Since May of 2019, the Lepanto Institute has been spotlighting the Diocese of Arlington’s handling of possible false allegations leveled against one of its priests. In November of 2018, Fr. Ronald Escalante, pastor of St. Francis De Sales Catholic Church in Purcellville, VA, was removed from his parish due to an alleged “boundary violation.” This past May, the Lepanto Institute published an article with interviews of parishioners who made multiple attempts to give important information to the diocese. Central to their concerns were alleged efforts to recruit parishioners into making false allegations against Fr. Escalante by the parish’s Director of Religious Education (DRE), James Blankenship.
In June of 2019, the Lepanto Institute revealed that a girl (Sophia 1) made multiple, unsuccessful attempts to tell the diocese that the girl accusing Fr. Escalante (Molly) admitted to a group of girls that she lied about the accusation. In a letter sent to the diocese on April 8, Sophia 1 made the following claims regarding Molly. Key points contained in the letter are as follows:
- In January, Sophia 1 and a group of others discovered Molly crying in the girl’s locker room.
- Molly swore the girls (four in total) to secrecy and said that her mother was forcing her to make a false allegation against her pastor.
- Molly said that the associate pastor, Fr. Mullaney, had convinced Molly’s mother that “for the better good of the parish,” Molly needed to accuse Fr. Escalante of improper conduct.
- Molly told the girls that she didn’t want to do that since nothing improper had occurred.
- Being forced by her mother to make this false allegation was causing her “immense stress.”
- Molly said that she feared her mother and was afraid of what would happen to her family if this information got out.
Despite claiming to have never received the letter from Sophia 1, or the calls from her parents, after publication of our article, the Arlington Diocese finally sought out and obtained an interview with Sophia 1 to discuss what she witnessed. Billy Atwell, Chief Communications Officer for the Diocese of Arlington confirmed that the interview took place but indicated that no comment beyond confirmation of the meeting could be offered “in order to preserve the integrity of the investigation and protect the reputations of all of the parties involved.”
Since the interview, a second witness (Sophia 2) has come forward to testify that Molly admitted to lying about her accusation against Fr. Escalante. Fearing repercussions if her identity was discovered, Sophia 2 gave her testimony to two parishioners as an affidavit. The authenticity of the testimony was sworn and notarized on August 10.
In Sophia 2’s affidavit, she confirms what Sophia 1 said in her testimony and indicates that the April 17 article about Sophia 1’s testimony from the Blue Ridge Leader “is an accurate depiction of what occurred.” Sophia 2’s testimony, however, adds further details not explicitly stated in previous reports.
Sophia 1’s testimony indicated that Fr. Mark Mullaney, associate pastor of St. Francis de Sales parish, had convinced Molly’s mother to encourage her child to accuse Fr. Escalante of improper behavior, “for the better good of the parish.” Concomitant with this charge, parishioners were complaining about recruiting efforts by the parish DRE, who was attempting to entice them into making additional claims against Fr. Escalante. And now, Sophia 2’s testimony indicates that the recruiting attempts were being orchestrated by Fr. Mullaney.
According to Sophia 2, Molly said that her mother was forcing her to make false allegations against Fr. Escalante due to horrible stories he told about women, teens, and children he claimed were being violated by Fr. Escalante. Sophia 2 indicated that these allegations referred to the very same parishioners who refused to be recruited by James Blankenship.
Sophia 2 also revealed that Molly explained that Fr. Mullaney coached her on what to tell Church officials and the police, telling her that she had to say, “Father Escalante touched her on her tits.” The affidavit further states that Fr. Mullaney mentioned several times that “he and James were working [to] get several families on board.”
All of this corresponds with the initial reports from parishioners regarding Blankenship’s recruiting efforts.
In addition to this affidavit, the Lepanto Institute has received text message correspondence between Fr. Mullaney and one of the parishioners supporting the claim that he was attempting to recruit other families. The messages were dated December 02, 2018 and December 08, 2018, only a couple of weeks after Fr. Escalante had been removed. In the texts, Fr. Mullaney asked the parishioner:
“Pardon the interruption. Has any one from St. Francis talked to you in the last 2 weeks or so? I understand that [redacted] was anointed a little while back. Did anything seem strange about that to you or her?”
The parishioner responded:
“Hi Father, I returned from [redacted] early. Upon talking to [redacted], I confirmed that she was not anointed a little while back, and we concluded that there has been nothing strange at all in our interactions with father Escalante. We remain prayerful and protective of our parish priests. Please let us know if there is anything else we can do for you.”
Fr. Mullaney’s only reply was, “Ok. Great, thanks for checking! Thank you for the prayers for all!”
The Lepanto Institute asked the diocese a series of questions pertaining to Sophia 2’s affidavit. Billy Atwell responded by saying, “The Diocese will do all that we can to obtain direct testimony from the second witness.” Declining to comment on specific questions, Atwell added, “I can say, however, that to date, neither the accusation of ‘coaching’ nor the specific allegation of ‘touch[ing]’ referenced in the affidavit have ever been made to the Diocese by any witness.”
