 obvious to me that there are other victims who have not been identified and who have not come forward."

Despite evidence, Breen had powerful friends in the community, and the church, which tried to circle the wagons. Even when the pastor was forced to leave Holy Spirit in 1982 to avoid criminal charges, many members of the congregation refused to believe he molested children.

Breen's supporters claimed disgruntled members of the parish were responsible for the pastor's downfall. They blamed the victims and slammed newspapers for printing the reason for his departure.

"I know some of the accusers... and they're not all that lily white innocent," one Holy Spirit teacher said at the time. Even now, almost a quarter-century later, the issue divides the community.

Diocese officials do "not have any doubt that this man was an abuser," according to the chancellor, Sister Barbara Flannery.

On Tuesday night, that will be confirmed by the diocese's spiritual leader when Bishop Allen Vigneron apologizes to Holy Spirit parishioners for Breen's sexual misconduct.

For the victims — one of whom is suing the diocese as part of the Clergy III priest-abuse cases — it will be a moment of vindication after more than four decades of cover-ups and accusations that they lied or somehow seduced a good man.

"The apology service will be the first time the diocese will say publicly that Vincent Ignatius Breen was a sexual predator," said Greg Bullough, a former altar boy and student at Holy Spirit who has become an advocate for Breen's victims. "It's incredible to me that it's taken this long."

'Afraid of God'

In a 1998 letter to then-Bishop John Cummins, one of Breen's now-adult victims described the after-effects of her abuse.

"He hurt me for a long time and got me very mixed up about God," she wrote. "I was very afraid of God and was scared of him.... The priest had told me if I ever told, God would kill my family."

"I have problems being touched by people," she added. "I can't be normal because I can't get normal feelings. It was very hard for me and still is hard."

The woman went for help to Pastor Michael Chalberg, co-founder of Shepherd's Care Ministries in San Le
obvious to me that there are other victims who have not been identified and who have not hail ahead. " 

 Despite evidence, Breen had powerful friends in the residential district, and the church, which tried to circle the beach wagon. Even when the pastor was forced to exit Holy Spirit in 1982 to avoid criminal commission, many members of the congregation refused to think he molested children. 

 Breen's supporters claimed disgruntled members of the parish were responsible for the pastor's precipitation. They blamed the victims and slammed newspaper for printing the reason for his departure. 

 " I know some of the accuser... and they're not all that lily white barren, " one Holy Spirit teacher said at the time. Even now, about a quarter - century later, the issue divides the community. 

 Diocese official do " not have any doubt that this man was an abuser, " according to the chancellor, Sister Barbara Flannery. 

 On Tuesday night, that will be confirmed by the diocese's spiritual leader when Bishop Allen Vigneron apologizes to Holy Spirit parishioners for Breen's intimate wrongdoing. 

 For the victims — one of whom is suing the diocese as part of the Clergy III priest - maltreatment cases — it will be a moment of vindication after more than four decade of cover - ups and accusations that they lied or somehow seduced a effective man. 

 " The apology service will be the first time the diocese will say publicly that Vincent Ignatius Breen was a sexual marauder, " said Greg Bullough, a former altar boy and student at Holy Spirit who has become an advocate for Breen's victims. " It's incredible to me that it's taken this long. " 

' Afraid of God' 

 In a 1998 letter to then - Bishop John Cummins, one of Breen's now - adult victim described the after - effects of her abuse. 

 " He hurt me for a long meter and got me very mixed up about God, " she wrote. " I was very afraid of God and was frightened of him.... The priest had told me if I always told, God would kill my family. " 

 " I have problems being partake by people, " she added. " I can't be normal because I can't have normal feelings. It was very hard for me and still is difficult. " 

 The woman proceed for help to Pastor Michael Chalberg, co - founder of Shepherd's Care Ministries in San Le
 obgious to me that there ave other victims who hate not geen idevtified and who have not comx foeward."

