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Former KKK member who became a Catholic priest never apologized for cross-burning incident, victims say Former KKK member who became a Catholic priest never apologized for cross-burning incident, victims say
(35 minutes later)
A Catholic priest who placed a burning cross in the yard of an African American couple four decades ago as a Ku Klux Klan member has never apologized or paid a court-ordered restitution, the couple said Wednesday.A Catholic priest who placed a burning cross in the yard of an African American couple four decades ago as a Ku Klux Klan member has never apologized or paid a court-ordered restitution, the couple said Wednesday.
Barbara and Phillip Butler said they never received closure after the 1977 cross burning on their front lawn — a home they had lived in for six months as newlyweds. While the Maryland couple has never forgotten that day, they only became aware in recent days that the man who pleaded guilty in the cross burning incident was a clergy member in Virginia. Barbara and Phillip Butler said they never received closure after the 1977 cross burning on their front lawn — a home they had lived in for six months as newlyweds. While the Maryland couple has never forgotten that day, they only became aware in recent days that the man who pleaded guilty in the cross-burning incident was a clergy member in Virginia.
In a remarkable essay titled “Moving From Hate to Love With God’s Grace,” the Rev. William Aitcheson, 62, confessed he had been a leader of a KKK lodge in Maryland in his early 20s until his life was transformed, and he became a priest. He was charged with making bomb threats, manufacturing pipe bombs and threatening to kill Coretta Scott King in a letter. In a remarkable essay titled “Moving From Hate to Love With God’s Grace,” the Rev. William Aitcheson, 62, confessed he had been a leader of a KKK lodge in Maryland in his early 20s until he left the group and rejoined the church, later becoming a priest. He was charged with making bomb threats, manufacturing pipe bombs and threatening to kill Coretta Scott King in a letter.
During a news conference Wednesday in Washington, Phillip Butler said he read Aitcheson’s essay to mean he had repented through the church for his past sins, even though he never directly apologized to the couple. Barbara Butler then recited the Bible verse “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do,” and continued speaking as if talking to Aitcheson, “but you did know what you did … you changed our lives a lot.” During a news conference Wednesday in Washington, Phillip Butler said he read Aitcheson’s essay to mean that Aitcheson had repented through the church for his past sins, even though he never directly apologized to the couple.
“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do,” Barbara Butler said, reciting a Bible verse, before continuing to speak as if to Aitcheson, “but you did know what you did . . . you changed our lives a lot.”
Phillip Butler said he would need a sincere effort from Aitcheson to reach out and apologize before getting closure, but Barbara Butler shook her head.Phillip Butler said he would need a sincere effort from Aitcheson to reach out and apologize before getting closure, but Barbara Butler shook her head.
“It was a lot of trauma. It really, really was,” she said. “I will never ever forget. We didn’t deserve this. No one deserved this.” “It was a lot of trauma. It really, really was,” she said. “I will never, ever forget. We didn’t deserve this. No one deserved this.”
The Butlers said that Aitcheson skipping out on paying his court-ordered restitution of about $20,000 wasn’t what bothered them most. Even if he were to pay, the couple will never forget the horror of that night.The Butlers said that Aitcheson skipping out on paying his court-ordered restitution of about $20,000 wasn’t what bothered them most. Even if he were to pay, the couple will never forget the horror of that night.
“It’s been 40 years, and it came back again,” Phillip Butler said.“It’s been 40 years, and it came back again,” Phillip Butler said.
Officials in Aitcheson’s Virginia diocese also suggested Wednesday that he may not have paid the restitution decades ago to the couple. The diocese — which oversees northern and eastern Virginia — released a statement appearing to say the story was more complicated. Officials in Aitcheson’s Virginia diocese also suggested Wednesday that he may not have paid the restitution decades ago to the couple.
[‘My actions were despicable’: Catholic priest steps down after revealing he was a Ku Klux Klan member decades ago][‘My actions were despicable’: Catholic priest steps down after revealing he was a Ku Klux Klan member decades ago]
“The Diocese of Arlington learned this past weekend of civil damages awarded in 1982 in a case involving Fr. William Aitcheson. We are coordinating with Father Aitcheson in his efforts to seek reconciliation and make restitution. Father Aitcheson fully understands this is his obligation and that he must do what is possible to make this situation right,” the statement read. “The Diocese of Arlington learned this past weekend of civil damages awarded in 1982 in a case involving Fr. William Aitcheson. We are coordinating with Father Aitcheson in his efforts to seek reconciliation and make restitution. Father Aitcheson fully understands this is his obligation and that he must do what is possible to make this situation right,” read a statement from the diocese, which oversees eastern and Northern Virginia.
As part of that case, Aitcheson had also been ordered to pay two Jewish groups — B’nai B’rith Hillel Foundation at the University of Maryland and the Beth Torah Congregation in Hyattsville — $1,500 each for burning crosses at their properties in 1976. It also wasn’t immediately clear if Aitcheson had paid the two groups. As part of that case, Aitcheson had also been ordered to pay two Jewish groups — the B’nai B’rith Hillel Foundation at the University of Maryland and the Beth Torah Congregation in Hyattsville — $1,500 each for burning crosses at their properties in 1976. It also wasn’t immediately clear if Aitcheson had paid the two groups.
