Opinion ID: 2611962
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Genesis

Text: Father Martin Diaz is an ordained Catholic priest. He has been the Pastor of Holy Family Cathedral in Anchorage since 1986. Patricia McAdoo is a licensed physical therapist. She has been an active member of Holy Family Cathedral since her arrival in Anchorage in 1982. She participates in various lay ministries within the church. She was elected to the Pastoral Council in 1986 and served on it until her dismissal in 1990. She serves as a lector and a lay Eucharist minister. From 1987 to 1990, she worked as a volunteer receptionist on Saturdays for Father Diaz, answering the phones and performing other church administrative duties. Ms. McAdoo also worked as a volunteer physical therapist for the Holy Family staff, including Father Diaz. She volunteers in other charitable ministries as well. She has never been compensated for her activities. The relationship between Father Diaz and Ms. McAdoo has been difficult. She describes the relationship as dynamic and admits that they have scrapped and nipped at each other since he became Pastor. He states that she treats him in an abusive and vindictive manner and that they occasionally clashed on numerous matters involving the operation of the Parish. As a licensed physical therapist, Ms. McAdoo is required by law to report promptly instances of elder abuse or neglect. AS 47.24.010(a)(1). An employer or supervisor of a person reporting elder neglect, or an entity providing benefits, services or housing to the reporting person, may not retaliate against the reporting person. AS 47.24.010(h). These statutory obligations and protections form the legal framework for the final deterioration of the relationship between Ms. McAdoo and Father Diaz. Father John Fearon, an elderly priest at Holy Family Cathedral, was hospitalized for transient ischemia in 1987. Ms. McAdoo provided volunteer physical therapy services for Father Fearon during his recovery. On Father Fearon's release, she recommended that Father Diaz make physical changes in the rectory to accommodate Father Fearon's weakened condition, including removing throw rugs from the bathroom, installing grab bars near the toilet and bathtub, and installing handrails on the stairs. Father Diaz resisted these changes. When Ms. McAdoo threatened to report the church for elder neglect, Father Diaz relented and the changes were made. Later Father Diaz discussed with the Pastoral Council plans to renovate the altar. At the meeting, Ms. McAdoo stated that Father Fearon would need a handrail on the altar. As the plans progressed, Ms. McAdoo reminded Father Diaz of the need for a handrail. At a meeting on October 10, 1990, she again brought up the subject. Father Diaz stated, I am tired of hearing about the handrail and there is not going to be a handrail. Ms. McAdoo threatened to report to the State that the plans for an altar without handrails constituted elder neglect. Father Diaz reiterated that there would be no handrails. The next day, Ms. McAdoo called the Division of Family and Youth Services (DFYS) and asked if she was obligated to disclose elder neglect discovered in a volunteer capacity. The representative responded that she was required to do so if her services were uniquely professional in nature and differing significantly from those which could reasonably be expected from an instructed and motivated family member. Ms. McAdoo made an allegation of neglect to DFYS later that day. A representative investigated the allegation and recommended state intervention on Father Fearon's behalf.