Diveny’s Email to Delbarton Community

The links that bind us together are so much stronger than the lifeless links of a chain. They are the bonds of friendship, memory and loyalty that hold us together in a living tether. These bonds have been forged over time and tested by adversity and have the power to sustain us even in these difficult times. – Br. Paul Diveny; February 7, 2012

[Webmaster’s Note: Several victims have sent their comments regarding Br. Paul Diveny’s propaganda piece. View their comments… Here ]

Br. Paul Diveny’s Email to Delbarton Community

February 7, 2012

Dear Alumni and Friends of Delbarton,

It has been three weeks now since the story broke of the allegations against former headmaster, Fr. Luke Travers. For those of us who hold Delbarton dear,this has been a sad and sobering time. The revelations and the ongoing press coverage have caused much pain and concern, leaving all of us shaken.

Like so many of you that I have spoken with, I have experienced the same wide range of emotions – anger, sadness, helplessness, fear and disappointment – all of them are perfectly natural. What we feel about our cherished institution, however, must never blind us to the very real suffering of anyone whose trust and dignity has been betrayed. Our most fervent prayer must be that all victims of abuse come forward to find healing, comfort and peace.

St. Benedict reminds his monks, especially those in leadership, that they are to distrust their own fragility. As Head of School, I am certainly aware of my own limitations as I grapple with the many questions caused by this current situation. I understand the concerns that you have as parents about the school and your son’s well- being. I will do my best to address those concerns here, but I also know that not everyone will be perfectly satisfied and I truly regret that. Given the circumstances, there are some things that I simply cannot say. However, please know that my door is always open; I encourage you to come speak to me directly.

Let me begin by saying that no one person and certainly no one institution are perfect, so I address the current situation with a deep sense of humility and a profound measure of reflection. My goal is to help Delbarton not only manage this ordeal, but to grow better and stronger because of it. Succisa virescit – “Cut down, it grows back stronger ” – has never been a more appropriate school motto.

I want you to continue to believe in Delbarton, and to celebrate how the School continues to flourish. Whether in the classroom, on the field, in whatever endeavor, the faculty and staff consistently demonstrate a consummate professionalism and dedication to the young people entrusted to their care. Once the recent allegations were made known to us, Delbarton School abided by every policy and procedure that was expected of it. These policies and procedures are clearly delineated in our Faculty Handbook and in the Abbey Ethics Policy, to which Delbarton School also adheres.

The sexual abuse scandal in the Catholic Church made every Church institution take an unvarnished look at itself. It was a moment of profound self-reflection, as a result of which Delbarton enacted a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to the sexual abuse of minors. This policy conforms to both the guidelines of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and to our own Abbey Ethics Policy, which has been approved by Praesidium, a Dallas based Church sponsored corporate entity whose mission is to certify that a Diocese or religious order has adopted ethics policies and regulations to ensure the protective measures for all their young constituents. Just last year, Delbarton School was reviewed and accredited by Praesidium.

Be assured that Delbarton is cooperating fully with those charged with reviewing these matters. Further, appropriate measures have been implemented so that our campus remains a safe and wholesome environment. The policies, procedures and training in place ensure that the young men entrusted to our care are always treated with respect and dignity. No forms of harassment, abuse or bullying are tolerated.

We all know the old adage “a chain is only as strong as its weakest link.” Given the gravity of the allegations, we might be tempted to think that the bonds of trust which bind us together have been irreparably shattered. The analogy of the chain, however, as effective as it is, only goes so far. A chain is an inanimate object, a thing that can only be fixed by some outside force. The Delbarton community, however, is not an object, a thing – rather it is a living organism made up of thousands of living and breathing souls all joined by the common experience of a school that means so much to them. It is not like the chain that needs some outside intervention when broken, but rather like the cells of an organism that rush together as one to repair a wound. The links that bind us together are so much stronger than the lifeless links of a chain. They are the bonds of friendship, memory and loyalty that hold us together in a living tether. These bonds have been forged over time and tested by adversity and have the power to sustain us even in these difficult times.

Please continue to keep all of us in your prayers, but especially Abbot Giles. His pneumonia has been very stubborn to treat and he remains hospitalized, anticipating a prolonged recovery.

May the Lord continue to bless you and those you love and thank you, as always, for your support of Delbarton.

Br. Paul Diveny, OSB
Headmaster

[Webmaster’s Note: Several victims have sent their comments regarding Br. Paul Diveny’s propaganda piece. View their comments… Here ]