Gordon J. MacRae
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Gordon James MacRae | |
|---|---|
| File:Father Gordon James MacRae, Catholic Priest in 1994.jpg Father Gordon MacRae in 1994. | |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | June 5, 1982 by Odore Joseph Gendron Bishop of Manchester |
| Personal details | |
| Birth name | Gordon James MacRae |
| Born | Beverly, Massachusetts |
| Nationality | American |
| Denomination | Catholic Church |
| Residence | New Hampshire State Prison for Men, Concord, New Hampshire |
| Occupation | Prisoner, Catholic priest |
| Alma mater | St. Anslem College, Goffstown, New Hampshire |
Father Gordon James MacRae (born April 9, 1953) is an American Catholic priest, journalist, civil rights advocate and creator of the popular autobiographical site "beyondthesestonewalls.com".[1]
Gordon James MacRae was born April 9, 1953 in Beverly, Massachusetts to machinist Alan MacRae and Canadian-born Sophie Kavanagh, both relapsing alcoholics who eventually divorced.[2] In 1964 he enrolled at Eastern Junior High School in Lynn, Massachusetts and then majored in Psychology at Saint Anselm College in Goffstown, New Hampshire. In September 1970 at age 17 he entered into the novitiate of the Capuchins at St. Anthony's Friary in Hudson, New Hampshire, but decided not to continue or take formal vows.[3] [4] [5] He eventually joined the Diocese of Manchester as a diocesan priest and in August 18, 1987 was allowed by the Bishop of Manchester to celebrate the Mass for Catholic patients at Spofford Hall Hospital.[6]
In November 1988, MacRae was accused of sexual misconduct[7] and after a lengthy court-case he was convicted and is jailed at the New Hampshire State Prison for Men in Concord, New Hampshire since September 23, 1994, where he helped counsel and convert convicted felon Pornchai Moontri to the Catholic religion.[8] [9] [10] His parole date is June 12, 2028. [11] MacRae defends his innocence on his personal website at BeyondTheseStoneWalls.com.[12] The Wall Street Journal has covered the story twice.[13] [14] [15]
Education and early priesthood[edit]
MacRae is the second child of four of Alan and Sophia MacRae.[16] He attended Ingalls Elementary School in 1958 and in 1964 Eastern Junior High School. [17] After bouncing around in different areas and schools with relatives due to his parent's marital and alcoholism problems, in 1976 he held a summer apostolate at St. Francis Xavier Parish in Groveton, New Hampshire, and in 1978 earned a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from St. Anslem's College in Manchester, New Hampshire. [18] After being rejected in 1978 by St. Mary's Seminary in Manchester, [19] in 1982 he received a Bachelor's degree in Sacred Theology and a Master's degree in Divinity from St. Mary's University in Baltimore, Maryland, and shortly afterward was discerning the priesthood with an emphasis on psychology and counseling work at St. Anthony's Friary in Hudson, New Hampshire, a Capuchin order. [20] He chose not to continue with the Capuchins but moved to become a Diocesan priest with the Diocese of Manchester, New Hampshire. [21] After his ordination June 5, 1982 at St. John the Evangelist Church in Hudson, New Hampshire, he served various parishes. [22] On July 10, 1982 he became Associate Pastor of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Parish in Hampton, New Hampshire. [23] On June 15, 1983 MacRae was appointed Associate Pastor of St. Bernard's Parish in Keene, New Hampshire. [24] He also worked at Sacred Heart Parish in North Stratford, New Hampshire. [25] In January of 1991 after completing his rehabilitation he accepted a job from Fr. Liam J. Hoare as Assistant to the Director at Villa Louis Martin of the Congregation of the Servants of the Paraclete in Jemez Springs, New Mexico, the same center where he had received care. [26]
Personal life[edit]
MacRae suffered from years of alcoholism during his ministry at St. Bernard's Rectory in the Diocese of Manchester, suffering from the unexpected suicide of his father age age 52 in 1982 in a letter he wrote to his bishop dated February 20, 1985, and attempting to commit suicide himself in November 1983, being then sent to Hampstead Hospital for care.