January 26, 2005

Abuse charges snag 17 priests

LONG ISLAND (NY)
New York Daily News

BY BRIAN HARMON
LONG ISLAND BUREAU CHIEF

Eight priests on Long Island were defrocked and nine others were suspended this year because of sexual abuse allegations, Bishop William Murphy said in a letter.

But the Catholic Diocese of Rockville Centre stood by its policy of not naming the accused clergymen - a decision that angered victim survivor groups.

"Bishop Murphy must release the names of all the priests accused of sexual abuse," said Tim Echausse, 37, Long Island director of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP).

"It's common sense. These are men who are going back into society looking for jobs," added Echausse of Mineola. "Will they be working with children? Society has a right to know who these people are."

Diocesan spokesman Sean Dolan said the discipline of the accused priests is part of the church's effort "to ensure the horrible tragedy of sexual abuse never occurs again" in the diocese.

Posted by kshaw at January 26, 2005 05:58 AM