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Doe v. Knights
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DOE V. KNIGHTS:
AN INVESTIGATION INTO A COMMUNITY LEFT BEHIND
by
Marguerite Feldbloom
A Thesis Presented to the
FACULTY OF THE USC ANNENBERG SCHOOL FOR COMMUNICATION AND
JOURNALISM
In Partial Fulfillment of the
Requirements for the Degree
MASTER OF ARTS
(SPECIALIZED JOURNALISM)
May 2024
Copyright 2024 Marguerite Feldbloom
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Acknowledgements…………………………………….…………………………………….…………………………………….……ii
Abstract……..…………………………………….…………………………………….…………………………………….……………iii
Chapter One:
Reflection..…………………………………….…………………………………….…………………………………….………………..2
Bibliography.…………………………………….…………………………………….…………………………………….……………10
Chapter Two:
Link to Documentary…………………………….…………………………………….…………….…………….………………12
Documentary Script…………………………….…………………………………….…………….…………….…………………12
i
Acknowledgements
This is dedicated to none other than the survivors and victims of a half-century of abuse. Laura Davis,
a vibrant and inspiring woman, is the reason this came to life. This is in honor of the truth - may
journalism continue to demonstrate the stories people would rather not see.
ii
Abstract
This documentary explores just one example of the void left in the notorious worldwide story of sexual
abuse and concealment within the Catholic Church: the laymen. Though there was wide media
coverage about abuse that occurred as a result of Church figures - namely bishops and priests
1
-
arguably left behind were the Catholic lay organizations for which the Church ultimately remained
responsible
2
. In this particular story, a Knights of Columbus youth group in the Bronx, New York,
endured sexual abuse at the hands of their “Grand Knight” leader, Kenneth McLaughlin, for over fifty
years - according to legal documents and personal interviews. Despite a civil case
3 finding the Knights
of Columbus liable for what occurred, my interviews
4
with Laura Davis, Robbie Sequeira and James
Marsh on March 7, 2024, February 17, 2024, and January 5, 2024, respectively, suggested that much of
the tight-knit community remains adamant that McLaughlin's reputation is being tarnished, resulting
in lash back for journalists and victims. Through the voice of one of McLaughlin’s victims, their
attorney, a journalist who covered the case and a leading expert in children and religious abuse, this
documentary demonstrates pieces of the toll and impact of McLaughlin’s reign over this youth
basketball team. The story also includes perspectives on the landscape of religious lay groups and
communicates concerns about what the future for children’s safety looks like within them. Despite
efforts on the part of several professionals and myself, the findings show insufficient concrete evidence
of changes in the Knights of Columbus programming to protect children. The findings of the
documentary confirm the claims within legal documents that McLaughlin irreversibly damaged the
4 Transcripts.pdf
3 Davis Complaint
2 Catholic Lay Organizations | USCCB
1 What the Latest Investigations Into Catholic Church Sex Abuse Mean - The New York Times
iii
lives of many individuals that have carried the nightmare into their adulthood, and raise questions
about where the responsibility lies for the prolonged trauma.
1
Chapter One: Reflection
This project concept started as a curiosity about Catholic lay organizations and their child
protection practices - specifically the Knights of Columbus - but particularly the Catholic Church’s
accountability in regard to the laity. In conducting research, this particular case - Doe v. Knights -
became of note for several reasons. A group of John Does, and one Jane - Laura - filed a civil lawsuit
5
during a legal window in New York that allowed victims of child sexual assault to bring lawsuits up
until age 55, instead of age 23 as it was formerly. An estimated 55% to 70% of those who experience
sexual abuse as a child delay disclosure until an average age of 40 to 50 years old.
6 The Marsh Law Firm,
founded by James Marsh, filed this case.
My interest in pursuing the story developed for several reasons. There was extremely little
media coverage about sexual abuse occurring in Catholic lay organizations, and this case in particular -
despite abuser McLaughlin’s hold on select groups of children spanning over half of a century. The
group is referred to in the court documents as a “house of horrors.”
7 Survivor Laura Davis’ Facebook
page
8
, which she used to seek out other survivors and victims to join the lawsuit, struck a chord with
me. Laura’s brothers were a part of the Father Duffy Squires. McLaughlin would visit their home
frequently, and convinced her older brother to abuse her, too. Laura received hateful comments, both
online and verbally, that blamed her for lying and money-grabbing by participating in the lawsuit. This
doubtful lens was being used against both her and the nameless male victims in the lawsuit. Laura’s
brother, Jeffrey, was the only one to use his name in the lawsuit. Another point of interest was that it
8 Laura’s Facebook page.
7
"House of Horrors"
6 Adult and Adolescent Disclosures of Child Sexual Abuse: A Comparative Analysis - PMC.
5 Davis Complaint
2
was also alleged that McLaughlin used his position of power as Chief Counselor of the Father Duffy
Squires to bring in other volunteers with no approval necessary from higher authorities
9
. When asked
about the other pedophiles McLaughlin tried to bring into the group, a John Doe I spoke to said, “He
didn’t try. He did.” Additionally named in the lawsuit is counselor of the Father Duffy Squires and
softball coach Chris McGuinness
10
- who, according to James Marsh, has received no consequences for
his role in the abuse
11
and allegedly has a well-paying Wall Street job. Despite all of the allegations, not
only has McLaughlin’s character been largely defended in recent years since his death on January 25,
2015, but he was even celebrated; this was one of the primary reasons the case was particularly unique.
There was an article
12
written in celebration of his fifty years with the group, as well as news features
about his incredible contributions even after his death. I wondered: how could the community
possibly not know what he was doing?
Along the way, I discovered that the McLaughlin story presented itself as a double-edged
sword, in terms of the benefits that the Father Duffy Squires program provided to the children
unaffected by the abuse
13
- and it was no wonder that the community was seeing it as such. There were
so many cultural, societal and key contextual elements that were impacting public perception.
