to live and work among the children at Pwoje Espwa.

Although the two men identify themselves as Franciscan “Brothers” and wear clerical robes, a spokesperson for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany, NY (where the group is headquartered) has stated that the group is not officially recognized by either the Diocese of Albany or the Vatican. And on May 3, 2011, one of these men, Brother Robert-Anthony Campbell, FSD  wrote the following in his blog:

"I showered him (11 year-old Haitian boy) from head to toe, scrubbed his hair and washed his shorts. I also found time to re-apply the cream I've been using to help his rash and I'm happy to report the rash has cleared up (and he's a lot cleaner too, lol) I'm going to pick up some new sandals for him tomorrow after I go to the bank. It was frustrating to shower him and re-dress him in clean underwear, shorts and a T-shirt then let him leave barefoot..."

By coincidence and beginning last fall, I began asking Pwoje Espwa officials for the opportunity to review their organization’s Child Protection Policy and Code of Conduct.

For the past two years, I and other child protection advocates had been involved in helping the former Project Pierre Toussaint (Cap Haitien) students who were sexually abused by Douglas Perlitz, the school’s former executive director. In the aftermath of this horrible tragedy, we began the process of formulating a Child Protection Policy that could be utilized in institutions and schools in Haiti. Because Pwoje Espwa is one of the largest organizations in Haiti that cares for children, it made sense for us to want to see what this group already had in place.

Unfortunately, it became painfully obvious that direct, private communication with Rev. Boisvert about his group’s child protection plan would not be possible. When Rev. Boisvert would not make his email address available, I and another advocate attempted to communicate with him via his blog. Although he initially responded, he soon thereafter closed the function that allows for comments on his blog.

When questions arose about why Campbell was rubbing soap all over the naked body of an eleven year old Haitian boy, Campbell initially removed the entry from his blog and then, just as suddenly, he closed his blog for good. Within days, his superior called him back to the Albany, NY area.

Yet still, as we speak, Rev. Boisvert and Pwoje Espwa board members refuse to make public their Child Protection Policy and Code of Conduct manual and they remain silent and unavailable regarding Campbell's inappropriate behaviour with the child. I can assure you that the lack of response by Boisver and the Board of Directors is unacceptable and will not be tolerated by advocates. Therefore, I must ask you, Mr. Cavnar, and the Board of Directors of Cross international Catholic Outreach, to take immediate action.

I am certain it is not your organization’s desire to provide financial support to any other organization that does not have systems, policies and procedures in place to ensure that children are adequately protected from sexual abuse. In addition, I am certain it is not your organization's desire to provide funding to any group that is not honest, open and transparent about child abuse allegations.  

Please help protect the children in Haiti. Brother Campbell’s inappropriate conduct with this child calls for an immediate investigation, including the notification of law enforcement authorities.

Please ensure that Brother Campbell has been removed from Haiti and does not have access to children while an investigation is being conducted.

Please insist that Rev. Boisvert and the Pwoje Espwa Board of Directors issue a public statement acknowledging this situation and the steps they are taking to protect children.

I look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

Paul T. Kendrick