NEW YORK
Daily Freeman
By Paula Ann Mitchell, Daily Freeman
POSTED: 03/14/15
RHINEBECK >> The announcement on Jan. 25 sent shockwaves through a church and its mission parish in the heart of Northern Dutchess.
That was when parishioners at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Rhinebeck and St. Joseph’s in Rhinecliff learned for the first time that their pastor, the Rev. Peter Kihm, had been suspended due to an allegation of sexual abuse 30 years ago.
They were told by Bishop Dominick Lagonegro at four Masses that weekend that the accusation was “credible,” but that their pastor had denied it.
Even weeks after the news made headlines, staff and congregants at Good Shepherd remained tight-lipped about their loss.
Phone calls were abruptly terminated and a personal visit to the church ended with a woman refusing to comment and closing the door in a reporter’s face.
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