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Date: 6/14/2022
SPRINGFIELD – The Diocese of Springfield has announced the conclusion of an investigation into a Longmeadow man whose camp for children was a long-standing summer tradition in the region.
According to the diocese, “The focus of the complaint, dating back to 2007, was on behavior taking place in conjunction with New Spirit, Inc.’s summer camp weeks at Camp Holy Cross. New Spirit, Inc. is an independent 501(c)(3), non-profit organization not directly part of the Diocese of Springfield.”
The diocese ruled out that musician Barry Kingston had participated in sexual activities and wrote, “there is not credible evidence to find that Barry Kingston sexually abused, molested or groomed minor children at New Spirit, Inc activities within the Diocese of Springfield.”
The statement about Kingston from the diocese reads as follows: “There was sufficient evidence that Mr. Kingston’s behavior in his position as co-founder of New Spirit, Inc. while providing ministry within the Diocese of Springfield was inappropriate and involved multiple boundary violations with multiple minor children. As a result, Mr. Kingston is permanently banned from any work, volunteer activity, performances or ministry in any capacity with minor children within any parish, school, agency or any other related or affiliated ministry in the Diocese of Springfield.”
Reminder Publishing asked the spokesperson for the diocese, Mark Dupont, to clarify what “boundary violations” meant. Dupont replied, “While I cannot speak to the specific behavior involved in this complaint, I can provide you the following overview by Dr. Monica Applewhite that explains the parameters of suspected boundary violation(s).”
The parameters include “Physical boundary violations involve desensitizing a child or young person to being touched so that when the touch becomes clearly sexual, it will represent an incremental increase of contact, rather than an abrupt change in behavior” and “emotional boundary violations involve a process of intensifying the closeness between the adult and child through increased disclosure, greater expectations for time spent together, and creating a child’s sense of dependency on the adult for approval, friendship, and affection.”
The third boundary is “Behavioral boundary violations involve an adult engaging a child in behavior that is considered “against the rules.” The rules that are broken may be established by the child’s parents, the law, the school or agency where the adult and child met each other or may violate the rules a child has set for himself or herself. The purpose of violating a child’s behavioral boundaries is to create a context for the relationship that is by its very nature “secret.”
Kingston is a musician whose biography on the website www.Allmusic.com noted, “Rocker Barry Kingston first emerged as a member of the Breakdown, a popular Springfield, MA, band which earned a brief moment in the national spotlight during the early ‘90s after taking top honors on the MTV underground video program “The Basement Tapes.” After The Breakdown dissolved, Kingston assembled backing band the Screaming Souls (guitarist Joe Boyle, bassist John O’Boyle, and drummer Jason Arnold) and resurfaced in 1999 with Shakin’ From the Trees.”
New Spirit, Inc., the nonprofit through which Kingston did his ministry, described itself on the GuideStar website as “Since beginning New Spirit in 1994, Pat Sears and Barry Kingston have traveled Southern New England together, leading youth events. During the first 20 years, they’ve run 1,900 retreats and rallies for nearly 100,000 teenagers, from 675 different parishes and schools. In addition, they have served as the keynote speakers at Diocesan youth gatherings for the Diocese of Springfield, the Archdiocese of Boston, and the Diocese of Providence.”
A phone call to Patrick J. Sears, the president of New Spirit has not been returned by press time. The information suppled by the diocese noted, “There was insufficient information at this time for the Review Board to make a determination regarding Patrick Sears and the allegation that he failed to report possible abuse that was disclosed to him. The Review Board did recommend that until such time Mr. Sears is willing to provide requested information and participate in a supplemental investigation, he remain suspended from all ministerial work or volunteer activity taking place in the Diocese of Springfield. He has been informed of this decision.”
One other person was mentioned in the report. “Regarding the allegation against New Spirit camp chaplain and board member Franciscan Father Rick Martignetti, OFM (Order of Friars Minor) that he failed to take appropriate action to report possible abuse that was disclosed to him, the Review Board recommended that there be no finding. Nonetheless, they did recommend, and Bishop Byrne has accepted, that prior to being granted faculties to minister in the Diocese of Springfield, Father Martignetti must a. complete a Massachusetts specific mandated reporter training program; b. Be required to review and sign the Code of Conduct for the Diocese of Springfield; and c. lastly, Father Martignetti must meet, face-to-face, with either Bishop Byrne or his designee to discuss child protection expectations when engaging in any potential future ministry in the Diocese of Springfield.”
Bishop William Byrne stated, “Although I do not hesitate in accepting and implementing these recommendations, I do so with a heavy heart having heard from many individuals of the important and transformational impact New Spirit Inc.’s ministry had on so many over the course of the past 25 years. Sharing the Good News and their love for Jesus Christ with countless youth and young adults. But that same Good News also directs us to recognize the dignity of each person, formed in the image of Jesus Christ, and in turn the specific responsibility we have to care for our younger brothers and sisters. Anything less than this is unacceptable.”