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Former Widener dean had abuse settlement in the past

January 04, 2013 | By Susan Snyder and John P. Martin, Inquirer Staff Writers (Page 3 of 3)

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Widener is not a religious institution, and Ledoux's job was not a Franciscan appointment. He did not wear a friar's robe or priest's collar on the job. He later became director of Widener's center for education and associate dean of the School of Human Service Professions. He most recently was acting dean of the relatively new School of Education, Innovation and Continuing Studies. Since leaving Widener, Ledoux has been confined to a Franciscan monastery in Catskill, N.Y., and will have no access to minors, Geoly said. Were he to leave, he could be dismissed from the order, Geoly said.
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"While there, if people from the public come on the property, he is not to have anything to do with them," Geoly said. "He literally cannot function as a priest in public." In an e-mail to The Inquirer, Ledoux proclaimed his innocence. "Although I would love to speak with you about my innocence in regard to the initial accusation, my clear child abuse and criminal records required for PA educators, and my vigilance in the safety and protection of children, my legal counsel has advised me against it," Ledoux wrote. Rocco P. Imperatrice III, the lawyer who reviewed the matter for Widener over the summer, emphasized that Ledoux's responsibilities in connection with the charter were only administrative. "He was never allowed unsupervised contact with any minor student," Imperatrice said. "His contact at the charter with any students would have been almost none." Imperatrice said he interviewed all administrators and supervisors who had contact with Ledoux. He also talked with Derry police and the New Hampshire Attorney General's Office. The university did not make charter school parents aware of the allegation because there had been no evidence of a complaint or problem, he said. "If there had been an allegation or a suspicion or a complaint, that would have most certainly been done," Imperatrice said. Widener officials declined to comment on what action they would have taken if Ledoux had not resigned. Imperatrice said the situation in general is difficult. "Obviously for all colleges and universities, any institution of higher education, given today's social and political climate, there has to be a zero tolerance for individuals who have allegedly committed these types of offenses," he said. Ledoux, Imperatrice said, should have disclosed the allegation to Widener during the hiring process. Ledoux apparently moved to the area in 2000 when he took a job at Neumann University in Aston. He served as an associate professor and director of the Neumann Institute for Franciscan Studies from

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Former Widener dean had abuse settlement in the past - Page 3 - Philly.com

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August 2000 to May 2002, said Steve Bell, Neumann's spokesman. Neumann gave very positive references for Ledoux, according to Widener officials. Bell, the Neumann spokesman, said Neumann had not been aware of the allegation against Ledoux. The case illustrates that relying on criminal background checks when looking at the record of a priest or former priest may not be enough. "Ninety percent, maybe even a higher percentage, of people who are perpetrators in the cases I'm involved in don't have a criminal record," Durso said.

Contact Susan Snyder at 215-854-4693 or ssnyder@phillynews.com, or follow on Twitter @ssnyderinq.

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http://articles.philly.com/2013-01-04/news/36150970_1_widener-officials-fra... 1/5/2013