O'Dea High School principal resigns amid sex abuse allegations
SEATTLE -- A local high school principal resigned Wednesday afternoon amid allegations of sexual abuse.
Officials from the Archdiocese of Seattle announced that Brother Karl Walczak had resigned his post as principal of O'Dea High School after accusations of sexual abuse came to light.
The allegations date back to the 1970s, when Walczak was a teacher at Brother Rice High School in Chicago.
Michael Reck is an attorney for the alleged victim and said Walczak sexually abused his client multiple times on Brother Rice school grounds.
Reck said his client is "extraordinarily concerned" that Walczak has abused other children.
"He's a very strong, very courageous person who is doing his very, very best to continue his life with this haunting him," Reck said of his client, who was a freshman when the alleged abuse occurred.
The victim, who wants to remain anonymous, came forward with the accusations three months ago.
"I really believe that the process of being able to seek some transparency and some justice and know that there are other kids who will hopefully be spared from what he went through helps him heal," Reck said.
Members of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, are outraged that parents weren't notified of the allegations sooner.
"It's our guess that Brother Walczak has possibly had a number of student victims in the United States and maybe here in Seattle," said SNAP's John Shuster.
In statement released Wednesday afternoon, the Archdiocese of Seattle said Walczak denies the allegations but will resign nonetheless.
According to a school website, Walczak was appointed principal in 2011 after spending time in schools in Illinois, California and Hawaii.
Vice principal Jim Walker will take over as acting principal at O'Dea.
SNAP will hold a rally Thursday at 11 a.m. at O'Dea.
Officials from the Archdiocese of Seattle announced that Brother Karl Walczak had resigned his post as principal of O'Dea High School after accusations of sexual abuse came to light.
The allegations date back to the 1970s, when Walczak was a teacher at Brother Rice High School in Chicago.
Michael Reck is an attorney for the alleged victim and said Walczak sexually abused his client multiple times on Brother Rice school grounds.
Reck said his client is "extraordinarily concerned" that Walczak has abused other children.
"He's a very strong, very courageous person who is doing his very, very best to continue his life with this haunting him," Reck said of his client, who was a freshman when the alleged abuse occurred.
The victim, who wants to remain anonymous, came forward with the accusations three months ago.
"I really believe that the process of being able to seek some transparency and some justice and know that there are other kids who will hopefully be spared from what he went through helps him heal," Reck said.
Members of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, are outraged that parents weren't notified of the allegations sooner.
"It's our guess that Brother Walczak has possibly had a number of student victims in the United States and maybe here in Seattle," said SNAP's John Shuster.
In statement released Wednesday afternoon, the Archdiocese of Seattle said Walczak denies the allegations but will resign nonetheless.
According to a school website, Walczak was appointed principal in 2011 after spending time in schools in Illinois, California and Hawaii.
Vice principal Jim Walker will take over as acting principal at O'Dea.
SNAP will hold a rally Thursday at 11 a.m. at O'Dea.
This is not about O'Dea or its students. Report responsibly! It is an allegation and should be treated as the before reported speculated opinions. As parent's of O'Dea students we are 110% in support of this fantastic high school. Rarely does the media report on the good news or the community service that O'Dea High School is involved with but the moment they get a morsel of something negative (an ALLEGATION at that) they jump on it like vampires. This is from 1970 in another state, take your media circus there and wait for the facts. Media sensationalism seems to trump responsibility.Â
First letâs not confuse celibacy with pedophilia or homosexuality with pedophilia.  I think this allegation should be investigated as would any other complaint with the police department. But until the investigation is complete and all the facts are out in the case letâs not pass judgment on the Brother or the victim. In the United States someone is innocent until proven guilty. More and more people seem to forget that when it suits them to do so.
And it seems in cases like this the burden of proof is on the accused and not the victim who is recalling events that occurred some forty years ago. I am not siding with either side but I would think these types of cases are very hard to get to the truth. It is a case I donât envy the prosecutor or defense attorney.
 @Sheltiego Well stated. Thank you!
That's what celibacy gets you. Learn from Japanese Buddhists ...
 @Komo Dragon you're an idiot
Let me make my surprised face....
when is the freakin catholic 'church' going to be charged in this mess. they're the ones perpetrating this behavior in their sicko priests...
 @Theonedog While the church is guilty of trying to cover up the abuses of a tiny percentage of it's priests, your comment that they are "perpetrating" this behavior in their priests is one, if not the, most ignorant comment I've seen in these comments.
Will these perverts ever learn?
Let's review the bullet points:
-At the deadline for submitting claims for monetary damages from the Christian Brothers bankruptcy 3 months ago
-Some person (unnamed), represented by an attorney active in pursuing damage claims against Catholic clergy
-Comes forward with an accusation of abuse by Brother Walczak
-Such abuse allegedly having occurred over 3 decades ago
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Brother Walczak
-Is on leave from his position at O'Dea both now and at the time the accuser comes forward
-Resigns from his O'Dea position
-Denies the accusation
-Is still, under the our laws, innocent until proven guilty
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SNAP
-Makes wild and unsupported statements
-Gets lots of publicity
 @FactPerson he didn't resign because he was doing such a great job...