We reached out to Sophia 1 to ask about her interview with the diocesan investigator. When asked about the investigator’s questions pertaining to the alleged incident itself, Sophia 1 said:
“The investigator asked me where Father touched [Molly]. I told him that [Molly] stated to me that her mother told her to lift her shirt. Father Escalante said, ‘no no no you do not need to lift your shirt.’ Father Escalante had a Bible in one Hand and oil in the other. [Molly] told me Father Escalante put a finger of oil on the lower part of her left rib with just a tiny piece of flesh showing. He never touched any other part of her body.
The investigator didn’t ask any follow-up questions but what I would’ve told him was that [Molly] mentioned it was Father Mullaney who told her to say she was touched on her left chest. [Molly] was very uncomfortable stating that but was told that she needed to say that for the better good of St. Francis.”
Pressed further, Sophia 1 indicated that the interview felt more like a formality than an inquiry:
“I found the interview with Mrs. Curry from the Blue Ridge Leader to have had significantly more depth to it. I mean she asked me a lot more questions than the Dioceses of Arlington. I got the impression that they were just trying to really check the box that they met with me. I did not get the impression that they really cared. I think they have already made up their minds because they did not record my statement. It took months for them to even return my parents’ call.”
In the response from the diocese, Atwell expressed concern that articles such as ours might dissuade alleged victims or witnesses from coming forward. He said, “It is also our hope that attempts to discredit alleged victims and witnesses will not cause other victims or witnesses to be apprehensive about bringing forward key information.”
But Sophia 1 mentioned that an air of intimidation already exists. She said that prior to submitting her anonymous affidavit, Sophia 2’s parents attempted to speak with Msgr. Cregan, another priest at St. Francis de Sales.
“He wanted no part of listening to their story,” said Sophia 1. She added that Msgr. Cregan was “getting flaming mad and telling him he doesn’t believe anything except what the family has said.” Sophia 1 indicated that this made Sophia 2 “feel very uncomfortable,” and could have prevented her from coming forward at all.
The testimony from Sophia 2 brings crucial evidence to Fr. Escalante’s defense. Not only does it verify the testimony of Sophia 1, lending further credence to the possibility that Molly was not being truthful in her charge against Fr. Escalante, but it ties in the recruiting efforts ascribed to James Blankenship with the coaching of Fr. Mullaney.
On the question of motive, Sophia 2 repeated two things Molly told her which may provide some answers. In the affidavit Sophia 2 said that “[Molly] stated that her mother was doing this for Fr. Mullaney to become pastor,” and “[Molly] stated she was also uncomfortable with her mother’s relationship with Fr. Mullaney. She said her mother spends a lot of time with Fr. Mullaney at the rectory.”
The Lepanto Institute will continue to monitor the situation and provide news as it becomes available.
the text messages reveal the accusers name that looks like it should have been redacted
It wasn’t the name of the alleged victim/accuser, but we’ve redacted it anyway. Thanks.
Has it ever occurred to you that these “witnesses” are lying?! In addition, have you forgotten many others have come forward, not from St Francis?! I can assure you the others were not coerced by anyone, least of all a good priest. The text messages only show a priest concerned for his parishioners. He clearly was not fishing or trying to coerce an accusation!
Maybe your connections to this parish should be made public so people would know you are hardly a journalist looking at this fairly.
I will agree with one point you have made in the past: this is taking far too longs for us definitely taking it’s toll on everyone involved!
Yes!!! This is not “journalism”, it is absolutely ridiculous. If the ACCUSER does not officially recant her story then her story stands. Maybe she felt pressured by these girls in the locker room to say that she made it up, no one knows but the child who came forward. I cannot imagine the stress she must feel, first to make an accusation against a priest in her parish and then to hear all the negativity about herself, she likely felt cornered into recanting so that she would stop being victim blamed. Secondly, why has the story changed – first the DRE was the problem, now Father Mullaney, they just looking for anyone to blame – who’s next? The Diocese needs to put out facts about the number of accusers who have come forward and an estimated timeline of completion. But people need to stop believing these articles are reporting anything with journalistic integrity.
How are you so sure that the articles are not the real truth?
It’s actually called investigative journalism, and it’s not that the story has changed – it’s that more evidence has come to light. You get that, right? Half the people in our parish could conduct a better and more efficient investigation than the incompetent diocese. I can’t imagine the stress the poor girl feels either – being told to lie and clearly scared of her parents. Horrible.
Pure gossip? Lies? Do you have proof they are lying? Do you think that Father Escalante should be treated like a sexual abuser for a non-abuse allegation. That happened. That’s a fact. A non-abuse allegation caused father to be yanked from his parish and reported to the police department (which obviously did nothing with it as it shouldn’t have landed on their desk in the first place) and have his name permanently destroyed. That is a grave injustice. The “other numerous victims” of what? Any details? They didn’t like the way he dressed? He gave one of them a hug? The diocese hasn’t given any details on what they complained about. Fact. It wasn’t abuse. Fact. It wasn’t criminal. Maybe you know? Please do tell. And the blame hasn’t shifted… it’s shared. Victim shaming? Have a little perspective. There wasn’t even an allegation of abuse. People can judge whether an action is deserving of the punishment and it’s not victim shaming. People can tell their own personal experiences and it’s not vicim shaming.
