St. Joseph's Orphanage Burlington, Vermont, 1940 to 1974: State task force documents allegations of beatings, neglect and sexual abuse by nuns and priests; murder allegations could not be corroborated

What happened to the people

Who was affected? Victims and numbers

1. A large majority of those interviewed reported beatings by the nuns, for example for bedwetting, left-handedness or trying to console another child, with wooden paddles, the rosaries at their waists and rulers; the injuries ranged up to broken bones and teeth. Children were called "devil child", made to eat their vomit, locked in closets, the attic or trunks; neglect and hunger run through almost all memories. Several reported frequent sexual abuse by priests, partly in the chapel, and extensive sexual abuse by nuns. According to the report all accused are presumed innocent.
   Evidence: Vermont Attorney General's Office, Office of Mayor Miro Weinberger, Chittenden County State's Attorney's Office, Vermont State Police, Burlington Police Department, 1.3, S. 9

   „The most commonly reported items were wooden paddles, rosaries the nuns wore around their waists, and rulers.“

   Evidence: Vermont Attorney General's Office, Office of Mayor Miro Weinberger, Chittenden County State's Attorney's Office, Vermont State Police, Burlington Police Department, 1.3, S. 9

   „permanent and long-term disabling injuries including broken bones and teeth“

   Evidence: Vermont Attorney General's Office, Office of Mayor Miro Weinberger, Chittenden County State's Attorney's Office, Vermont State Police, Burlington Police Department, 1.3, S. 10

   „One common, reoccurring allegation is that children at the Orphanage were forced to eat their own vomit if they vomited at mealtimes.“

   Evidence: Vermont Attorney General's Office, Office of Mayor Miro Weinberger, Chittenden County State's Attorney's Office, Vermont State Police, Burlington Police Department, 1.3, S. 11

   „Several children report being sexually abused by priests inside the Orphanage, in the chapel area, or on trips away from the Orphanage.“

   Evidence: Vermont Attorney General's Office, Office of Mayor Miro Weinberger, Chittenden County State's Attorney's Office, Vermont State Police, Burlington Police Department, 1.3, S. 11

   „Some children report extensive and prolonged sexual abuse by the nuns at the Orphanage.“

   Evidence: Vermont Attorney General's Office, Office of Mayor Miro Weinberger, Chittenden County State's Attorney's Office, Vermont State Police, Burlington Police Department, 1.3, S. 8

   „the presumption of innocence applies to all those accused by the victims“

How were they charged and sentenced?

1. After a BuzzFeed News article in August 2018 containing allegations of child abuse, sexual abuse and murder against the orphanage's nuns and priests, the Vermont Attorney General set up a task force in September 2018. It received 66 intakes and conducted 48 interviews with people who lived at the orphanage from the 1940s until its closure in 1974, or their close relatives. The diocese and Vermont Catholic Charities granted access to resident files; the Sisters of Providence had produced no documents by publication.
   Evidence: Vermont Attorney General's Office, Office of Mayor Miro Weinberger, Chittenden County State's Attorney's Office, Vermont State Police, Burlington Police Department, 1. Executive Summary, S. 5

   „This article contained several allegations of child abuse, sexual abuse, and murder against the nuns and priests who operated the St. Joseph’s Orphanage in Burlington, Vermont.“

   Evidence: Vermont Attorney General's Office, Office of Mayor Miro Weinberger, Chittenden County State's Attorney's Office, Vermont State Police, Burlington Police Department, 1.1, S. 5

   „law enforcement and victim advocates conducted 48 interviews with individuals who stayed at the Orphanage from the 1940s through the time of its closure in 1974“

   Evidence: Vermont Attorney General's Office, Office of Mayor Miro Weinberger, Chittenden County State's Attorney's Office, Vermont State Police, Burlington Police Department, 1.1, S. 6

   „as of this report’s publication, no documents have been produced by the Sisters of Providence“

What happened to those affected?

1. Several survivors described cases in which children had allegedly been killed, for example by being pushed down a staircase or out of a window. The Burlington police examined death certificates, police records and the grounds and found no corroboration of murder; the cases were closed. All other possible offences were time-barred. The task force declared that it unequivocally supports the former residents; it is clear that trauma occurred. The state, police and society had failed to protect the children.
   Evidence: Vermont Attorney General's Office, Office of Mayor Miro Weinberger, Chittenden County State's Attorney's Office, Vermont State Police, Burlington Police Department, 1.3, S. 12

   „One instance involved a nun pushing a young girl down a staircase.“

   Evidence: Vermont Attorney General's Office, Office of Mayor Miro Weinberger, Chittenden County State's Attorney's Office, Vermont State Police, Burlington Police Department, 1.2, S. 7

   „The Burlington Police Department did not find corroboration to support allegations of murder, nor any additional evidence that could support affidavits of probable cause.“

   Evidence: Vermont Attorney General's Office, Office of Mayor Miro Weinberger, Chittenden County State's Attorney's Office, Vermont State Police, Burlington Police Department, 1.2, S. 7

   „the statutes of limitation that apply to these alleged crimes had run for each potential crime in this investigation—except for murder“

   Evidence: Vermont Attorney General's Office, Office of Mayor Miro Weinberger, Chittenden County State's Attorney's Office, Vermont State Police, Burlington Police Department, 1.2, S. 7

   „The Task Force unequivocally supports the former residents of the Orphanage. It is clear that trauma occurred.“

   Evidence: Vermont Attorney General's Office, Office of Mayor Miro Weinberger, Chittenden County State's Attorney's Office, Vermont State Police, Burlington Police Department, 1.4, S. 12

   „The State of Vermont, its laws, and its institutions did not protect all of the children of St. Joseph’s Orphanage.“