Here is a an old letter sent to Bishop Cullen on the Allentown Diocese
I removed the name of the SNAP representative, as this person no longer volunteers for SNAP. Also Benestad left the parish in January 2007 a sick man... a sick man driving to Florida alone. Now if you were to call the Allentown Diocese, they would say he is "retired". Priests do not retire in their 60's?? I believe he is now about 73, they still don't retire that young.
In February 2007, Msgr. Benestad went on a medical leave
The Bishop did nothing, he wanted more than my name!
Here we go...
Survivors’ Network of those Abused by Priests
Friday, July 1, 2005
Most Reverend Edward P. Cullen D.D. Bishop of Allentown
4029 W. Tilghman Street
P.O. Box F
Allentown, PA 18105
Dear Bishop Cullen,
The purpose of this letter is to inform you that it has come our attention that a Monsignor of your diocese who is currently serving as a pastor at Notre Dame in Bethlehem has a history of abuse.
We have recently received telephone calls from two survivors of a Monsignor Thomas Benestad. Neither survivor knew one another, hence lending credibility to their stories, which were very similar. The second survivor knows of a third survivor of Monsignor Benestad. They were all raped as adults – these are not cases of childhood clergy sexual abuse but rather cases involving a violent rapist predator priest.
While I am not at liberty to divulge details of their abuse, their names, or any other personal information without their consent (as you can imagine they are terrified of this man and fear retribution from him if they come forward), I would very much like to talk with you about what the diocese plans to do to address this situation.
SNAP would like to know if the diocese was aware/is aware that this man has had allegations of abuse in the past (it is my understanding that allegations were made to the Philadelphia Archdiocese while he served there), and if so why weren’t law enforcement and parishioners informed of this activity?
From what we know of Monsignor Benestad he has violent tendencies and is not above using threats while forcibly raping his victims. He is a loose cannon and by informing you we are aiming to prevent future abuses from happening.
We hope that the Diocese will choose to do the “right” thing in protecting future victims from rape from this priest. It would be a tragedy should another innocent soul be lost needlessly to the violence perpetrated by this individual.
Please contact me as soon as possible to discuss this situation.
Sincerely,
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StcharlesSeminary ago
Here is a an old letter sent to Bishop Cullen on the Allentown Diocese
I removed the name of the SNAP representative, as this person no longer volunteers for SNAP. Also Benestad left the parish in January 2007 a sick man... a sick man driving to Florida alone. Now if you were to call the Allentown Diocese, they would say he is "retired". Priests do not retire in their 60's?? I believe he is now about 73, they still don't retire that young.
In February 2007, Msgr. Benestad went on a medical leave
https://uploads.weconnect.com/mce/0e2a8d2c235e4c425c2afa27ca7a0d089e5116ef/NDoBHistory.pdf
The Bishop did nothing, he wanted more than my name!
Here we go...
Survivors’ Network of those Abused by Priests
Friday, July 1, 2005
Most Reverend Edward P. Cullen D.D. Bishop of Allentown
4029 W. Tilghman Street
P.O. Box F
Allentown, PA 18105
Dear Bishop Cullen,
The purpose of this letter is to inform you that it has come our attention that a Monsignor of your diocese who is currently serving as a pastor at Notre Dame in Bethlehem has a history of abuse.
We have recently received telephone calls from two survivors of a Monsignor Thomas Benestad. Neither survivor knew one another, hence lending credibility to their stories, which were very similar. The second survivor knows of a third survivor of Monsignor Benestad. They were all raped as adults – these are not cases of childhood clergy sexual abuse but rather cases involving a violent rapist predator priest.
While I am not at liberty to divulge details of their abuse, their names, or any other personal information without their consent (as you can imagine they are terrified of this man and fear retribution from him if they come forward), I would very much like to talk with you about what the diocese plans to do to address this situation.
SNAP would like to know if the diocese was aware/is aware that this man has had allegations of abuse in the past (it is my understanding that allegations were made to the Philadelphia Archdiocese while he served there), and if so why weren’t law enforcement and parishioners informed of this activity?
From what we know of Monsignor Benestad he has violent tendencies and is not above using threats while forcibly raping his victims. He is a loose cannon and by informing you we are aiming to prevent future abuses from happening.
We hope that the Diocese will choose to do the “right” thing in protecting future victims from rape from this priest. It would be a tragedy should another innocent soul be lost needlessly to the violence perpetrated by this individual.
Please contact me as soon as possible to discuss this situation. Sincerely,
Co-Director SNAP Lehigh Valley