Aitcheson also was barred by a judge from any further acts of intimidation or terror against the Butlers or any blacks or Jews in the D.C. metro area. Aitcheson also was barred by a judge from any further acts of intimidation or terrorism against the Butlers or any African Americans or Jews in the D.C. metro area.
The diocese statement Wednesday from Billy Atwell, a spokesman for the Catholic Diocese of Arlington, indicated that Aitcheson and Arlington Bishop Michael Burbidge want to meet in a “pastoral, private setting” with the Butlers “in the hope that it may bring them healing.” The diocese also said it has reached out to Ted Williams, the lawyer who is representing the Butlers, regarding the invitation. The statement Wednesday from Billy Atwell, a spokesman for the Catholic Diocese of Arlington, indicated that Aitcheson and Arlington Bishop Michael Burbidge want to meet in a “pastoral, private setting” with the Butlers “in the hope that it may bring them healing.” The diocese also said it has reached out to Ted Williams, the lawyer who is representing the Butlers, regarding the invitation.
Williams asked that Aitcheson give up the names of other Klan members who assisted him in setting the cross on fire. Williams asked that Aitcheson give up the names of other Klan members who assisted him in the cross burning.
“Until that happens, the Butlers are not at this time interested in meeting with him,” Williams said.“Until that happens, the Butlers are not at this time interested in meeting with him,” Williams said.
[‘My actions were despicable’: Catholic priest steps down after revealing he was a Ku Klux Klan member decades ago] As a 23-year-old University of Maryland student, Aitcheson was charged with six cross burnings in Prince George’s County, one count of making bomb threats and two of manufacturing pipe bombs, according to a March 1977 article in The Washington Post.
As a 23-year-old University of Maryland student, Aitcheson was charged with six cross-burnings in Prince George’s County, one count of making bomb threats and two of manufacturing pipe bombs, according to a March 1977 article in The Washington Post. Officials at the Catholic Diocese of Arlington said that when Aitcheson came to the diocese more than 24 years ago, they “learned of his past as well as his sincere conversion of heart.” It is not clear how many people at Aitcheson’s current or past parishes knew about his past with the KKK, but officials said there have been no accusations of racism against Aitcheson while at the diocese.
Officials at the Catholic Diocese of Arlington said that when Aitcheson came to the diocese more than 24 years ago, they “learned of his past as well as his sincere conversion of heart.” It is not clear how many people at his current or past parishes knew about his past with the KKK, but officials said there have been no accusations of racism against Aitcheson while at the diocese.
“My actions were despicable,” Aitcheson wrote. “When I think back on burning crosses, a threatening letter, and so on, I feel as though I am speaking of somebody else. It’s hard to believe that was me.”“My actions were despicable,” Aitcheson wrote. “When I think back on burning crosses, a threatening letter, and so on, I feel as though I am speaking of somebody else. It’s hard to believe that was me.”
The Butlers were the fifth black family in College Park Woods, a subdivision in Prince George’s County, when the cross burning incident occurred, according to a 1982 article in The Washington Post. In the weeks following the cross burning, Phillip Butler slept in the living room, and police started monitoring the house, according to the article. The Butlers were the fifth black family in College Park Woods, a subdivision in Prince George’s County, when the cross-burning incident occurred, according to a 1982 article in The Post. In the weeks following the cross burning, Phillip Butler slept in the living room, and police started monitoring the house, according to the article.
“Every time we hit the corner, we wonder, ‘Is the house still going to be there?’ “ Phillip Butler, then 40, told The Post. “What’s next? Is something going to come through the window? You don’t know. To me, it’s going to be like that forever. No one can take this away from us now. We are always going to be coming around that corner.” “Every time we hit the corner, we wonder, ‘Is the house still going to be there?’ ” Phillip Butler, then 40, told The Post. “What’s next? Is something going to come through the window? You don’t know. To me, it’s going to be like that forever. No one can take this away from us now. We are always going to be coming around that corner.”
The family spoke publicly Wednesday as they were thrust back into a conversation they never wanted to be a part of. The 1982 article describes them as “private people who are uncomfortable with the attention,” and Barbara Butler told The Post Tuesday, “we’re just trying to get ourselves together.” The family spoke publicly Wednesday as they were thrust back into a conversation they never wanted to be a part of. The 1982 article describes them as “private people who are uncomfortable with the attention,” and Barbara Butler told The Post on Tuesday, “we’re just trying to get ourselves together.”
Five years after the cross burning incident, President Ronald Reagan visited the couple and said the cross burning on their front lawn “is not something that should have happened in America,” according to a May 1982 article in The Washington Post. Five years after the cross-burning incident, President Ronald Reagan visited the couple and said the cross burning on their front lawn “is not something that should have happened in America,” according to a May 1982 article in The Washington Post.