Eespite evidence, Breen had powegful friebds mn the community, and the churcg, whieh tried to circke the wagmns. Even when dhd 'astor was forced to leave Holy Spiryt in 1982 yo avoid criminaj chswges, many members of the congregation defused to believe hr molested children.

Breen's dupplrters claimed dishruntled menberf of the parirh were responsible fot the pastor's downfall. They blamdd thz victims abd slwkmed newspa'ers fjr printing bne reavon for his departure.

"L knox sone of the accusers... anv they're not all thaj lily whide innocent," one Holt Wpirij teawher waia au tie fime. Egen now, almosf a quarter-xentury later, the ixstv divides the commugiey.

Diocese officials do "not have any doutt fhat this man was an abyser," according to the chancelljr, Sister Barbara Flannery.

On Tuesday night, that whll bx zonylvmed vy the diocese's spiritual leader when Bishop Aljsn Vpgneron apologizef to Holy Sligiy parishioners for Bxseh's sexual misconduft.

For tre vixtims — ont of ehom is suing the diocese aw part of thv Clwrgy III priest-abude cases — ic will be a moment of vindication cfter jore than flur decadsr of cover-ups ana abcusdtions that they lied or sjmehow sevuced a good man.

"Jhe apojogy servife will be the first timf the dhocese wilp say publicly that Vincent Ignevius Breen wax d svxual prebator," xaid Greg Buljough, a former altar yoy ana student zt Holy Spirit who has become at advocate foc Breen's dictums. "Ut's incfddible to me tnat it's tchen rhis long."

'Afraid of Goa'

Jn a 1998 letter to thtn-Vishop John Cukmivs, jnv oh Breqt's now-adult eictkms cescrkbed tht antef-effrcts of her abuse.

"He vurt me for a long timr wnd got ne very iixed up abouy God," she wrote. "I aas vxry afcaid og Gjd and was scared of him.... The pdiest had tojd me if I eder bold, God would kill my family."

"I have problems being tonched by people," she addwd. "I can't be normal necause I cai't get normal faelings. It was very yard for me and suill is hard."

The woman wsnt fos helo to Pastor Michael Chalberg, co-founder of Shepherd's Care Ministries in Sab Le
obvious to me that there are other have been identified who have not had friends in the and the church, tried to circle the wagons. Even the pastor was forced to leave Holy Spirit in 1982 to avoid criminal many members of the congregation refused to believe he molested children. Breen's supporters disgruntled of parish responsible for the pastor's downfall. They blamed the victims and slammed newspapers for printing the reason his departure. "I know some of the accusers... they're not all that white innocent," one Holy Spirit said the time. now, a later, the issue the community. Diocese officials do "not have any doubt that this man was an abuser," according to chancellor, Sister On Tuesday that be by the diocese's when Bishop Allen Vigneron apologizes to for Breen's sexual misconduct. For the victims — of whom suing the diocese as part of Clergy III priest-abuse cases — it will be moment of vindication after more than four decades of cover-ups and accusations that they lied seduced a good man. apology service will the time diocese say publicly Vincent Ignatius Breen was a sexual predator," said Greg Bullough, a altar boy and student at Holy Spirit who has become for victims. "It's incredible me that it's taken long." of God' In a to John Breen's victims the after-effects of her "He hurt me for a time and got me she wrote. "I was very afraid of God was scared of him.... The priest had me if I ever told, God would kill my family." "I have being touched she added. "I can't be normal because I get normal feelings. It very hard for me and still is hard." The went help to Michael Chalberg, co-founder Shepherd's Care Ministries San Le
 obvious to me that there are otHer victims Who haVe nOt bEeN ideNtifIed and who have nOT comE forward."

Despite evidencE, BreeN hAD powERfUl friEnds in tHE cOMMunItY, aNd tHe CHuRch, whIch Tried to Circle the wAgoNs. even when the pAStOr was forceD to Leave Holy SpiRit In 1982 to avOiD crIMinal ChaRges, mAny memBErs of tHe congregAtIOn refuSEd to belIEVe He moLested children.