[27] [28] [29] In the 1985 letter MacRae explains how he was enrolled in an AA program and sought alcohol treatment at Beech Hill Hospital in Dublin, New Hampshire. [30] Father MacRae also participated in the House of Affirmation for five days [31] (now closed) and the Strafford Guidance Center in Dover, New Hampshire. [32] [33] On June 10, 1987 he took a temporary leave of absence from the Diocese of Manchester [34] and requested sick leave in a letter dated November 1, 1988. [35] In late Fall of 1988 MacRae was sent by the Diocese of Manchester to Villa Louis Martin of the Congregation of the Servants of the Paraclete in Jemez Springs, New Mexico [36] (no longer active) to an alcohol rehabilitation center at $105.00 a day, where he was admitted as a patient from March 13, 1989 until April 25, 1990 led by Father Liam J. Hoare. [37] [38] It was there that he suffered from temporary temporal lobe epilepsy and memory loss, even admitting to trying to kill himself with his car July of 1989. [39] MacRae was paid $470-$530/month in sick leave (equivalent to $1,375 in 2023 wages) during this time and had financial troubles stemming from a wrecked car. [40] [41] Allegations were filed and he was immediately suspended from his ministry by the Bishop of Manchester on July 14, 1988 while in recovery at Jemez Springs, New Mexico. [42] As aforementioned, Father MacRae's father had committed suicide in 1982, overdosing on heart medication at age 52, [43] and according to the report signed by Rev. Francis J. Christian, Chancellor of the Diocese of Manchester dated December 5, 1982, Father MacRae "had been drinking to excess recently." [44] [45] On March 1993, after another long set of new allegations, MacRae relapsed into epilepsy, attempted another suicide and was hospitalized for one month in New Mexico and for two additional months in Connecticut, [46] leaving a suicide note for his superior that stated his innocence. [47] It was then he was permanently relieved of his priestly duties by the Diocese of Manchester. [48]
Accusations and controversy[edit]
In November 1989 MacRae pleaded guilty to a Cheshire County, New Hampshire misdemeanor without representation,[49] later citing his temporal lobe epilepsy as cause for his negligence and four-month's prior suicide attempt. [50] "In spite of it, I still own that I did proposition this adolescent" he stated in a confidential letter to Cheshire County attorney Steve Bragdon, esq. [51] According to Fr. Liam J. Hoare, his employer, MacRae had been on a powerful anti-seizure drug carbamazapine and the anti-depressant palamer at the time. [52] Villa psychologist Dr. Peter Lechner, Ph.D. stated in a report to MacRae's former psychologist and former Catholic priest of the Diocese of Boston, Dr. Henry Guertin-Ouellette, who was working at Clergy Counseling Services in the Diocese of Manchester, [53] that he thought MacRae was innocent and blamed his guilty pleading as a way to cope with past struggles of bearing responsibility for things he never did. [54] [55] "I showed incredibly bad judgment," MacRae said in a 1998 interview. [56]
Arrest[edit]
On May 3, 1993, two months after his second suicide attempt and hospitalization, MacRae was arrested on new charges at his Rio Rancho, New Mexico home on a New Hampshire warrant and incarcerated at the Sandoval County Jail for two days (until May 5, 1993) when he was released on a $10,000 signature bond paid by the Villa.[57] [58] The charges this time involved a man named Thomas Grover, who claims to have been abused by MacRae while he was a counseling client of his at Spofford Hall Hospital in New Hampshire. [59] [60] Father Gordon professed his innocence, pleading not guilty, and hired attorney Ron Koch of Albuquerque to represent him in this case. [61] At the time of his arrest, MacRae had been working in many different capacities at Villa Louis Martin under the supervision of Rev. Liam Hoare, who then wondered whether or not to keep him as an employee since local media had taken off with the story. [62]
1994 conviction[edit]
After refusing a two to three-year plea deal, on September 23, 1994 MacRae was found guilty by a Cheshire County, New Hampshire jury and sentenced by Judge Arthur Brennan to 33.5-67 years in jail. His earliest parole date is June 12, 2028.[63] [64] [65]
Links[edit]
MacRae's 66-page 1998 Sworn Affidavit[66]
References[edit]
- ↑ Donohue, Bill (21 October 2014). "THE ORDEAL OF FATHER GORDON MACRAE".
- ↑ "Autobiographical Sketch, Gordon James MacRae" (PDF). bishop-accountability.org.
- ↑ https://www.bishop-accountability.org/docs/manchester/NHAG_06726_06728.pdf
- ↑ https://www.bishop-accountability.org/docs/manchester/NHAG_06755_06756.pdf
- ↑ https://www.bishop-accountability.org/docs/manchester/NHAG_06749_06750.pdf
- ↑ https://www.bishop-accountability.org/docs/manchester/NHAG_03127.pdf
- ↑ "Gordon MacRae - New Hampshire Attorney General, Manchester Diocese".
- ↑ "Could Fr. Gordon MacRae finally go free?".
- ↑ "New Hampshire Priest Continues the Long Road to Clear His Name". 18 March 2015.
- ↑ https://www.thedivinemercy.org/articles/behold-your-son-behold-your-mother
- ↑ "Department of Corrections, New Hampshire Department of Corrections Inmate Locator".
- ↑ "The Ordeal of Father Gordon Macrae". 21 October 2014.
- ↑ Silverglate, Harvey (9 October 2022). "Opinion | Justice Delayed for Father MacRae". Wall Street Journal.
- ↑ Rabinowitz, Dorothy (10 May 2013). "Rabinowitz: The Trials of Father MacRae". Wall Street Journal.
- ↑ "Ex-priest seeking new trial". 23 February 2012.
