Assignment Record– Bro. Kenneth Ghastin, o.f.m.

Summary of Case: Ghastin was accused in 1993 of having sexually abused two Massachusetts boys in the 1970s. The boys were brothers whose father had recently died. Ghastin was removed from public ministry and lived at his order's friary in Wappinger Falls, NY. In 2005 he moved to his friary in FL. Ghastin died in October 2013.

Ordained: Ghastin took Simple Vows in 1959. He was ordained a permanent deacon in 1977.
Died: October 2, 2013

   

Start Stop Assignment Town/Accusations State Position Notes
1955 1959 Hungarian Franciscans       Joined the Hungarian Franciscans in 1955, and took Simple Vows Aug. 16, 1959 .
    Holy Land Monastery Washington DC   Ghastin was sent to this monastery to learn to make habits.
      Detroit MI art student  
    Holy Assumption Roebling NJ principal for four years  
    Holy Cross High School Trenton NJ teacher  
1970           Transferred to the Immaculate Conception Province in 1970.

1970s

Boston archbishop was Humberto Sousa Medeiros (1970-1983).

 

   Christopher Columbus High School

Boston (North End)

• Ghastin was accused in 1993 of having sexually abused two brothers while they were students at Christopher Columbus. Their father had died and Ghastin formed a "paternal-like bond" with the family. He is said to have told the boys their mother wanted him to teach them about sex. Per the younger of the two brothers, Ghastin would give wine to the older brother who became drug addicted.The older brother died at age 35 in 1994 of an overdose.

MA teacher  

1977

Lansing bishop was Kenneth Joseph Povish (1975-1995).

    Lansing MI   Ordained a permanent deacon by auxilliary Bishop James Sullivan in 1977.

1983

Pittsburgh bishop was Anthony Joseph Bevilacqua (1983-1987), followed by Donald William Wuerl (1988-2006).

1991 Serra Catholic High School McKeesport PA teacher
  
1992   Dusquesne University Pittsburgh PA student advisor  

1992

Boston archbishop was Bernard Francis Law (1984-2002) .

Dec. 1993 St. Ann's Marlborough MA deacon Ghastin was removed from St. Ann's in Dec. 1993 when the archdiocese was informed of the allegations against him from 1974.
1993 2005 Mount Alvernia Friary Wappinger Falls NY   In 2002 Ghastin's provincial superior stated that Ghastin had been at this monastery for 10 years, "where he has no contact with the public".

2005

Diocese of St. Petersburg was Robert Nugent Lynch
(1995- ).

2013   Clearwater FL  

Ghastin is said to have retired to his Florida friary due to poor health. Ghastin was honored in October 2009 in the St. Petersburg diocese for celebrating 50 years as a Franciscan brother.

Ghastin died October 2, 2013.


Sources:
• Boston Man: Abuse Part of Brother's Broken Life, By Peter Gelzinis, Boston Herald, April 28, 2002
• Attorneys Release Records on 10 More Priests, Brothers, By Michael Rezendes and Matt Carroll, Boston Globe, December 17, 2002
• Newly Released Files Identify More Alleged Abusive Priests, By Robin Washington and Marie Szaniszlo, Boston Herald, December 17, 2002
• Records Show Abuse Claim against Three Hull Priests, By Patriot Ledger, Patriot Ledger (Quincy, MA), December 17, 2002
• Accused Friar Worked in Marlborough, Framingham Metro West Daily News, December 18, 2002
• Marlborough Not Spared Priest Abuse Scandal, Milford Daily News, December 22, 2002
• Deacon Kenneth Ghastin, Biographies for Religious Jubilarians 2009
• Deacon Kenneth R Ghastin, member biography/profile, Cambridge Who's Who 2009
• The Missing Names from Cardinal O’Malley’s List of Accused Clerics, The Boston Globe, November 20, 2011
• Catholics View Child Sex Abuse Scandal As Top Issue, By Bill Zlatos, Tribune-Review, March 9, 2013
• Pittsburgh Diocese Sends out Another Warning on Cleric, By Bill Zlatos, Tribune-Review, April 8, 2013
• Secular Franciscan Order Newsletter, Dunedin, FL, November 2013


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This assignment record collates Ghastin's career history with allegations as reported in the media. We make no representation regarding the truth of the allegation we report, and we remind our readers that the U.S. legal system presumes that a person accused of or charged with a crime is innocent until proven guilty. Similarly, individuals who may be defendants in civil actions are presumed not to be liable for such claims unless a plaintiff proves otherwise. Admissions of guilt or liability are not typically a part of civil or private settlements. For more information, see our posting policy.

This assignment record was last updated on April 9, 2014.