A Dominican brother molested an altar boy at St. Vincent Ferrer parish in River Forest, says a man, now 40, in a suit filed Friday against him, the Dominicans, and the parish, Sun-Times reported Saturday — “Friar molested me, man says: Sues religious order and parish.”
The boy was in fourth or fifth grade, the suit says, when Brother Gilbert Hensley sexually abused him on at least four occasions while stationed at the parish, incidents “repressed” by the boy until July 2004.
He wasn’t the only boy molested by Brother Hensley, says the suit, which says it was “widely known” in the parish and the Dominicans that Hensley
suffered a broken jaw after trying to molest a 17-year-old who then attacked him.
A priest identified as Hensley’s supervisor also was molesting boys, according to the lawsuit.
Hensley has denied the allegations.
Blithe Spirit 
I graduated from St. Vincent Ferrer in 1983. I loved and adored Brother Gilbert. This is shocking and disgusting. My heart goes out to Joe (Bitterman) and any of the other men (boys) who were molested. I was NOT surprised to hear that Father Bryce was accused either. Now that I am an adult I recognize that the
“creepy” feelings I had towards him when I was a child was because he indeed was a creep. I wish there was something I could do to help the victims or prevent this abuse from happening to anyone. I did not know what sexual abuse was let alone sex when I was a child so how could anyone of us (kids) have recognized the signs? This is SO wrong on so many levels. I had always dreamed of sending my children to St. Vincent’s some day. Not anymore.
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Anyone with information about St. Vincent’s circa 1978-83, or Brother Hensley or Father Bryce is welcome to call me at Wednesday Journal, 708-613-3318. Email is bdwyer@wjinc.com
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Fr.Bryce left St.Vincent’s years before 1983. I know this is an emotionally charged issue but let’s try to keep the fact straight for everyone’s sake.
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He left in 1979, per archdiocesan and parish histories:
here: http://www.svfparish.org/koenighistory.htm and
here: http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0geu5Neji9H7RoBD0NXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTE4OWUzMm1oBHNlYwNzcgRwb3MDMgRjb2xvA2FjMgR2dGlkA0Y4MjJfODcEbANXUzE-/SIG=11s70etj6/EXP=1194385374/**http%3a//www.svfparish.org/pastorslist.htm
So four years before the other commenter’s graduation from St. Vincent’s.
— JB
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I attended St. Vincent Ferrer School from late 1971 and graduated in 1979. I also was an altar boy and never at any time, felt threatened or uncomfortable with Brother Gilbert. My brother, who graduated from the school in 1982 will also state the same. We both were alone with Brother Gilbert , seperately and together and nothing inappropriate ever occured. Not saying it isn’t possible but until facts come out, I find it hard to believe. Before we start to say how “disgusting” it is or being accusatory, lets find out what really happened. Hopefully, this is not a false accusation against Brother Gilbert or any clergy which seems to be a popular thing to do lately.
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I graduated from St. Vincent’s in 1969. I worked in the parish rectory’s office in high school and college. I never saw anything like that. I never heard anyone complain or even intimate that he, or Fr. Bryce, did anything like that. I find this difficult to believe.
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