SYRACUSE (NY)
The Palladium Times
SYRACUSE (AP) -- The Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse said Wednesday it was removing a 65-year-old priest from ministry after finding sufficient evidence he may have sexually abused three young girls and a woman in the 1980s.
A second priest, meanwhile, was cleared of sexual abuse allegations.
Church officials said sufficient evidence was found incriminating the Rev. Thomas F. Keating, who allegedly abused three young sisters while serving as pastor of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Cortland from 1982 to 1993. The sisters were 12, 13 and 14 at the time and attended the church's grade school.
Keating also was accused of sexually abusing a woman who had gone to him in 1982 to tell him she had been raped by another priest.
Spokeswoman Danielle Cummings said the diocese's finding does not mean Keating is guilty, but his case had raised "serious concerns."
Posted by kshaw at December 16, 2004 08:16 AM