Editorial: Catholic Church acting on its promises of change

Times Herald-Record
May 9, 2015

http://www.recordonline.com/article/20150509/OPINION/150509417/-1/ENTERTAIN08

Perhaps the most positive thing that can be said at this time about the removal of a priest in Pine Bush because of sex abuse allegations involving a 19-year-old male parishioner is that the Catholic Church appears to be dealing with it as a matter of serious public concern rather than an internal matter to be concealed, covered-up or denied.

Decades of secrecy by the Church regarding sex abuse of young males by priests have been exposed through thousands of allegations worldwide. A new pope has made it clear that, not only priests who are guilty of abuse, but also bishops who cover up for them will be held accountable, removed from their positions of trust. The message of Pope Francis is that there is no longer any room for prideful embarrassment, only definitive action to deal with the allegations openly and as swiftly as possible.

Did this happen in Pine Bush?

Certainly, the Archdiocese of New York has been more open and forthcoming with information on the allegations than in the past. Having removed Kevin Gallagher last summer from the Infant Saviour Parish in Pine Bush, following reports from friends of the young man, the archdiocese in February sent a letter to parishioners advising them that Gallagher - despite the strong recommendation from the archdiocese that he not do so - had returned to Pine Bush.

The letter said that Gallagher “does not currently have ‘faculties’ to serve as a priest - that is, he does not have an assignment, he is not permitted to publicly to function as a priest, and he should not present himself as a priest.”

That’s pretty open. No transfer to other assignment or waiting for more definitive “proof,” as happened in the past. But it’s been a year since the Church was first made aware of these charges and no criminal charges have been filed, or discounted. The archdiocese says there is an “ongoing” investigation by the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, which, as a matter of policy, says it will neither confirm nor deny that.

But Mikey Kyles, the young man who accuses Gallagher of giving him money for drugs in exchange for sex, says he’s been interviewed by the DA’s office as well as the archdiocese investigator. So do his friends. So there’s an investigation. That, too, is a change from the not-so-distant past when church officials saw no need to share allegations of criminal behavior by priests with civil law enforcement authorities.

Why has there been no determination on possible criminal charges after a year? For one thing, Kyles, who is 22 now, was 19 at the time he says the abuse began. He was an adult, which makes prosecution more difficult. For another, there is doubt as to when the archdiocese notified the DA’s office of the allegations.

So, swift? Open to debate.

In any event, it is still a far different story from not so long ago. For Kyles, who says he is recovering from his addiction, and for any other past or future victims, this is good news. For the Church, it’s a long overdue change in behavior.