NEW YORK
New York Daily News
EDGAR SANDOVAL
MICHAEL O’KEEFFE
LARRY MCSHANE
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Wednesday, May 25, 2016
A Long Island priest remains on the job despite twin lawsuits accusing him of being a sexual predator of children — and a police probe of his alleged sick behavior.
The Rev. Gregory Yacyshyn’s position as pastor of St. Jude Church in Mastic Beach is safe due to a lack of “credible allegations” in the case, said a Rockville Centre Diocese spokesman.
Yacyshyn, in a brief conversation Wednesday with a Daily News reporter, offered a handshake and a “no comment” in the lobby of the church rectory.
“I can’t say anything because of the pending litigation,” he said, referring questions to his attorney.
Lawyer Elizabeth Kase said the priest is an innocent man and the target of a smear campaign. …
The Long Island diocese also has ties to state Senate Majority leader John Flanagan (R-Suffolk County), whose GOP colleagues blocked a Monday attempt by Democrats to force a vote on the bill.
Flanagan’s former law firm represents the diocese, although his spokesman said the senator was unaware of the connection.
David Clohessy, national director for the watchdog group Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, said Murphy’s reputation for dragging his feet in such cases was well known.
“He’s awful,” said Clohessy. “He was one of (Bernard) Cardinal Law’s top deputies in Boston” — home to the infamous church sex abuse coverup depicted in the Oscar-winning movie “Spotlight.”
The two pending lawsuits charge the diocese is a “public nuisance,” alleging there’s a history of covering up sexual abuse by priests and allowing child molesters to live freely in the community.
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