Bondi: "refused to take any responsibility"

CARMEL - Archbishop Anthony Bondi of the Orthodox Church is concerned about the region’s frail and elderly.

The high priest who resides in Putnam Valley brought his case before members of the Putnam Legislature’s Health, Social, Educational and Environmental Committee.

Bondi alleged that “countless thefts” occur daily in area hospitals and nursing homes.

“These organizations have refused to take any responsibility with the victims or the families left to fend for themselves,” he said.

The archbishop told Legislators Sam Oliverio of Putnam Valley, Legislator Vincent Tamagna of Nelsonville and Legislator Tony Fusco of Mahopac Falls who serve on the committee about an incident that occurred some time ago at a nursing home. “The patient who was a parishioner at my church was virtually left with rags. We went out and purchased $125 worth of clothing. A few days later I returned to the home to celebrate communion and I noticed he was still wearing his old tattered clothing. I asked why he wasn’t wearing his new clothing and his response was: ‘I don’t have any other clothing. I went to the chest of drawers and they were all missing’.”

The archbishop called the illustration “one of many from people I have visited in nursing homes over the years. Families hesitate to complain fearing retribution for their loved ones.”

Bondi said his own mother was a “victim” while being hospitalized. “She had a set of dentures and placed them on a table. Apparently someone walked off with them along with her Rosary. When I questioned the hospital I was told they had no responsibility.”

He called on the legislators to enact a county law holding hospitals and nursing homes responsible for thefts of patient belongings. “Why can’t one drawer in each patient room be lockable?”

Legislator Oliverio who chairs the committee forwarded the Archbishop’s request to the Board of Health requesting that the allegations be investigated. If the board finds that substance to the allegations exist, the Board of Health will create regulations that will prevent such incidents from occurring in the future.

The Orthodox Church in America was originally founded as a mission and later became the Orthodox Church of Russia uniting Orthodox Christians of various nations and traditions.