Primarily, at the time of Laura and her cohort’s abuse, the Bronx was suffering
14
. According to attorney
James Marsh, many of these particular families couldn’t afford food, much less activities - so the group
benefit of the Knights of Columbus for the children was seen as a huge benefit. McLaughlin was a
14 How Fire Defined the Bronx, and Us - The New York Times
13 Interview with James Marsh 01/05/24
12 NY Daily News
11 Document Cloud - McGuinness
10 Document Cloud - McGuinness
9 Document Cloud- Position of Power and Interview with James Marsh 01/05/24
3
corporate lawyer whose money was certainly impressive to children and families who couldn’t afford to
go to restaurants
15
. These tactics were successful in gaining the trust of children in order to take
advantage of it. Additionally, because the majority of the victims were male, a culture of extreme
homophobia
16
increased the humiliation and shame for victims coming forward about this. Attorney
James Marsh also made the point that this culture encouraged a “turn-a-blind-eye” mindset
17
. It was
not as though nobody ever knew about it, but homosexuality was to be turned away from and not
acknowledged. Court documents alleged that not only was McLaughlin’s inappropriate behavior in
the Bronx branch of the Squires actually common knowledge, but that it was actively concealed by the
Knights of Columbus. The court documents also alleged that both McLaughlin and Chris
McGuinness were both known sexual abusers prior to the instances mentioned.
The choice to use video as a medium was quite simple: I felt it was the most impactful way to
show the detrimental impact of McLaughlin’s actions and the heavy weight of the continued defense
of him, even in death, on survivor Laura and his other victims. As a student specializing in
documentary journalism with a true crime television background, I strongly believe that both visuals
and audio combine to create the most emotional piece of journalism, which was necessary for this
particular story. It was clear upon finding the story that a majority of the immediate public - that is,
those that had proximity to this story or McLaughlin - simply did not have all of the information.
Journalism, when factual and well-researched, can have the power to enlighten, and the goal for this
story was to do just that - as long as that was what the facts revealed. Upon discovering a proper scope
17 Interview with James Marsh 01/05/24
16 History: Stonewall Riots
15 Document Cloud - Restaurants
4
of the story, it evolved into one that was deeply researched and included as many factors and pieces
included as possible in the time frame, as well as established the grounds for the positive impact of
statute of limitations extensions. Ultimately, I felt that using video would be an accessible method to
convey such a mass of text, facts and information - especially for a story that simply requires audiences
to feel, as best they can, what another person went through. In terms of stories that deal with human
connection, I am always passionate that video is the most powerful.
This project proved, through the voices of multiple sources (some of whom witnessed the
abuse firsthand) that a widely-held notion of Kenneth McLaughlin’s innocence is incorrect. Because
the civil lawsuit resulted in a settlement that I was not privy to the exact details of - but which was
described by attorney Jennifer Marsh as a settlement to the “satisfaction of both parties
18
” - and the
fact that there was no criminal case, the lashback and doubt of victims remained harsh post-case. The
claims made by Laura Davis are supported by the details of this civil case; attorneys also corroborated
that they spoke to countless people with the same experience, including the group of “Doe”s that
joined the lawsuit. I also spoke to an anonymous victim of McLaughlin, who did not participate in the
project but was able to verify claims. I feel I accomplished and fulfilled a faithful duty to maintain
skepticism and investigate critically. I was dedicated to entering the investigation with the openness
that there were many possible stories, while still maintaining a crucial and important initial belief to
always enter believing survivors. I conducted significant research to fully eliminate the possibility of
McLaughlin’s innocence.
18 Bronx Times
5
By placing Laura Davis’ story in the historical context of the law, I believe I accomplished the
telling of a personal narrative through a much broader scope that can be applied to several cases. The
story also answered my initial nagging questions that I felt when I first found the civil case: how did
this happen and receive such minimal coverage? How could, after thorough legal documents that
corroborate horrible stories from victims and survivors, this community still cast doubt and shame in
defense of a dead man who knowingly altered several lives for the worse? I discovered that the answer to
the first question is that despite not making many headlines, it didn’t actually fly under the radar to the
community. To the second question, on the basis of my reporting, there is a very reasonable
explanation as to why many of the children did not get abused each year. According to the John Doe I
spoke to, in addition to corroborating sources such as Laura and James Marsh, McLaughlin was
selective about his victims - choosing about four or five children each year. Additionally, he was in this
role for such a lengthy period, encountering such a number of children over half a century, that it is
only reasonable to presume there would be a large number that were not impacted or did not witness
the abuse - when considered in the context of the patterns that he established.
I was also able to comprehensively illustrate the pressing and dire need for statute of limitations
extensions, such as New York’s Child Victims Act - as well as present compelling personal stories as to
why the statute of limitations deserves to be opened and unlimited in all states and across the world. It
was also a goal to ensure that the message was clear throughout that this is not simply a Catholic issue -
these dangers exist within many religious organizations
19
, and it should be of note that this case is just
one example of the necessity to have stricter guidelines for supervision in youth groups. In the same
19 Researchers reveal patterns of sexual abuse in religious settings | Folio
6
breath, there was certainly a particular fascination in investigating a Catholic lay organization because
of a certain lack of accountability and potential patterns
20
in regards to the laity that could be
investigated and extrapolated in the future; though this will be elaborated further on.