 @Theonedog His resignation may have been to keep the school and it's student out of the path of the sensationalist firestorm these kinds of unproven accusations bring forth.
Most of the comments here prove that many people like yourself rush to condemnation solely on the basis of accusation with waiting to hear any of the facts of the case.Â
He has been accused, NOT convicted. (Unless you go by the posts here)
 @Gino Resignation is as good as admission of guilt
 @Larry*X*K No. resignation could show that he actually cares about the school and does not want the circus to drag it through the mud.
@Gino
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The Filthy church moving these rapist Priests and bishops is also well documented. Â
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Raping Children seems to be what the Catholic church motto is today.Â
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 @Andrew Bush OK, if you have a car accident we will go straight to convicting you of DUI because "hundreds of thousands" of automobile accidents are caused by drunk drivers so no proof in necessary.
 @Andrew Bush You don't have to prove anything if you're just talking to yourself. If you're going to spew senseless venom here be prepared to be called out for what you really are.
 @Andrew Bush The only thing I'm defending here is part of that old document called the Declaration of Independence where it says that persons charged with a crime are innocent until PROVEN guilty.
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You have not proven anything here except your willingness to jabber on and throw mud at everyone that doesn't agree with you.
@Gino
yeah.  Someone who defends the Catholic church who committed and hid  the hundreds of thousands of rapes of children across America is hardly one to judge others character.
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LOL!!! Â You have a false sense of self. Â
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 @Andrew Bush Thank you for showing your lack of character.
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 @Gino  Yes I am...   : )  Â
 @Andrew Bush So even though he's only been accused and not tried or convicted, you're OK with calling him a rapist and accusing the Catholic church of "moving rapists around the country".
 @Gino  Nope the courts will decide.  I am just happy the Catholic Church is once again exposed for their past of moving the rapists around the country. Â
 @Andrew Bush So what you're saying is that no matter if he's guilty or innocent, you're happy that his life will be ruined by this?
 @Gino  The history of the Catholic church and their moving their rapists of the clergy is on my side  : ) Â
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Like I said... As long as the Catholic Church is exposed  yet again... I am happy. Â
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 @Andrew Bush So you know for a fact he's guilty without a trial?
 @Gino Not likely with the hundreds of thousands of priest rapes across America.Â
This supposedly happened in the 1970's!?!? Sorry but his accusations hold no merit with me.
 @Barlion There is no expiration date on crimes committed
 @Larry*X*K  @Barlion Just a deadline for submitting monetary claims.
 @Andrew Bush Are you seriously not reading your own posts? You changed the subject to self righteous political figures. I just followed suit.
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Were you raped?
 @Gino again.... waaaaa waaaaa.  Your desperation to change the subject is apparent. Â
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Are you a Catholic by chance? Â Â
 @Andrew Bush  @Bloodbrother Expose those self-righteous democrat senators who called for secret service firings over sex scandals while playing with hookers themselves.
 @Bloodbrother expose those republican closet cases who look for sex in airport mens rooms. Â
Expose those Gay Child Rapists
This doesn't surprise me, not in the least. If the allegations are true, I hope that Brother Walczak serves the maximum time behind bars, with no chance of parole.
 @yentaleh Why does it not surprise you?
 @Gino Because over a million children have been taped by priests and bishops around the world.  Â
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 @Bloodbrother no troll.  Your obsession with gay people means nothing when children are being raped.  Â
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Usually those obsessed with gays have their own closets to clean out. Â
Gay Priests
Even thou he  denies everything, I am glad he resigned. I know that if anyone of my children were going to school there,and he had not resigned. I would be freaking out and always thinking the worst. By resigning he has given the children and their family to be at peace that nothing will happen.Â
 @Just my say That's right. I guess he is guilty until proven innocent in your book.
gotta love these righteous "brothers" who can do such horrible things - and also the cowardly filth that would protect these perverts and perpetuate the evil by moving the sick mo-fo's to a new town for fresh meat.
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repulsive.
 @SwampThing  Not to mention those who defend the child rapist organization that has been proven to play "hide the priest" for decades here. Â
Let's hope that every person who saw, suspected or may have been harmed by Brother Karl Walczak, will find the courage and strength to speak up and contact police, no matter how long ago the abuse happened.. Keep in mind that child predators rarely have only one victim. And your silence only hurts, and by speaking up there is a chance for healing, exposing the truth, and therefore protecting others.
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Judy Jones, SNAP Midwest Associate Director, USA, 636-433-2511. snapjudy@gmail.com, (SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests,)
 @Judy Block-Jones I hope that the allegations are false and that Brother Karl Walczak is cleared of any wrongdoing.
I don't think I will wear my O'Dea hoodie tomorrow
@Alum of odea.... DO NOT be ashamed of who you are. The actions (alleged) of Karl Walczak are not what O'Dea stands for. AGAIN, these abuses are alleged (and occured in Chicago) but it is not the O'Dea community that should be ashamed.
Sad that allegations are all the proof most people need to to go straight to condemnation.
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I wonder who's positioning themselves to get monies as settlements from the church.Â