Secrets revealed

Contents of the Seattle Archdiocese’s secret file on the Rev. Michael Cody show that as early as 1962, Archbishop Thomas Connolly and others knew Cody was a dangerous pedophile. Still, the archdiocese repeatedly moved Cody into unsuspecting parishes where for years he sexually abused children. The records became key to a lawsuit filed by a woman who was victimized by Cody as a teenager while he served as pastor in Skagit County from 1968 to 1972.

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March 19, 1962
Dr. Albert Hurley to Archbishop Thomas A. Connolly
“... he told me that he was suffering from an abnormal sexual attraction toward young girls. Since his ordination about three years ago, and more particularly since his father’s death approximately one year ago, he has molested at least eight girls twelve years of age or younger.”

“It is my opinion that Father Cody is dangerous both to himself and to others. He has exhibited sadistic tendencies towards boys with whom he has associated, has talked about killing adults, and has entertained ideas of suicide.”

“It is my diagnosis that he is suffering from a form of sexual deviation (Pedophilia) associated with a long-standing characterological problem and a serious emotional reaction to it. It is my recommendation that he be removed from parish work as soon as possible.”
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March 29, 1962
The Rev. Ailbe M. McGrath to Archbishop Thomas A. Connolly
“These Doctors revealed that Father Cody’s character is really pathological; that he is now mentally and emotionally seriously sick; that he has definite and strong tendencies toward self-destruction or suicide; that he has a deep inferiority complex; that his de sexto abnormalities (which I will not mention here) may cause a major scandal in this parish, and if discovered, may result in a penitentiary sentence at Walla Walla.”
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May 14, 1962
The Rev. Ailbe M. McGrath to Archbishop Thomas A. Connolly
“I am urgently requesting Your Excellency to move Father Michael Cody from this parish as soon as possible for the reasons listed in this letter.”

“I do not want a murder, a suicide, or a de sexto crime of violence in this rectory or in this parish. In my opinion and in the judgment of Doctor Hurley, this is not merely an academic possibility, but a very real probability. When I read in the daily papers of crimes of murder and rape, I begin to wonder if Father Cody is involved.”
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Dec. 7, 1967
John J. Duffy to Archbishop Thomas A. Connolly
“It is not a personal problem but involves the mental illness of Father Cody. The situation has deteriorated ... ”

“ ... the Sisters and lay teachers are scandalized at his undue familiarity with the sixth & seventh grade girls.”