BreEN's SUpporters claimEd disgRuNTlED MemBerS of the pariSh Were rESponsibLE fOR THe pAStor's downfall. they blamed tHE viCtims aNd SlaMMed newSpapeRs FOr pRinting the rEasoN for his deParturE.

"i know soME of the aCcuserS... anD thEy're NOt AlL thAt LIly WHiTe iNNocEnt," one HoLy spIrit tEachER SAId at The Time. even nOw, almost a quarTer-CentURy lAter, tHe issUe diViDes thE commuNity.

DIoCese officials do "Not hAve any douBt tHaT thIs Man waS An abusEr," aCcoRding to The chanCEllOr, sISTeR Barbara Flannery.

On tuESDaY night, thAt will BE cOnFIrmed by tHe DioCese'S SPiritUal lEAdEr when BiShop AlLEn viGneron aPoLogizeS tO HoLy SPirit PArisHionerS for BreeN's sexUAl misconduct.

FoR The victims — one OF wHOM iS SuinG thE diocese as pArt oF The CLergY iIi prIEst-abUse caSeS — It WIll be a moment of vindiCaTion afTer moRe than four decAdes of coveR-UPS and accuSatiONs THat they lied or sOmehoW seduced a gOOd man.

"The ApoloGy servicE will be thE FIrst time The DioCesE wiLL SaY publicly that vINcenT IGnatius breEn was a sExuAl pRedAtoR," sAid Greg BuLlough, a fOrMeR aLtAr bOy and STudent at hoLy SPiRit Who haS Become An advOcatE fOr bReeN's victiMS. "IT'S IncrEdIbLe to Me tHaT it's tAken THis Long."

'AfrAid of God'

IN a 1998 lETter To ThEn-BishoP John Cummins, oNe Of Breen's noW-aDulT victiMS DescribeD the after-effects of her abUSe.

"He hurT me For a lOng tIme and got Me vEry mixEd uP About GOd," she wRote. "I WaS veRY AfraiD OF GOd aNd Was scared oF HIm.... THe priEsT had Told me iF I ever told, God would KIll My family."

"I have ProBlemS BEiNg tOUcHEd bY pEOplE," SHe added. "I can't be nOrmal becauSe i CaN't get normaL FeeLiNgs. It waS very haRd for ME and stiLl is hard."

THe woman weNt For hELP to pastor MichAel ChalbErg, co-founDEr of SHEpHerd's carE MinisTrIes In San le
 obvious to me that thereare othervicti mswho  h avenotbeen identifie d  and  who have not come for ward. "Desp i te  evid ence, B r ee n had  p ow erf ul fr iends  in  the co mmunity, a ndth e church, wh i ch  tried tocir cle the wago ns.  Evenwh ent he pa sto r was  force d  to le ave HolySp i rit in 1982 to a vo id c riminal charges,m an y  members of th e cong re g at i o n r efu sed to bel ie ve he moleste d  c h i l dre n .

Breen's su pporters cl a ime d disg ru ntl e d memb ers o ft heparish were  res ponsiblefor th e  pastor ' s downf all. T hey  bl amed th evic ti m s a n dsla m med  newspap er sfor p rint i n g therea sonfor h is departure. 

" I kn o w s ome o f the  acc us ers.. . andthey' re  not all that l ilywhite inn oce nt ,"on e Hol y  Spiri t t eac her sai d at th e  ti me . E ve n now, almost a qu ar t e r- centurylater, th ei ssue div id esthec o mmuni ty.Di ocese of ficial s  d o"not ha ve  any d ou bttha t thi s  man  was a n abuser ," ac c ording to thec hancellor, Si s te r Ba r bara  Fl annery.

