Ex-Chaminade president suspended as priest for 'credible' abuse allegations

News 12
May 14, 2016

http://longisland.news12.com/news/ex-chaminade-president-suspended-as-priest-for-credible-abuse-allegations-1.11799170

MINEOLA - A former president of Chaminade High School was suspended from serving as a priest due to sex abuse allegations that were deemed "credible," but the alleged victim declined to pursue charges, officials say.

The abuse allegations were made against Father James Williams, who resigned as president of the all-boys school in 2011. The Catholic order of the Marianist Province of Meribah says in a letter sent to Chaminade faculty and families that it suspended Williams from the order that and he is no longer allowed to serve as a functioning priest.

The order says it conducted a "vigorous, thorough and comprehensive investigation" after the allegations were made, and says it "deemed them to be credible."

Williams has denied the allegations.

The Nassau County District Attorney's Office says it received a letter from a diocesan attorney in February 2015 that referenced the allegations. The district attorney's office says it opened an investigation and spoke to the alleged victim, who is a former Chaminade student.

The former student was a legal adult at the time and did not wish to pursue criminal charges, the DA's office says. The two-year statute of limitations had expired in 2013, two years prior to the diocese's reporting of the alleged misconduct. At the time of the letter, the DA's office says Williams was believed to be living in Italy.

The DA's office says it received a nearly identical letter dated May 3, 2016, from a law firm representing the high school. The DA's office says it contacted the victim again, who reiterated that he did not want to pursue charges and wanted to remain anonymous.

The Nassau District Attorney's Office is urging anyone who may have any information regarding allegations of sexual abuse by Father Williams to call the office at at 516-571-3800 and ask for the Special Victims Bureau.

The Marianist order says Williams was a member of the prestigious school's faculty and administration since 1991.