Two Priests in Hawaii Accused of Sexual Abuse

Joseph Michael Henry

Hawaii News Now reported that since the state passed a law giving abuse victims a chance to sue despite the statute of limitations, Mark Pinkosh, 48 is doing just that. This law came into effect in June and gives a two year window.

Pinkosh was raped when he was 8 or 9 years old by Father Henry who was the priest at St. Anthony Church in Kailua. He was told to keep it to himself and initially didn't tell his family but did go to others in the church. He told another priest and two nuns. Nothing happened.

Joseph Ferrario

Another priest named Father Joseph Ferrario came to the church. Who counseled him that it was a secret, he shouldn't tell anybody. He then proceeded to rape him as well.

At age 20, Pinkosh told his family, friends and co-workers. But couldn't prosecute his rapist because too much time had passed.

"Like me you can come home. You folks can come home. You can feel safe again and you can finally have some justice for what happened to you," said Pinkosh. "I think it's very important for there to be a face and a name associated with what's going on so other people will come forward. I'm doing this for other people out there right now."

 

"The true evil lies in the institutions that cover up for these men because they made the conscious decision to choose the safety of a perpetrator over the safety of a child," said Joelle Casteix, Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP), who was abused as a child at her Catholic School in Southern California.

 

Both priests have been accused of abuse before. Claims in the past were dismissed because of the statute of limitations.

 

Both priests are now deceased.

 

"Both Father Henry and Bishop Ferrario are deceased but the legacy of horror they left in the lives and souls of many kids is still very raw," said Jeff Anderson, Pinkosh's Attorney, who says he has represented 3,000 sexual abuse victims since 1983.

 

In the current case the Catholic Church has not been served and declined comment.

 

"He was very good to the children and I honestly would never, I wouldn't believe it nothing would make me believe that. He was just a wonderful person." Jewel Convoy, a long time St. Anthony Church member defending Father Henry.

 

"Bring it on I will match you, I will match them toe to toe, fact to fact. Let's do it. I've waited a long time," said Pinkosh. "I've waited 35 years for my opportunity to be listened to and that's a long time to wait. That's a lot of stuff to carry for a long time and I'm from Kailua I can handle it."

Mark Pinkosh, 8

 

Anderson says a timeline has not been set for when the case will go to court.