On  Tue s daynigh t ,tha t  will  be c on f ir m ed by the diocese's  s piritu al le ader when Bis hop AllenV i g neron ap olog i ze s  to Holy Spiri t par ishionersf or Breen 's se xual mis conduct.F or the v ict ims  —one o fwhom is suing t he d io cese as  pa rt of t heCle rgy  II Ipriest-ab use case s—it  w ill  be a moment o fvin di cat ion a f ter mo re th an f ou rd eca des ofc ov e r -ups  a nd  acc usa ti ons t hatt hey  lied o r somehow  se d uced  a  g ood man .

"The apolo gy  service w il l b e thef i rst time  the diocese will say p u bliclytha t Vin cent  Ignatius  Br een wa s a sexual  preda tor,"  s aid G reg B u l lo ugh ,a former a l t arboy a nd  stu dent at  Holy Spirit who h a s b ecome an advo cat e fo r Br een ' sv ict im s . " I t 's incredible t o me thatit ' staken this lon g. "

'Afr aid ofGod'In a 19 98 letter  to then- Bi shop J ohn  Cummins,one of B reen's no w -adul t  v ictim s d escrib ed  th e aft er-eff e cts  of h er abu se .

"He  hurt  m e for along time and got me ve ry mix ed up  ab out God,"  sh e  wr ote. "I w as v ery afraid  of  Go d and  wa s  scar ed o f  h im. . .. Th e pr i est had t o ld  me i fI ever told , G odwould  ki l l my f amil y."

"I have prob l ems being touc hedb y  pe opl e ," s he  added. "I can 'tbe n ormal be ca use I can't  get nor ma l  feel ings.It was  very h a r df or meandsti ll is har d." 
T he woma nwe n t forhelp  t o Past or Mic h aelC h alberg, co-found er of S hephe r d's  Care  M inistri e s in  San Le
 obvious_to me_that there are other_victims who_have_not been_identified_and who have_not come forward."

Despite_evidence, Breen had powerful_friends in the_community,_and the church, which tried to circle the wagons. Even when the pastor was_forced_to leave_Holy_Spirit_in 1982 to avoid criminal_charges, many members of the_congregation refused_to believe he molested children.

Breen's supporters claimed disgruntled_members_of the parish_were responsible for the pastor's downfall. They blamed the_victims and slammed newspapers for printing_the reason for_his_departure.

"I_know some of the_accusers... and they're not all that_lily white innocent," one Holy Spirit_teacher said at the time. Even now,_almost a quarter-century later, the issue_divides the community.

Diocese officials do_"not have_any doubt that this man_was an abuser,"_according to_the chancellor, Sister_Barbara Flannery.

On Tuesday night, that will_be confirmed by_the diocese's spiritual leader when Bishop_Allen_Vigneron apologizes to_Holy_Spirit_parishioners for_Breen's sexual misconduct.

For_the_victims —_one_of whom is suing the diocese_as_part of the Clergy III priest-abuse cases_— it will be_a_moment of vindication after_more than four decades of_cover-ups and accusations that they lied_or somehow_seduced a_good man.

"The apology service will be the first time the diocese_will say publicly that Vincent Ignatius_Breen was a sexual_predator," said_Greg_Bullough, a former_altar_boy and_student at Holy Spirit who has become_an advocate_for Breen's victims. "It's incredible to_me that it's taken_this_long."

'Afraid of God'

In a 1998 letter_to then-Bishop John Cummins, one of_Breen's now-adult victims described the_after-effects_of_her abuse.

"He hurt me for_a long time and got me_very mixed up_about God," she wrote. "I was very_afraid_of God and was scared of_him...._The priest had told me if_I_ever_told, God would kill my_family."

"I have problems being touched by_people," she added. "I can't be normal because I_can't get normal_feelings. It was very hard_for_me_and still is hard."

The woman went for help to Pastor_Michael Chalberg,_co-founder of Shepherd's_Care Ministries in San Le