- ↑ https://www.bishop-accountability.org/docs/manchester/NHAG_06726_06728.pdf
- ↑ https://www.bishop-accountability.org/docs/manchester/NHAG_06726_06728.pdf
- ↑ https://www.bishop-accountability.org/NH-Manchester/archives/MacRae-1.pdf#page=26
- ↑ https://www.bishop-accountability.org/docs/manchester/NHAG_06846.pdf
- ↑ https://www.bishop-accountability.org/docs/manchester/NHAG_06726_06728.pdf#page=2
- ↑ https://www.bishop-accountability.org/docs/manchester/NHAG_06726_06728.pdf
- ↑ https://www.bishop-accountability.org/docs/manchester/NHAG_03121.pdf
- ↑ https://www.bishop-accountability.org/docs/manchester/NHAG_03122.pdf
- ↑ https://www.bishop-accountability.org/docs/manchester/NHAG_03123.pdf
- ↑ https://www.bishop-accountability.org/NH-Manchester/archives/MacRae-1.pdf
- ↑ https://www.bishop-accountability.org/NH-Manchester/archives/MacRae-2.pdf
- ↑ https://www.bishop-accountability.org/NH-Manchester/archives/MacRae-1.pdf#page=22
- ↑ https://www.bishop-accountability.org/NH-Manchester/archives/MacRae-11.pdf#page=5
- ↑ https://www.bishop-accountability.org/NH-Manchester/archives/MacRae-11.pdf#page=10
- ↑ https://www.bishop-accountability.org/NH-Manchester/archives/MacRae-1.pdf#page=23
- ↑ "House of Affirmation".
- ↑ https://www.bishop-accountability.org/NH-Manchester/archives/MacRae-2.pdf#page=2
- ↑ https://www.bishop-accountability.org/docs/manchester/NHAG_03406_03471.pdf#page=37
- ↑ https://www.bishop-accountability.org/NH-Manchester/archives/MacRae-1.pdf#page=29
- ↑ https://www.bishop-accountability.org/NH-Manchester/archives/MacRae-1.pdf#page=34
- ↑ https://www.bishop-accountability.org/NH-Manchester/archives/MacRae-2.pdf#page=1
- ↑ https://www.bishop-accountability.org/docs/manchester/NHAG_03159_03165.pdf
- ↑ https://www.childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au/sites/default/files/CCI.0001.00632.0050.pdf
- ↑ https://www.bishop-accountability.org/NH-Manchester/archives/MacRae-2.pdf#page=19
- ↑ https://www.bishop-accountability.org/NH-Manchester/archives/MacRae-1.pdf#page=38
- ↑ https://www.bishop-accountability.org/NH-Manchester/archives/MacRae-1.pdf#page=40
- ↑ https://www.bishop-accountability.org/NH-Manchester/archives/MacRae-1.pdf#page=32
- ↑ https://www.bishop-accountability.org/NH-Manchester/archives/MacRae-11.pdf#page=11
- ↑ https://www.bishop-accountability.org/NH-Manchester/archives/MacRae-11.pdf#page=11
- ↑ https://www.bishop-accountability.org/NH-Manchester/archives/MacRae-11.pdf#page=5
- ↑ https://www.bishop-accountability.org/docs/manchester/NHAG_03406_03471.pdf#page=47
- ↑ https://www.bishop-accountability.org/NH-Manchester/archives/MacRae-2.pdf
- ↑ https://www.bishop-accountability.org/NH-Manchester/archives/MacRae-2.pdf
- ↑ https://www.bishop-accountability.org/NH-Manchester/archives/MacRae-18.pdf#page=5
- ↑ https://www.bishop-accountability.org/NH-Manchester/archives/MacRae-2.pdf#page=17
- ↑ https://www.bishop-accountability.org/NH-Manchester/archives/MacRae-2.pdf#page=17
- ↑ https://www.bishop-accountability.org/docs/manchester/NHAG_03159_03165.pdf#page=2
- ↑ https://www.bishop-accountability.org/NH-Manchester/archives/MacRae-11.pdf#page=11
- ↑ https://www.bishop-accountability.org/NH-Manchester/archives/GuertinOuelletteInterview-1.pdf#page=4
- ↑ https://www.bishop-accountability.org/NH-Manchester/archives/MacRae-2.pdf#page=7
- ↑ https://www.bishop-accountability.org/news3/1993_12_22_AP_PriestFacing_Gordon%20MacRae_1.htm
- ↑ https://www.bishop-accountability.org/docs/manchester/NHAG_03159_03165.pdf#page=5
- ↑ https://www.bishop-accountability.org/docs/manchester/NHAG_03406_03471.pdf#page=46
- ↑ "Could Fr. Gordon MacRae finally go free?".
- ↑ "A Priest's Story Not All Accounts of Sex Abuse in the Catholic Church Turn out to be True".
- ↑ https://www.bishop-accountability.org/news3/1993_12_22_AP_PriestFacing_Gordon%20MacRae_1.htm
- ↑ https://www.bishop-accountability.org/docs/manchester/NHAG_03159_03165.pdf#page=6
- ↑ "Could Fr. Gordon MacRae finally go free?".
- ↑ "A Priest's Story Not All Accounts of Sex Abuse in the Catholic Church Turn out to be True".
- ↑ "Department of Corrections, New Hampshire Department of Corrections Inmate Locator".
- ↑ https://www.bishop-accountability.org/docs/manchester/NHAG_03406_03471.pdf
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