BishopAccountability.org
	Harlem Rallies for Embattled Priest By Herb Boyd AmNews August 7, 2008 http://www.amsterdamnews.com/news/Article/Article.asp?NewsID=90408&sID=4 Highly regarded and widely lauded Monsignor Wallace Harris, who played such an important role in the visit of Pope Benedict XVI to Yankee Stadium last spring and was for many years the pastor of St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Harlem, has been removed from his position following allegations he abused two minors 20 years ago. A statement from the Archdiocese of New York released Monday said Harris, 61, has been directed to step aside from his position as pastor, “and is not permitted to function as a priest until such time as the Archdiocesan Advisory Review Board has studied the matter and made its recommendations to the Archdiocese.” “In accord with Archdiocesan policy and the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, the matter was immediately investigated by the archdiocese and then referred to the Office of the District Attorney for Manhattan,” the statement continued. “The District Attorney’s Office conducted its own investigation, in the course of which it received a second allegation, which it subsequently reported to the Archdiocese.” According to the archdiocese, the first accusation occurred in June. An internal investigation followed, and the church sent the case to the district attorney’s office. However, no action was taken to remove the monsignor because the church has a policy “not to alert the target” of a potential criminal investigation. While the district attorney’s office was investigating the first accusation, a second one was made against Harris and that’s when the archdiocese ordered him to step aside. The prosecutor’s office told the press that because the five-year statute of limitations in the cases, no charges are likely. Parishioners of the church and people who know Harris personally were stunned to hear of the allegations, many of them unwilling to believe the news. “On Sunday, a representative from the archdiocese in white vestments told the congregation that Monsignor Harris had been removed,” said one church member, who asked that her name not be used. “We thought he was on the all-day cruise and that’s why he wasn’t there. Needless to say, the people around me didn’t know what to think and found it incredible that he could be guilty of the allegations.” One news story said that Harris had fondled the two minors, though it is still not clear why they waited so long to divulge the incidents. Attempts to reach Harris were unsuccessful and there are reports that he’s in seclusion and unavailable to the press. As pastor of his church and chairman of the archdiocesan priests’ council, Harris has been a very visible in community and civic affairs in Harlem and beyond his parish. Cardinal Edward Egan appointed him vicar of central Harlem, one of five vicariates in the five boroughs. And there were rumors that he was in line to become a bishop. Earlier this year, Harris delivered the invocation at the inaugural ceremonies for Gov. David Paterson. “We will wait until the investigation has been completed before addressing the matter,” said a spokesman from the governor’s office. “We don’t want to interfere in the investigation.” Janice Moore Smith, in her message to the Roman Catholic blog, unequivocally defended Harris. “It is with the greatest faith that I state that I do not believe the allegations that have been made against Monsignor Harris,” she wrote. “You would have to know him to know that he is a man of integrity, compassion, sound judgment and superior intelligence. Those parishioners with whom I spoke are devastated but we are unified in our commitment to prayer and believe Monsignor Harris will be vindicated and hopefully returned to us who sincerely appreciate and love him dearly.” It’s much too early in the investigation to determine what the outcome will be for Harris. Among the options: he could be returned to the lay state or allowed to retire to “a life of prayer and penance,” an inactive status, said a spokesperson for the archdiocese. Monsignor Harris is one of 15 archdiocesan priests who have been removed since 2002 on sexual abuse allegations, with just one returning to his post, he said.
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.