BishopAccountability.org
	Ex-clergyman Was Admired in Community By Jeff Green The Morning Journal July 9, 2008 http://www.ohio.com/news/top_stories/24163014.html ELYRIA -- Former Rev. Patrick J. O'Connor was once an admired associate pastor at St. Jude Catholic Church in Elyria. O'Connor, 50, is now being accused of sexual misconduct for the second time in his career, which forced his resignation from the priesthood last month. A 27-year-old Elyria man has alleged he was a victim of sexual misconduct by O'Connor at the church in 1997. The case is being investigated by Elyria police. O'Connor is among at least 20 other priests put on leave by the Cleveland Catholic Diocese since 2002, when it formed its independent review board on cases of sexual abuse, said spokesman Bob Tayek. But churchgoers remember O'Connor for his powerful sermons, knowledge of scripture and kindness. "For him to have left the priesthood is such a waste," said Gail Darmstadt, who has attended St. Jude since 1990. "He gave the best sermons, he was a wonderful orator. He held your attention and he knew what he was talking about. You never slept during his sermons." Darmstadt said that the last time she spoke with O'Connor was a few years ago while he was on administrative leave, from September 2003 and September 2007, due to his first accusation of sexual misconduct at another parish in the diocese. She said she heard that he was selling cars at the time and was pretty good at it. "He said he was just hanging in there, waiting," Darmstadt said. The Vatican Congregation of the Doctrine of Faith reviewed the first case and decided he could return to the ministry with child restrictions, Tayek said. O'Connor was most recently a chaplain to the Sisters of the Most Holy Trinity and Our Lady of Lourdes Shrine, both in Euclid. Tayek said that a shrine is not a place where there are a lot of children. "It was simply felt that it was a prudent thing to slowly allow him to work back into his public ministry," he said. Darmstadt said she was relieved when she found out he was exonerated. When reading the newspaper yesterday morning, she said she was shocked to hear of a second accusation involving the Elyria man. "It's a tough situation," she said. "I'm just extremely saddened. I don't have anything bad to say. I miss him a lot. It's like someone's really trying to attack the church." O'Connor helped lead group pilgrimage to Rome that Darmstadt participated in during the late 1990s, she said. He helped them find the best place to see Pope John Paul II as he drove by, she said. Chris Sito, president of the Lorain County Deanery of the Holy Name Society, said he did not know O'Connor personally, but that priests should not be treated differently than anyone else in a position of authority with regards to sexual misconduct. "With the Catholic priests and church, it's probably the same percentage as other organizations, but looked at totally different standard because of being a priest," Sito said. "I think anybody, including a parent, should be held to a high standard." Sito said that he has never heard of any occurrences of such behavior at his church, Holy Cross Catholic Church in Elyria. He said that the issue is significant gets brought up a lot when a local person is involved. "Everybody should be held to a higher standard," Sito said. "There's no excuse for a parent to do the things they do to their kids at certain times. People of all walks of life do certain things they shouldn't do and that's the part that isn't right." O'Connor was first ordained in January 1985. He began his work at St. Joseph Church in Cuyahoga Falls and later moved to St. Basil in Brecksville. He was associate pastor at St. Jude from 1996 to 2001 for a standard five-year assignment. He was on the faculty of a seminary faculty when he was placed on leave in 2003. Contact: jgreen@morningjournal.co
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.