The iobserve reporter was referred to the office of District Attorney William Bennett in Springfield, which, in turn, referred iobserve to the Massachusetts State Police. When asked to identify the specific local police department conducting the present investigation, Blaine said that she was not familiar with the towns in western Massachusetts.įollowing up on sources that Agawam police were investigating abuse claims, iobserve contacted the detective bureau at the Agawam Police Department. Noting that Father Cote still has family in the Springfield Diocese, Blaine said, "There is an active police investigation going on (in the Springfield area)" regarding abuse that has occurred in the last one to two years. According to Blaine's statement, SNAP this week learned of recent allegations of abuse involving two young boys in the Springfield area. Holding a photo of herself as a child, she noted that she started SNAP in 1988 as a self-help group for clergy abuse victims.īlaine then spoke at length about Father Cote, who was suspended from active priestly ministry in 2003 due to allegations of abusing minors in the Providence, R.I., Diocese. Speaking to reporters from local newspapers, television and radio stations, SNAP President Barbara Blaine began by identifying herself as a clergy sex abuse victim, having been abused by a priest in Toledo, Ohio, when she was a youngster. Although not currently allowed to present himself as a priest, Father Cote had a history of reported inappropriate behavior with young boys both before and after his time in the local diocese. The group sought to bring attention to Dominican Father Aaron Joseph Cote, a native of the Springfield Diocese, who ministered as a parochial vicar in the Springfield Diocese, from 1991-1995. 7 in front of the pastoral offices of the Springfield Diocese on Elliot Street, here. SPRINGFIELD – Members of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) organized a late morning press conference Nov. SNAP Members Hold Conference in Front of Pastoral Offices Seek Publicity about Dominican Priest Who Served in Diocese Not to mention the striking landscapes and those breathtaking winter skies…Ī new year commences, and with it, new adventures on shore and later, on the water.SNAP Members Hold Conference in Front of Pastoral Offices Seek Publicity about Dominican Priest Who Served in Diocese, by Rebecca Drake, iobserve, One section of the river is literally filled with belugas!Īlso worth noting is the presence of several groups of harp seals, including one group numbering over 110 individuals in Les Escoumins on January 7.Īs far as birds are concerned, there are a few nice flocks of purple sandpipers (see photo taken at Cap de Bon-Désir), a late common loon and of course numerous sea ducks (Barrow’s and common goldeneye, red-breasted mergansers, black ducks, long-tailed ducks, etc.). I observe multiple groups of several dozen belugas as well as several lone individuals. This is the first time I’ve ever seen such a gathering at this time of year. Much to my surprise, I observe between 300 and 400 belugas offshore (and this is a conservative figure!). On January 7, I’m near the ferry port in Les Escoumins. The other highlight of the week concerns belugas. Even if this individual is far away, I take a few photos to confirm the ID. It’s a fin whale! Ten minutes later, it’s back again. The whale takes five breaths and then arches its back as it dives. The year’s off to a great start! January 2: I’ve no sooner arrived at Cap de Bon-Desir, and, standing on the boulders, I spot a large spout offshore.
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