BuzzFeed | In response to a multiyear BuzzFeed News investigation,
Vermont Gov. Phil Scott said Monday that he would support the efforts
of victims who suffered abuse as children at a Catholic orphanage in the
state to pursue justice through the courts.
“The allegations
against St. Joseph’s Orphanage are as extremely disturbing, horrific and
deeply troubling today, as they were decades ago,” Scott said in an
emailed statement to BuzzFeed News.
The allegations include
once-parentless children in the care of the Catholic orphanage being
beaten, sexually abused, mutilated, and observing the deaths of other
children at the hands of their protectors.
The former residents of St. Joseph’s told of being subjected to
tortures — from the straightforwardly awful to the downright bizarre —
that were occasionally administered as a special punishment but were
often just a matter of course. Their tales were strikingly similar, each
adding weight and credibility to the others.
“My heart goes out
to the many who were harmed, and I support their continued pursuit of
justice in the courts,” Scott said in his statement to BuzzFeed News.
“As a society, the safety and well-being of our children is one of our
most critical responsibilities and abuse against children cannot be
tolerated under any circumstance. While we’ve made significant gains in
the many years since these incidents occurred, I know that is of little
solace to those who suffered, and I know too many still suffer abuse. We
must continue to shine a light on instances of abuse and advocate for
justice and a system that puts protecting our children above all else.”
Vermont
commissioner for the Department for Children and Families, Ken Schatz,
told BuzzFeed News that he shared the sentiment expressed by the
governor.
