Catholic Cover-up at the Oklahoma City Archdiocese?

Seek Justice for Victims of Child Sex Abuse

The Facts

- On August 29th, 2018, Oklahoma City Archbishop Paul S. Coakley and Chancellor Michael Scaperlanda announced to the Archdiocesan Review Board that all past allegations of sexual abuse by priests would be reviewed internally by Scaperlanda and turned over to Ron Shinn and his associates at the McAfee & Taft law firm for an "independent review of the files and investigate further, if necessary..."

- The Archbishop also said, "An internal and independent review of previous allegations is a good place to start. No matter how painful this process may become, I am committed to reviewing and sharing the specifics of these cases."

- The news release stated that, "McAfee and Taft will issue a report with the facts of each case and provide an analysis of how the archdiocese handled the matters over the years; - Investigators also will provide recommendations."

- The news release concluded with the news that, "The initial report is expected to be completed in 10-12 weeks."

But...These Are Facts Too

There are serious questions about this so-called "independent review," and "investigation," by McAfee & Taft. So serious, as to call into question the entire legitimacy of the announcement on August 29th of 2018.

- Michael Scaperlanda was named Chancellor (the Archbishop's top adviser on legal matters) on Friday, January 5, 2018. He technically started work on February 5th.

- Just 5 days prior to the announcement of Michael Scaperlanda as Chancellor, attorney Christopher M. Scaperlanda, the son of the Chancellor, is elevated to the position of shareholder (part owner, partner) of the law firm -- McAfee & Taft.

- Little more than six months after Michael Scaperlanda became Chancellor of the Archdiocese, the Archbishop and Chancellor Scaperlanda made the announcement that McAfee & Taft was chosen to conduct an "independent" review and/or further investigation of priests credibly accused of sexually abusing children.

- How could Chancellor Michael Scaperlanda stand alongside Archbishop Paul Coakley on August 29th, 2018 and the two of them announce a plan that selected the law firm, McAfee & Taft, where Chancellor Scaperlanda's own son is an attorney and part-owner to provide anything "independent?".
Does this show a seriousness about investigating priests who may have abused and raped children?

 - On what planet does Chancellor Scaperlanda live on that would make him think it was anywhere close to ethical to not disclose this connection?

- At a time when Catholic officials are supposed to be doing anything and everything to avoid even the appearances of impropriety, here we have the Chancellor in the Oklahoma City archdiocese, along with the Archbishop, seeming to not understand the obvious conflict of interest that rises to the level of entitled arrogance. What is going on? Does a man of Michael Scaperlanda's resume really just makes a dumb mistake? Or did he know exactly what was happening when he and Archbishop Coakley chose the law firm where Christopher Scaperlanda is an attorney and part-owner (called a shareholder at M&T).

- Why must abuse survivor groups continue to have to put up with Archdiocesen officials, from all over the world, who offer rose petal language while showing in deed, and in plain sight, that they take these serious matters as nothing more than nuisances and threats to the church. That includes Pope Francis, who says all the right things and offers up one dissappointment after another. So much of the shell games, cozy deals, financial settlements, are more akin to organized crime than anything holy.

 So...

- Where is the report from the "independent" investigation? 10-12 weeks has long passed and would have put the report back to the Archdiocese in December of 2018. Three months overdue, no update, they have since announced dates for release. They have come and passed. And at this point, does it even matter?

- After the summary above, which many could see incompetence at best, corruption at worst, is there any question that any report, of any kind, from McAfee & Taft is unacceptable on appearances and common sense alone?

- How large of a contract was given to McAfee & Taft to "independently" review and investigate the files of credible sexual abuse by priests serving within the OKC archdiocese? Christopher Scaperlanda, as part-owner, will be profiting from this.

- Why wasn't the fact that Chancellor Scaperlanda was a party to giving the contract for review and investigation to a law firm where his son is a practicing attorney, and was elected as a shareholder only months earlier, disclosed?

- When was Chancellor Scaperlanda's first communications with any representative, besides his son, at McAfee & Taft regarding possible work for the Archdiocese?

- What did Archbishop Paul Coakley know about the very personal relationship his top legal adviser had with M&T? Are we to believe that this information was withheld not only from the public, but from the Archbishop himself? Doubtful. In another twist to this, the Archdiocese has not only a past relationship with this firm, but a past relationship with Christopher Scaperlanda himself, who represented Coakley and the Archdiocese years ago in the "Black Mass" controversy.

- If Archbishop Coakley knew of what appears to be a compromised "investigation," hasn't he lost the trust of absused children seeking justice, and the public at-large? Can the Archbishop continue to perform his duties with any credibility going forward? Are we to just expect that these kind of practices are to be accepted from archdiocese throughout the country? When do these types of questionable games from the Catholic heirarchy stop?

- Finally, if only the files of priests found to have credible accusations of sexual abuse against them were handed over to McAfee & Taft, why deal with McAfee & Taft at all? If there are credible accusations of child sexual abuse or child rape, shouldn't that be handed over to the Sex Crimes Division of the Oklahoma City Police Department, or the office of the District Attorney? (Or other agencies depending on jurisdiction?) That's what would be expected of anybody else in business, schools, anyone else. But, for some reason, the Catholic church must send these cases to "independent" law firms for "review?" All of the above is a big reason why this should no longer be tolerated and acceptable in 2019. In attempts to keep everything inside the Catholic church, hundreds of thousands of children have been abused, raped, and never saw justice - while the church shuffled priests around and put its interests above all else. It still goes on today, obviously. It is my hope that these continuous promises of real change actually happen.

The people wait. God cries.