In terms of the larger picture, there were elements of this story that I was not able to
accomplish during this time frame. I view this project simply as the very beginning stages of an
investigation, in turn leaving much to be explored. I unfortunately did not get to fully explore the role
of McLaughlin’s colleague, Chris McGuinness
21
, who was also named in abuse accusations in the civil
court documents. According to multiple sources, he still holds a respected role in a professional
environment. On a grander scale, the next part of the story would have been to continue the
investigation into abuse prevention measures - or lack thereof - within Catholic organizations, but
namely the Knights of Columbus being of most relevant concern to this story. Reporter Robbie
Sequeira says that his calls to officials in charge of the Knights of Columbus abuse prevention program
continually proved to be futile attempts. My attempt to obtain information about new safety practices
was also avoided or ignored both by a local Knights of Columbus Chapter in Los Angeles as well as
national Knights of Columbus representatives for safety
22
. Marci Hamilton, who has a team of
research assistants at the University of Pennsylvania, explained that it is difficult to measure changes
within these organizations, largely because these claims are based on empty words. She explained to me
that there is no concrete evidence that organizations, including the Catholic Church, can present to
provide tangible proof beyond these claims. That being said, Hamilton and her team have developed a
22 Email response from Knights of Columbus to author of this document.
21 McGuinness
20 Abuse finding didn't end ex-deacon's work with children | AP News
7
user application to assess practices in a tangible way, including the collection of measurable data. While
the timing of the app launch did not line up with this project, it is a fascinating branch of the story that
I would have been keen to examine further. Ideally, I would have worked with other sources to obtain
tangible numbers in regard to the current state of child welfare in Catholic lay organizations.
Additionally, there has been excellent work done by other journalists, including a piece by Jim
Mustian and Kevin McGill
23
, demonstrating how a pedophile was able to launch from one branch of
the diocese into another, specifically the Knights of Columbus, despite proven abusive tendencies.
This simple transition from higher branches of the Church to the laity is a potential pattern that is
certainly worth exploring, and this one case is simply an example of the lack of supervision that once
existed and could potentially still exist. There is simply no material proof of more rigid systems to
ensure the lay organizations that the Church remains responsible for are not infiltrated by anyone who
could be putting children at risk.
In conclusion, this project has evolved into much more than a court document that piqued my
interest. Over the course of the semester, Laura Davis has been gracious enough to share with me the
intimate details of her life - including opening up about her experiences with depression, exacerbated
by her trauma from McLaughlin and the recent loss of her two sons. While facts can communicate and
prove a story, there is nothing more palpable than the emotion of a human being impacted not only by
the initial trauma, but the thoughtless actions of others in its wake, and a lack of change or closure. It is
the hope that Laura’s story is sufficient evidence to people who remain filled with doubt that the
23 Abuse finding didn't end ex-deacon's work with children | AP News
8
statute of limitations is indeed significant and necessary - as well as proof that we must work harder as a
society to ensure an instinctual belief of victims, in order to avoid heightening existing painful wounds.
9
Bibliography
A&E Television Networks. (n.d.). 1969 Stonewall Riots - Origins, Timeline & Leaders. History.com.
https://www.history.com/topics/gay-rights/the-stonewall-riots
Davis, Laura. Facebook. (n.d.). Kenneth McLaughlin Knights of Columbus Sexual Misconduct. Retrieved from:
https://www.facebook.com/people/Kenneth-McLaughlin-Knights-of-Columbus-sexual-misconduct/1
00060054199807/?sk=photos
Gonzalez, D. (2022, January 20). How fire defined the Bronx, and Us. The New York Times.
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/20/nyregion/bronx-fires.html
Graham, R. (2023, June 2). What the latest investigations into Catholic Church sex abuse mean. The New York
Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/02/us/catholic-church-sex-abuse-investigations.html
Mcmaster, G. (2020, August 5). Researchers reveal patterns of sexual abuse in religious settings. Folio.
https://www.ualberta.ca/folio/2020/08/researchers-reveal-patterns-of-sexual-abuse-in-religioussettings.html
Jeffrey Davis v. Columbian Squires, et al. (Bronx County, NY March 9, 2021).
McGill, K., & Mustian, J. (2023, September 29). Abuse finding didn’t end ex-deacon’s work with children. AP
News. https://apnews.com/article/religion-sexual-abuse-by-clergy-ba9600dbeb5b419b993aa2650
4778a2a
McGill, L., & McElvaney, R. (2023, January). Adult and adolescent disclosures of Child sexual abuse: A
comparative analysis. Journal of interpersonal violence. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/
10
PMC9723505/#:~:text=It%20is%20estimated%20that%20between,years%20(McElvaney%2
C%202002)
New York Daily News. (2019, January 12). Squire McLaughlin Marks 50 years escorting kids' lives.
https://www.nydailynews.com/1996/06/02/squire-mclaughlin-marks-50-years-escorting-kids-lives/
Sequeira, R. (2023, January 28). Knights of Columbus, victims of sexual abuse at father Duffy Squires Basketball
Program Settle lawsuit. Bronx Times. https://www.bxtimes.com/knights-of-columbus-abuse-victims/
Interview Transcripts
Transcripts.pdf
Email Chains
Knights of Columbus - Request for Comment Response:
RE_ Reaching out for a comment - feldbloo@usc.edu - University of Southern California Mail.pdf
Laura Davis - Request for Assistance: Fw_ victim assistance - feldbloo@usc.edu - University of Southern …
11
Link to Documentary: YouTube - Doe v. Knights
Documentary Script
PROLOGUE
James Marsh, Founder Marsh Law Firm,
President of Child USA
VO James Marsh
James Interview 0:20:37 - 0:20:48, 0:08:11 -
0:08:13
Getty Drone Shot, “Bronx In Winter” (usable
under Impact license): 0:00 - 0:10
Clip 0259, “Bronx” folder: 00:24 - 00:33
Playground shot
It’s like the old adage: why do you rob banks?
That’s where the money is.
Why are you running a boys club? That’s where
the boys are.
Laura Davis, Victim of Kenneth
McLaughlin
VO Laura Davis
Laura Interview 0:17:52 - 0:17:55
Photo of Laura’s family, then Laura as a teenager
Nobody would listen to me. Nobody.
Robbie Sequeira
Robbie Interview 0:06:16 - 0:06:19
SOT
There are people who are calling me saying that,
you know, you're not getting the true story.
