BAY HEAD (NJ)
Asbury Park Press
Published in the Asbury Park Press By RICHARD QUINN
TOMS RIVER BUREAU
BAY HEAD -- A Catholic priest formerly accused of sexual abuse -- the charges were dropped three months ago after the accuser committed suicide -- has asked the Diocese of Trenton to put him back in the borough parish he used to lead.
The Rev. Patrick Francis Magee, who was pastor at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic parish until the charges surfaced, met with Bishop John M. Smith last week and "asked to return to his assignment in Bay Head," diocesan spokeswoman Audra Miller said in a statement released Monday.
Magee's move was expected since the charges were dropped and he was allowed to return to the United States from Ireland. The diocese would put no timetable on when a decision will be made on his request.
Magee's case began in December 2003, when he was arrested in Ireland. He was visiting family in County Down, Northern Ireland, when a man accused him of sexual abuse in incidents said to have occurred there more than 30 years ago. Magee was a seminary student at the time, according to the Trenton diocese.
Posted by kshaw at December 21, 2004 07:44 AM