BishopAccountability.org
	Former Falmouth Priest Sues Two Cape Priests Cape Cod Times November 18, 2010 http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20101118/NEWS11/101119754/-1/NEWSMAP A former local priest filed a defamation suit this month against two other Cape priests, accusing them of making false statements about his character. The Rev. John P. Harrington, a priest at the Catholic Diocese of Fall River, filed the civil suit in Norfolk Superior Court against the Rev. Msgr. John A. Perry and the Rev. William M. Costello. Perry is the pastor at St. Patrick's Church in Falmouth and vicar general of the Fall River Diocese. Costello is pastor of St. Anthony's Parish in Falmouth. According to court records, Harrington claims Perry and Costello made defamatory statements regarding his character that “were false and totally devoid of any substance.” The diocese believes “the suit is completely without merit and the decision to pursue it unfortunate,” a press release states. Perry and Costello have said Harrington “stalked” a male high school student. Diocese spokesman John Kearns said Harrington was a priest at St. Patrick's in Falmouth from June 2004 to November 2005. He then served on a part-time basis at several diocese churches. Since the middle of 2006, Harrington has been unassigned, Kearns said, declining to give the reason. Harrington's attorney, Lawrence P. Murray, said his client tried to address the accusation against him with the diocese leadership for several years before filing the suit. “This is more about vindicating himself and getting back his good name, which he cherishes,” Murray said of Harrington's motive for filing the lawsuit.
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.