James Marsh
James Interview 0:02:52 - 0:02:58
Court documents on table
It sort of almost fell through the cracks. Which is,
I think, a metaphor for this case.
Laura Davis, Victim of Kenneth
McLaughlin
VO Laura Davis
I wrote to the church, and they were like, Oh, we
only do priests.
24
24 Davis email chain. Was vocally told “they only do priests.”
12
Laura Interview 0:03:50 - 0:03:55
Getty: Church stained glass window
Available under Impact license
James Marsh
VO James Marsh
James Interview 0:09:46 - 0:10:10
Clip
News clip of McLaughlin photo with headline
about his death
SOT: This is not involving a priest.
When…we started to get reports from more than
one person about what had happened at this
Knights of Columbus chapter in the Bronx, we
said you know, wow, this is…this is different. This
is not involving a priest.
Bronx12 Sports
News video, Pat O’Keefe SOT (fair use well
under 15 seconds)
Ken McLaughlin, a legendary basketball
coach…passed away on Sunday at the age of 93.
Robbie Sequeira, Investigative Reporter
VO Robbie Sequeira
Robbie Interview 0:29:51 - 0:30:05
Clip
Playground shot
Robbie’s article title spans left to right: “Knights
of Columbus, victims of sexual abuse at Father
Duffy Squires basketball program”
(https://www.bxtimes.com/knights-of-columbu
s-abuse-victims/)
Robbie SOT: That’s a big number.
This was really a Bronx institution, a community,
and how the legacy of that is tarnished by
these…allegations of more than 100 boys being
sexually abused, that's a big number.
James Marsh
James VO
James Interview 0:11:55 - 0:12:09
There was really a media fatigue in covering the
story.
13
Front pages of newspaper from Catholic News
Archive: “List of priests with substantiated
allegations…” and front page of Globe’s
Spotlight article
James SOT: Despite our attempts…
Despite our attempts to qualify and quantify
that this was a different story than your typical
Catholic Church sex scandal.
Laura Davis
VO Laura Davis
Laura Interview 07:33 - 07:52
Getty plain outdoor basketball net close-up
(approved under Impact license): “Basket in
autumn”
2 childhood photos of Laura
Laura SOT: And I was one of them.
To this day, I still get emails saying, “He was the
best coach for my son.” And I go, I'm glad he
went through a period of not being sexually
active. But when he was, his choice was children.
And I was one of them.
Marci Hamilton, CEO Child USA and
UPenn Professor, Department of Political
Science
Marci Interview 0:05:02 - 0:05:14
Marci Interview 0:05:37 - 0:05:48
Civil document with active highlights: “conceal
their own bad acts failing to protect,” “extremely
limited statute of limitations.” (Adobe
AfterEffects)
SOT Marci: And it meant the poison stayed in
the system.
I think one of the great tragedies of the last 20
years is that we've learned that virtually every
religious organization is perfectly capable of
letting children be sexually abused and covering
it up.
So what that means is that when they find out
the ugly truth…they didn't go to the authorities.
And it meant the poison stayed in the system.
PROLOGUE OVER
(runs approx. 2+ mins currently)
Title Card: “Doe v. Knights”
BEGIN SECTION 1 Knights of Columbus context
Establishing shot of NYC
Driving into the city, 2 shots
Nat. sound
14
INTRO JAMES MARSH
James Marsh VO
James Interview 00:01:19 - 00:01:27
James Interview 00:04:19 - 00:04:22
Establishing shots: NYC streets.
So the Knights of Columbus case that our firm,
you know, took on about five years ago, actually
originated during a time when the New York
window had been open, which allowed…historic
claims of sexual abuse to be brought against
institutions.
James Marsh VO
James Interview 11:14 - 11:28
James Interview 00:02:21 - 00:02:25
James Interview 00:02:42 - 00:02:55
Establishing sequence: James Marsh office.
OSEA sticker on laptop, books on shelf, photos
of himself and staff, name tag.
SOT: It sort of almost fell through the cracks,
which is sort of, I think, a metaphor for this case.
I got an original call, actually went in through
child USA… it wasn't until six months later,
where, ‘Oh, I've got to call this person back.’ It
sort of almost fell through the cracks. Which is
sort of, I think, a metaphor for this case.
James Marsh VO
James Interview 0:09:17 - 0:09:28
James SOT
Something like the Knights of Columbus, you
know, although you may have heard of it, and
you may have some idea in your mind, that it's
some Catholic institution, if you're not Catholic,
you're like, I don't really know what they do.
Robbie Sequeira VO
Robbie Interview 00:09:51 - 00:10:13
Public library archive, Knights of Columbus
vintage photo, photo - cut between
The Knights of Columbus is a nationwide
organization. They're kind of a stronghold pretty
much everywhere.
They are like these big community groups.
They'll have these fish fried dinners or charity
events or programming and so they have a place
in communities.
15
Clip: President Ronald Reagan addressing the
Knights of Columbus, staring into camera,
sitting at desk (public library archive)
SOT 10 seconds
02:47 - 03:08 (spliced to remove about 10
seconds in the middle)
Since becoming President, my appreciation for
the KOC has deepened. You can’t sit where I’m
sitting now and fail to understand the
importance of Americans who give as much to
our nation as you do….
James Marsh VO
James Interview 00:04:57 - 00:05:20
Photo sequence, boys club history:
Herbert Hoover Library and Museum Archives
Library of Congress, Lewis Hine photo for the
National Child Labor Committee.
SOT: I think the KOC grew out of that
movement of developing institutions that serve
boys, specifically.
Youth serving organizations were historically
aimed at men, boys at the time, especially in the
pre World War and post World War era, boys
clubs…the boys club movement, which was very,
very popular in the 20s and 30s, we're talking 100
years ago.
