HOUSTON (TX)
Houston Chronicle
February 3, 2019
By Sarah Smith
Cheryl Hunter was not entirely surprised to read her priest’s name on the list of those credibly accused of child abuse, because she’d heard his version of the story in the pews a few months back.
Father John Keller of Prince of Peace Catholic Community Church — one of the 42 priests named by the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston on Thursday — had told the story at mass several months ago, she said. In the version Hunter heard, he’d been falsely accused and undergone an extensive investigation and been vindicated.
“He was very believable,” said Hunter, 68. “He got a large ovation and support from the congregation.”
Keller gave one final mass Thursday, the day the archdiocese released the list that spanned decades. On the first Sunday since dioceses across Texas named nearly 300 clergymen as credibly accused of sexual abuse, the Prince of Peace parking lot was so full that congregants parked in fire lanes and on side streets.
Auxiliary Bishop George Sheltz addressed the congregation during its 10:45 a.m. Mass, acknowledging the hurt in the church and promising the archdiocese would take special care of Prince of Peace.
“Father has only been alleged he did something,” he said of Keller. “The system has to work itself out.”
Sheltz received applause from the pews.
Priests across Texas addressed the list of alleged abusers from the pulpit with a similar message: Pray for the victims, pray for the priests and don’t leave the Catholic Church because of the abuse allegations.
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