At the time of this writing, we don’t know the answer to the question “Why?” for what happened at Conception Abbey. One cannot help but wonder if Mr. Jeffress was once an abused altar boy, exacting his revenge on the innocent clergy.

Altar Boy’s Testimony

It is high time the rest of us spoke up. I am sorry to say that this comes too late for the Brothers of Conception Abbey. Maybe if enough of us speak up, people will realize the sins of a few priests in the headlines lately are by far the exception, rather than the norm.

From the time I was approximately 10 years of age to the time I was a young adult, I served as an altar boy, and later as a commentator and lector at St. Francis Xavier Parish. I served mass for dozens of different priests, brothers, and monsignors.

I was never, ever approached by any of these priests, brothers or monsignors in a sexual manner in anyway. Ever!

Every clergy member I ever served mass for I held in high regard as deeply devoted, religious Catholic men dedicated to their calling into the priesthood.

I recognize the facts that have come to light of the pedophilia occurrences and subsequent cover-ups as being criminal in nature. It is my belief the perpetrators of these crimes should be prosecuted immediately and aggressively from the first incident on. Those guilty should be jailed just as any other common criminal.

Priests and other clergy guilty of these crimes have, in fact, created more victims than the children they have abused and their families.

They have themselves, brought disgrace and shame to the church they have professed to so dearly love. Now the innocent clergy, all of the sincerely devoted, dedicated and deeply religious Catholic men serving the church must now endure the doubt, the raised eyebrows, and now even the bullets. This is such a shame.

At the time of this writing, we don’t know the answer to the question “Why?” for what happened at Conception Abbey. One cannot help but wonder if Mr. Jeffress was once an abused altar boy, exacting his revenge on the innocent clergy.

I would like to call on every altar boy who was not abused to now speak out. I wish I had done so sooner.

Altar boy’s testimony
Mark F. Feiden
St. Joseph
June 15, 2002