25
And I think the Knights of Columbus grew out
of that movement of developing institutions that
serve boys, specifically.
James Marsh VO
James Interview 06:23 - 06:53
James' office/working sequence continues:
typing, shots from behind as he scrolls through
documents, checking his phone, etc.
SOT: That is sort of the dual tragedy of these
institutions.
So they were literally building institutions to
attract boys, which obviously has a very positive
component, right? Get kids off the street, keep
them out of trouble…
But it also provides an environment in which
predators like, in this case, can target. And that,
you know, is sort of the dual tragedy of these
institutions.
Marci Hamilton VO
Marci Interview 0:06:25 - 0:06:35
SOT Marci
You know, the rules for the Catholic Church
come from the top down. There's no question
about it. And the lay person's organizations are
ruled by those rules as much as anyone.
25 Historical Timeline | Boys & Girls Club
16
James Marsh VO
James Interview 0:12:22 - 0:12:35
Moving graphic begins:
Tree diagram illustrating the branches of
Catholic Church responsibility, growing
upward.
One of the things that a lot of people don't
understand….is that any Catholic institution
operating within a diocese, ultimately reports to
the Bishop of that diocese.
26
James Marsh VO cont’d.
0:13:00 - 0:13:10
Moving graphic continues (After Effects):
Tree diagram illustrating the branches of
Catholic Church responsibility, growing
upward.
SOT: I think that’s the most important point to
make here.
5 minute mark
A Catholic institution, a hospital, a Knights of
Columbus chapter, that all has to be approved by
a bishop. That is all based on the structure of the
church, all the way up to Rome. So these
institutions do not exist in a vacuum.
27
I think
that’s the most important point to make here.
James Marsh VO
James Interview 0:19:37 - 0:19:43
James Interview 0:19:00 - 0:19:29
James’ office sequence continues.
SOT James: Why would a corporate lawyer leave
his job to run a Knights of Columbus chapter?
Kenneth McLaughlin is sort of a poster child for
sex offenders worldwide in that there were many
red flags about him that, you know, anyone with
half a brain sort of could say, Geez, that's, that's a
little odd. You know, why would a corporate
lawyer leave his job to run a Knights of
Columbus chapter?
27 International Associations of the Faithful, Directory - Pontifical Councils for the Laity
26 1.2.1 - Canonical and Civil Organization
17
BEGIN SECTION 2 WHO IS KEN?
Driving into Manhattan shots to set up
Robbie interview
12 seconds
Nat. Sound
INTRO ROBBIE SEQUEIRA
Robbie Interview 00:26 - 00:40
Establishing shots continue
SOT Robbie “Under the umbrella of the KOC
organization, a group in the Fordham section of
the Bronx.”
I received an email from someone who had been
to the Father Duffy squires basketball program,
which was under the umbrella of the Knights of
Columbus organization, a group in the Fordham
section of the Bronx.
28
Robbie Sequeira VO
Robbie Interview 02:56 - 03:08
Court documents on table.
Robbie’s article on screen.
Robbie working sequence commences.
One of the victims, he was part of the team in the
80s. And he's telling me that…he didn't really feel
like he could come out about this because he
didn't want his family to have to be kind of
known as snitches.
Robbie Sequeira VO
Robbie 04:03 - 04:31
Continue Robbie working sequence.
It took a while from that email…I was able to
kind of piece together things, you know, piece
together eras of McLaughlin’s tenure. Most
importantly, I was able to kind of draw a line
between generations of people impacted by this
program, for better or for worse.
Robbie Sequeira VO
Robbie Interview 00:59 - 01:30
Court documents filmed on table.
Then, a virtual screenshot of the complaint -
movement added.
This lawsuit in 2021
29
, by a man named Jeffrey
Davis, and a couple of other unnamed plaintiffs
had basically put against the civil judgment
against the Knights of Columbus, given that
Kenneth McLaughlin had been accused of sexual
abuse, inappropriate conduct with an estimated
29 Relevant lawsuit documents linked in bibliography.
28 To protect the source name, the physical email was not shared with the author of this document.
18
SOT Robbie: Inappropriate conduct with an
estimated….
hundreds of boys throughout the 50 years that he
was at this program.
Robbie Sequeira VO
Robbie Interview 10:25 -10:39
Getty video: “Retro gymnasium”
Generic basketball gym (approved under Impact
license) 10 seconds
Photo of Ken from the news package with the
title on it about his death.
My editor, actually, he had told me that he
remembered playing against them in basketball.
When he had remembered McLaughlin, he
remembered these kids, and he just kind of
remembered that there was like an intensity
about McLaughlin.
Laura Davis VO
Laura Interview 00:12 - 00:27
While on the photo of Ken, Laura’s voice comes
in.
Screenshot of article celebrating McLaughlin,
panning through the title: Squire McLaughlin
marks 50 years…
SOT Laura: All the time, I knew what he did.
Ken had a scholarship with the Knights of
Columbus and everybody idolized him.
There was like a ceremony for his tenure, you
know, so many years volunteering. And all the
time, I knew what he did.
Bronx12 Sports
News video, Pat O’Keefe SOT (fair use under 15
seconds)
0:06 - 0:15
Ken McLaughlin, a legendary basketball coach
who ran the Father Duffy Squires program AAU
Program out of the Bronx for more than 50 years
passed away on Sunday at the age of 93.
James Marsh VO
James Interview 0:20:52 - 0:21:09
SOT
He was an individual who, like so many
offenders, was well-loved, well-liked, prominent
in his community, wealthy, engaged with youth.
19
Robbie Sequeira VO
Robbie Interview 03:33 - 03:54
SOT Robbie: He really kind of built this
reputation as fostering these young boys. And a
lot of people don't want to see a dark side of
that.
He really kind of built this reputation as
fostering these young boys. And a lot of people
don't want to see a dark side of that.
