NEW YORK
Inquisitr
JESSICA DAFOE
A president of a well-known and prestigious Catholic high school in Long Island, New York, has been suspended from practicing as a priest since an investigation has found that allegations of sexual abuse brought against him are, in fact, “credible.”
Father James Williams was the president of Chaminade High School in Mineola. The Marianist order, known as the Society of Mary, conducted an investigation into the alleged abuse reportedly taking place in 2011 while Williams was still president of the high school. Accusations were made against the priest by a student who was 18 at the time.
CBS News relays how the information has recently come forward that the sexual abuse allegations are credible.
“In a letter posted on the school’s website, the order said Williams denied anything happened, but that it forwarded the information to the Nassau District Attorney’s Office. A spokesman for the district attorney’s office told WCBS it received a letter in February 2015. He described the act as a misdemeanor sexual abuse, but said the statute of limitations for such a crime expired in 2013. The spokesman added that the alleged victim did not want to pursue criminal charges.”
Students of the high school have clearly been shocked by the allegations and findings of sexual abuse against their former school president. A graduate of Chaminade, Christopher Macias, who knows Williams well, shared his feeling of disbelief on the matter.
“That’s just devastating, absolutely devastating to the community and to the whole church as a whole it’s terrible. He was a great guy when I was going here. I can’t say anything but speak highly of him. I’m just shocked and horrified about these allegations.”
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