Right on
Got news for you, JAMES IS NOT ON TRIAL! If the Lepanto reporting is accurate, where are the interviews with those of us who find this witch hunt appalling? Where is the information from the diocese? Why hasn’t local law enforcement gotten involved?! Why hasn’t the diocese opened an investigation? And most importantly, why has Fr Escalante not been returned to ministry? So far all the lepanto group has IS gossip!
I volunteer for the church, have for years, and it was refreshing to actually have a leader as our DRE and one who stood up for us volunteers! I also witnessed the awful behavior of a group of parents as we started our Religious Education classes as they rushed the DRE offfice yelling and saying awful things in earshot of children there to learn about their faith. They scared me! Had James been there I feared it would have turned violent against him. Yet these are the folks you hold up as pillars of our parish.
You are right the diocese did not give any details about the other allegations. That’s because they are protecting all involved.
Have they taken way too long with this? Absolutely!!!! It’s only making things significantly worse!
However, he knows the other allegations and he knows what he’s done.
If you remember the 1st letter from the diocese, it said a minor and adults: plural. This one allegation involving a minor is not the only reason he was removed. There is always more to the story.
How many “others” have come forward? And how do you even know?
I hope the truth will be revealed soon
Come on, everyone! Stop jumping to conclusions! Let Lepanto report (which will include some innuendos) then wait and see what the results of the investigation are. The publication of this story will light a fire under someone’s butt to complete it and issue a full report. This priest is owed a comprehensive investigation and that shouldn’t take months. Let the truth will out, and thank Lepanto for taking on the role of reporting.
Stop the character assasination of James! He did his job. He is not on trial nor was he charged with ANYTHING! Do you really think that if there was an ounce of truth to any of this unchristian, malignant gossip, that he would not have been investigated by both law enforcement and the diocese? ! You should all be ashamed of yourselves! If I were him I would sue for slander and libel. Your behavior is unchristian and unjust. You each know who you are and what part youve played in this witch hunt. Is shunning a Catholic virtue? How about false witness, gossip, mob behavior? I’ve never been so disappointed in my Catholic community than I have been through this mess. Good grief, even if any of this had a basis in fact, God calls us to forgive our neighbor, not put a knife in his back and take away his livelihood and ability to raise his family!
I’ve been reading these tomes about this priest since I read the first article by Ms Curry in the BlueRidge Leader. An absolute gossip article if there ever was one. Lots of innuendos, not a shred of proof. It’s gotten much worse thru the times. This one may not be the worst of the bunch, but pretty close. Anonymous sources making accusations are nothing more than gab.
There were many victims of the priest, many more than what were mentioned. Indeed, this person victimized the entire St. Francis De Sales church with his deeds. Of course, there were the indicated victims: The obvious ones such as the DRE, or the young girl who has been maligned by members of this church in their zeal to make a guilty party innocent, or the young girl’s mother who apparently is the worse mother ever to grace the planet earth, or even the other priest in the same church who may be even worse than the above horrible mother. Such slander by church members! Its damned shameful that supposed practicing Catholics would stoop to this kind of slop and call it a defense for their priest. If this is how this priest was teaching, well, he and those members will no doubt be meeting again on Judgement Day and going to a very hot place!
According to the videos I saw, a boundary violation was a fairly small thing to the defenders of the priest. Thankfully, the Catholic Church took a stronger view against that then the congregation did.
During the videos, I wondered how much of a violation these ‘religious’ people would allow. I wondered what would happen if the priest decided he liked to violate his boundaries on younger ladies? When folks start lowering their morals, lots of things get by that didn’t use to.
A lot of people have been slandered in these videos and various writings by the Lepanto Institute and the BlueRidge Leader. One thing should be remembered though: No matter how many people are slighted, defamed or disparaged, that Still does not make the priest any less guilty. I’ve never noticed a shred of evidence of his innocence put up by the priest’s defenders. In my mind, that makes him, not-innocent.
Wtith the false acusations which seem to be in abundance why would anyone of these “adults’ who are supposed to have been molested not come forward? State their name and say what happened? How horrible to not come forward, how cowardly to not come forward, how uncaring of others to not come forward? Please why wouldn’t these “victims” immediately warn others about this accused Priests past? When you know about a SIN such as this and do not warn others especially CHILDREN, YOU are culpable for all of those sins as soon as you are aware and do not try to stop it. This is not an opinion but a fact in the eyes of God. We are in a time where you will chose to stand for right or to collude with wrong.
I guess you are simply another dishonest media. You ask for replies and when one is written you don’t post it. Was it too close to the truth for you? It was written and sent to in 9-14 prior to what ‘eccela’ wrote at 8:24.
We don’t work on the weekend and yesterday we were dealing with a medical emergency. I’m sorry your comment was not posted sooner, but given the circumstances, the delay was unavoidable.