James Marsh VO
James Interview 0:21:24 - 0:21:45
YouTube comments from tribute to Ken appear
on screen: “One of a kind,” “Thank you for all
the time, money, energy…”
Retrieved from YouTube video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cw0d5lw
hPVI
James Marsh SOT: “You know, what a great
guy…”
Oftentimes, the narrative gets flipped. You know,
what a great guy to leave his corporate job to
leave the trappings of wealth, power of being a
lawyer could do anything you want to the hero,
he is serving kids, what could be more notable
than that and more positive than that?
James Marsh VO
James Interview 0:21:47 - 0:22:05
Getty Drone Shot, “Bronx In Winter” (usable
under Impact license): 0:00 - 0:10
Step back and sort of look at it, you know, single
man, lots of money in his pocket…in reality, had
the trappings of wealth, certainly to a
community in the Bronx that was made up of
mostly poor immigrant kids who didn't have
dinner lots of times.
SECTION 3 THE 70s/80s: LAURA’S STORY
Transition Sequence
Bronx location sequence
Approx. 20 seconds
Music/Nat. Sound
INTRO LAURA DAVIS
Laura Interview 03:02 - 03:09
While finishing the Bronx sequence, Laura starts
I contacted James and I said… you have my story
on your page.
20
talking.
SOT Laura: You have my story on your page.
Laura Davis VO
Laura Interview 11:56 - 12:00
Photo of Laura with her family.
Every single brother got molested. And me.
Three brothers.
30
Laura Davis VO
Laura Interview 12:16 - 12:19
Photo cont’d.
And so Jeff went into the lawsuit.
Laura Davis VO
Laura Interview 08:27 - 08:43 (portion cut in
the middle, approx. 12 seconds)
Laura Interview 09:20 - 09:27
CU of Laura’s dad
Photo of Laura and her mother
My father was, I guess, he was an alcoholic. He
drank every day. But you know, my mom got
really very glamorous and started cheating on my
dad all the time.
She was beautiful, too. She had tons and tons of
beautiful clothing.
CARD
10 seconds
Laura’s other brother did not join the lawsuit.
His name has been redacted.
Laura Davis VO
Laura Interview 00:55 - 01:23
Photo of younger Laura, slow zoom
Getty: Slow video close-up of landline phone,
available under Impact license
SOT Laura: I hung up the phone, I got so
scared….
I called Ken. And I said to him…Hi, this is Laura
Davis, redacted Davis’ sister. I want to have a
reunion with the squires for redacted. And Ken,
you know what he said to me? He goes, that's
funny, because redacted thought you were a real
bitch.
I got so scared. He scared….it scared me. It was
like as if I got attacked again.
Laura Davis VO
Laura Interview 09:45 - 10:06
Blurred stack of papers on table
Ken started writing letters….I found the letters.
30 Only one of Laura’s brothers, Jeff Davis, joined the lawsuit and officially supported this claim.
21
CARD The letters Laura is referring to were allegedly
written by McLaughlin and given to her brother
on a trip to Puerto Rico.
Laura Davis VO
Blurred stack of papers on table cont’d.
Getty Empty Dark Room (covered under
Impact license)
That were like from a woman saying, you know, I
want to have sex with you, I'm so horny and all
that. In Puerto Rico, he would wait in the room.
He was waiting for this woman and she never
came. And then Ken would come in.
CARD In 2021, Laura started a Facebook page dedicated
to finding other victims of McLaughlin before
the legal window closed.
Laura Davis VO
Laura Interview
04:56 - 05:07
Screen recording: Laura’s Facebook page
Clicking through posts, asking for other
survivors to come forward
VO comes in midway through this virtual
sequence.
Click into photo of Poe Park that dips into
modern shot of Poe Park.
The sad thing is like I started then finding, you
know, writing and finding men, but some like,
was so damaged and they didn't come forward.
SECTION 4 SPEAKING OUT
Robbie Sequeira VO
Robbie Interview 02:40 - 02:55
Robbie’s office sequence continues
It's important to note that they were children,
and they didn't have any choice in that matter,
and they were being taken advantage of. But it's
still that shame carries you.
22
And it's hard to kind of talk about it, particularly
given this tight knit community that we're
talking about.
Robbie Sequeira VO
Robbie Interview 07:37 - 08:08 +
14:20 - 15:16 (spliced to remove approx 15-20
seconds)
About 40 seconds
Robbie’s office sequence cont’d.
SOT Robbie: How are you sure that these
things are preventing abuses that are happening
now?
The KOC Youth Protection Service, they handle
the allegations against Knights of Columbus
affiliates and groups and programs.
When I called them for the story, and I called
them many times did not get back to me. There
was only one occasion where I talked to a person
on the phone. They didn't really want to go into
comment about past allegations. I asked them the
question of, you know, how are you sure that
these things are preventing abuses that are
happening now?
Is there a system for people to speak out about
abuse, but not feel like there's going to be
brushed back? But when I asked about it, they
didn't want to talk…they declined to comment
more or less.
CARD The Knights of Columbus provided this
statement when asked for their participation in
this documentary:
We do not comment on the details of any specific
claim of sexual abuse but take any allegation of
abuse seriously. Sexual abuse directly contradicts
the identity and mission of the Knights of
Columbus and has no place in our organization.
We commend the courage of survivors who
decide to come forward with their experiences of
abuse.
Laura Davis VO
Laura interview 03:51 - 03:55
I wrote to the Church, and they were like, ‘Oh,
we only do priests.’
23
After Effects: Laura’s exact email being typed
out on-screen:
To: Victim's Assistance Coordinator
Subject: victim assistance
I would like help regarding the following
information:
Kenneth McLaughlin established himself as a
basketball coach at the Knights of Columbus for
the Father Duffy, Squires, Grand Concourse,
Bronx, NY, where there have been reports of
sexual misconduct.
I was one of the females of this abuse.
Please inform me how I may move forward.
