WTEN
February 28, 2008
http://www.wten.com/Global/story.asp?S=7938433
A Roman Catholic priest is in jail this morning, facing several felony sex abuse charges. Father John Broderick, who is in the Montgomery County Jail, is accused of having inappropriate contact with at least four children, all of them in the same family.
Police say the alleged abuse took place over the course of several months last year. The victims' parents tell investigators that Broderick was a trusted friend.
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NEWS10's Demetra Ganias has more on the relationship between Broderick and his alleged victims.
47-year-old Catholic priest John Broderick is facing four counts each of sexual abuse and endangering the welfare of a child.
Local attorney John Aretakis has been representing the alleged victims for about six months now, and says they and Father Broderick had a strong relationship.
"Extremely close, extremely trusting. The priest was involved in many aspects of the family's life," he said to Demetra Ganias.
Acording to Aretakis, the alleged victims and their family live in the Palatine Bridge area of Montgomery County; and although Father Broderick is from the Syracuse Diocese, he would come to the Albany Diocese to administer to the family. The attorney claims that the priest abused his role as spiritual advisor to the family, and abused the four boys, ages 5 to 11.
Aretakis believes the Albany Diocese would have to have known about Broderick working there, but in a statement from the Diocese, a spokesman says:
"John Broderick is not a priest of the Albany Diocese, and the Albany Diocese has had no knowledge of him prior to learning of this matter."
Though these are the first allegations Artetakis has heard of, he has been looking into Broderick's background, and found the priest is often surrounded by children. He lists, "church youth group, church choir [and] church camping activities,"
He then adds that the alleged victims are suffering, and the family is left questioning their faith.
Meanwhile, Broderick is in the Montgomery County Jail on $50,000 bail.
State police are asking anyone with information about Broderick to call (518) 853-4708.
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