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Home / News & Publications / News Releases / Regarding SNAP
Regarding misinformation, misrepresentations from SNAP
Issued: October 26, 2009
According to the Capuchin Franciscans of St. Joseph, Thomas Gardipee, a former member of their religious order, never served in the Archdiocese of Detroit or southeast Michigan. The 1990s case involving his time at St. Lawrence Seminary in Wisconsin was addressed by school and civil authorities at that time. Not unlike any other case that happens in another diocese, Detroit archdiocesan staff would not have then, nor would it now, take it upon itself to publicize the complaints involving Gardipee in other parts of the country. In addition, religious orders function in their internal governance separately from the archdiocese where they are headquartered and/or minister. SNAP is well aware of this, but apparently hopes its confusing, unfounded claims will be grist for a street-side media event.
In a similar vein, as SNAP knows, Joseph Skelton is not a cleric of the Detroit archdiocese nor is he ministering in southeast Michigan. Studying for the priesthood at St. John Provincial Seminary in 1988, he was accused of sexual misconduct and dismissed from the school. In a public court proceeding, he was prosecuted and convicted for his activity. Not unlike any other institution of higher learning, the archdiocesan seminary does not track or hold responsibility for every student who ever attended classes but left before ordination.
Several years ago, the archdiocese became aware of Skelton's ordination as a Catholic priest in the Taglibaran diocese in the Philippines. Not consulted prior to the ordination, the Detroit archdiocese has since contacted the bishop of Taglibaran, to whom Skelton reports, regarding the priest's criminal history in Michigan. In summary, Joseph Skelton does not minister here nor would he be welcome or permitted to function as a priest in this archdiocese.
Ned McGrath
Director of Communications
Archdiocese of Detroit
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