Thank you.
Sincerely, Laura Davis
Laura Davis SOT
Laura Interview 04:03 - 04:15
Then, the second part of the email continues
being typed on screen.
If you go into the Church, they say we want to
help, now we have this person that you can
contact and you can tell about the priests that
abused you.
31
Laura Davis VO
04:49 - 04:51
Photo of email response from victim assistance.
Relevant parts highlighted.
“God Bless You” CU
I never could get connected.
CARD
10 seconds
After being told her case would be passed along,
Laura received no further response.
31 Email chain from Laura Davis.
24
That email was sent in 2019.
Laura Davis VO
Laura Interview 06:22 - 06:25
Laura Interview 17:32 - 17:48
Photos of younger Laura Davis
SOT “Throw them in the air…”
You have to realize you’re brave and then you’re
not brave.
When I was younger, I was going to do flyers, and
I was going to go to Yonkers and just throw them
in the air, like around his town.
Laura Davis VO
Laura Interview 03:21 - 03:26
“Nobody would listen to me…”
Approx 14:30 mins
Nobody would listen to me. Nobody.
Laura Davis SOT
Laura Interview 07:53 - 08:00
Fade out on Laura
Music
And they’d think I’d get money. I didn’t get any
money.
32 Because it had to happen at the Knights
of Columbus. I was like, no, I’m sorry, it
happened in my bedroom.
James Marsh SOT
James Interview 0:41:59 - 0:42:12
I think the one major factor that contributed to
this broad reckoning in the state of New York,
and really across the country, was the elimination
of the statute of limitations for historical sex
abuse and sex crimes.
SECTION 5 CHILD VICTIMS ACT/STATUTE OF
LIMITATIONS LAW
Graphic
10 seconds
2019
CBS News Clip
Anchor 0:01 - 0:11
Begins under the graphic, then comes on screen
10 seconds, allowed under fair use
A one year window of opportunity is opening up
for child sex abuse victims in NY State
Wednesday. The new law would allow victims to
32 The official results of the settlement were not able to be shared by attorneys.
25
New York opens "lookback window" for c…seek justice no matter how long ago the abuse
took place.
James Marsh + Marci Hamilton discussing
(Video owned by Marsh Law Firm, materials
released)
0:24 - 0:39
James Marsh YouTube channel, clicking effect
launches video full screen so it is clear where
video is from.
Understanding the New York Child Victi…
We’re here today to talk about the New York
Child Victims Act. Which just passed - was it
really last week?
Marci: Two weeks.
James: Two weeks. It’s been an incredible two
weeks. Marci, can you believe that it’s really
happened?
Marci: Well, it’s been fifteen years.
(Fade out Marci talking)
INTRO MARCI HAMILTON
Marci Hamilton VO
Marci Interview 01:41 - 02:01
SOT
Establishing sequence, Pennsylvania, outside of
home.
Marci’s sequence in her home begins.
The New York Child Victims Act was the most
successful window in the United States.
So far, the other windows have won maybe 1000,
maybe 1500 claims. But in New York, it was over
10,500.
33 So it was a lot of survivors coming
forward with a lot of truth for the public.
Marci Hamilton VO
Marci Interview 08:52 - 09:11
Marci Interview 11:11 - 11:27
Marci SOT: It takes them decades….
Marci working sequence commences at: And so,
if that’s the truth….
Marci SOT: Anyone in the Catholic or other…
Child sex abuse victims, delay disclosure, it takes
them decades on right now, we estimate that
around the average age is 50. And so if that's the
truth, then you can't shut these victims down at
age 20, at age 30, or even age 50.
The only reason we know what we do about the
Catholic Church is because of the civil lawsuits.
If you subtracted those from the equation, we
would not have 10% of the knowledge we have
today, which means a lot more children would
still be at risk.
33
“Remedying Injustice”: | Bond Schoeneck & King PLLC - JDSupra.
26
SOT “And anyone in the Catholic…”
And anyone in the Catholic or other religious
organization that tells you differently, is not
disclosing the truth. They're only disclosing what
they're disclosing because courts are making
them.
Marci on CBS NY
Web Extra: Gov. Cuomo Signs Child Victi…
Fair Use - under 10 seconds
15:40 - 15:49
We are standing on the shoulders of every
survivor who didn’t make it over the last fifteen
years. We are fortunate to be here.
Marci Hamilton VO
Marci Interview 00:45 - 01:15
Marci working sequence continues
I was called by Representative Marge Markey in
2002 to help with the New York window, and so
I drafted the first window, and actually was
involved with drafting all the way up to passage.
So it did take us until 2019 to get the bill passed.
Marci Hamilton standing with Gov. Cuomo
while signing Child Victims Act
26:15 - 26:25
Fair Use - under 10 seconds
Fades into applause
Governor Cuomo Signs the Child Victims…
But it was very gratifying to be there with
Governor Cuomo and with survivors and
advocates was a long haul.
Marci Hamilton VO
Marci Interview 05:03 - 05:27
Working sequence continues for 20 seconds.
Court document with highlighted portions
from prologue.
I think one of the great tragedies of the last 20
years is that we've learned that virtually every
religious organization is perfectly capable of
letting children be sexually abused and covering
it up.
27
Marci Hamilton SOT
Marci Interview 05:37 - 05:48
So what that means is that when they find out
the ugly truth, they historically, they didn't go to
the authorities. And it meant the poison stayed
in the system.
James Marsh VO
James Interview 0:36:42 - 0:37:44
(approx. 25 seconds cut out of this chunk)
40 seconds approx.
SOT “So a lot of what happened in the Church”
to “outright hostility.”
Images from Library of Congress: ‘investigations
into homosexuals’ interim report
News clipping: “Senator Hill Proposes
Complete Inquiry Into Hiring of Undesirables”
A lot of what happened in the church, and a lot
of what happened at the Knights of Columbus
really was impacted by not just negative
connotations of homosexuality, but outright
hostility.
If you are the victim of a male offender in the
50s, there is no way you're going to come
forward. So, you know, that taboo was really a
very powerful factor in keeping kids quiet, even
in a milieu where everyone can see what’s going
on.
James Marsh VO
James Interview 0:53:23 - 0:53:31
0:54:32 - 0:54:41
Court documents on table, filmed.
James SOT: That club I’ve been hearing
about?...
How Kenneth McLaughlin met other sex
offenders, you had to have a layer of trust that
you go up to a stranger and say, Are you in my
club? That club I've been hearing about? What
are you talking about? You know, don't come
back. Right?
Marci Hamilton VO
Marci Interview 07:04 - 07:19
Getty: Church stained glass window
15 seconds
Available under Impact license
SOT: What the rule against scandal does….
It's a system that has capitalized on the rule
against scandal as it's called. And what the rule
against scandal does is it scares people into eternal
damnation if they tell the truth.
SECTION 6 CONCLUSION
Poe Park Sequence begins Nat. sound
28
Robbie Sequeira VO
Robbie Interview 06:57 - 07:20
Shots of the Bronx street, of the old
building/current affordable housing complex.
Clicking effect into Laura’s Facebook photos of
the park/area.
You know, the program ceased in 2005. So
literally the remnants of what was the Father
Duffy Squires basketball team is now an
affordable housing complex.
34
So that also is this kind of mystery with it too. It
lives in a lot of people's memories. It's, not, you
know, something that you can physically go to
and see anymore.
Marci Hamilton SOT
Marci Interview 16:12 - 16:29
Quantifying it, that’s the way things will change.
Right now, there is no way to quantify it. And so
what we have is bishops and others saying, great
program, but it's based on subjective assessments
that are not enforced.
Laura Davis VO
Laura Interview 22:53 - 23:23
Photo of Laura as a young girl
Laura Davis SOT: The things that happen to
you because of it…
I remember as a little girl, like, trying to stay
awake all night, trying to keep my eyes open all
night.
The things that happen to you because of it. It's
like a shrilling fear. It's like an electric shock that
just goes in and it just damages you everywhere.
James Marsh VO
James Interview 0:31:25 - 0:31:49
0:32:11 - 0:32:24
0:31:19 - 0:31:23
Getty: Empty church pews
There’s no institutional knowledge of what
occurred in those days or that there even was a
clubhouse.
That makes it very hard because there is no place
to go for that understanding of what happened.
34 Verified by Google Maps and author visit to the building.
29
Laura Davis
Laura Interview 14:01 - 14:15
Playground sequence
It's in every pore of your body.
James VO
Park sequence continues and fades into white
from the sun.
I mean, you know, prayers are nice.
But accountability is even more important.
CARD The case of Jeffrey Davis, Doe 1, Doe 2, Doe 3,
Doe 8, and Doe 9 v. Knights of Columbus was
settled in 2021 to the “satisfaction of both
parties.”
It has been nearly a decade since Kenneth
McLaughlin passed away.
It has been 78 years since he first started with the
Squires.
As of March 7, 2024, there is still no activity
regarding any Statute of Limitations Reform
Bills for child sex abuse in 18 states and 6
territories.
35
Approximate Final Run Time: 21 minutes
35 Child USA, 2024: https://childusa.org/2024sol/
30
Abstract (if available)
Abstract
This documentary explores just one example of the void left in the notorious worldwide story of sexual abuse and concealment within the Catholic Church: the laymen. Though there was wide media coverage about abuse that occurred as a result of Church figures - namely bishops and priests - arguably left behind were the Catholic lay organizations for which the Church ultimately remained responsible . In this story, a Knights of Columbus youth group in the Bronx, New York, endured sexual abuse at the hands of their “Grand Knight” leader, Kenneth McLaughlin, for over fifty years - according to legal documents and personal interviews. Despite a civil case finding the Knights of Columbus liable for what occurred, my interviews with Laura Davis, Robbie Sequeira and James Marsh on March 7, 2024, February 17, 2024, and Jan. 5, 2024, respectively, suggested much of the tight-knit community remains adamant that McLaughlin's reputation is being tarnished. Through the voice of a victim, attorney, a journalist who covered the case and a leading expert in children and religious abuse, this documentary demonstrates pieces of the toll and impact of McLaughlin’s reign over this youth basketball team. Despite efforts on the part of several professionals and myself, the findings show insufficient concrete evidence of changes in the Knights of Columbus programming to protect children. The findings confirm the claims within legal documents that McLaughlin irreversibly damaged the lives of many individuals that have carried the nightmare into their adulthood, and raise questions about where the responsibility lies for the prolonged trauma.
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Asset Metadata
Creator
Feldbloom, Marguerite Florence
(author)
Core Title
Doe v. Knights
School
Annenberg School for Communication
Degree
Master of Arts
Degree Program
Journalism (Specialized Journalism)
Degree Conferral Date
2024-05
Publication Date
06/19/2024
Defense Date
05/09/2024
Publisher
Los Angeles, California
(original),
University of Southern California
(original),
University of Southern California. Libraries
(digital)
Tag
documentary,investigative,OAI-PMH Harvest,Religion
Format
theses
(aat)
Language
English
Contributor
Electronically uploaded by the author
(provenance)
Advisor
Birman, Daniel H. (
committee chair
)
Creator Email
feldbloo@usc.edu,maggiefeldbloom@gmail.com
Permanent Link (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.25549/usctheses-oUC113996WQT
Unique identifier
UC113996WQT
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etd-FeldbloomM-13124.pdf (filename)
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Thesis
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theses (aat)
Rights
Feldbloom, Marguerite Florence
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texts
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(batch),
University of Southern California
(contributing entity),
University of Southern California Dissertations and Theses
(collection)
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Tags
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