MAINE
Bangor Daily News
By Seth Koenig, BDN Staff
Posted Dec. 18, 2013
PORTLAND, Maine — The newly appointed bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland is credited with playing a key role as the Vatican purged priests accused of sexual abuse, and then as the Archdiocese of Boston took the step of identifying abusive priests openly on its website.
Both were considered significant moves in the effort to overcome sex abuse scandals that came to light over the last decade and a half and tarnished the Catholic Church’s reputation.
Now, as Catholics and others in the state react to Wednesday’s announcement of new Diocese of Portland Bishop Robert Deeley’s appointment, some of the strongest statements come from Maine clergy abuse victims and their supporters, who hope Deeley will continue his reconciliation work locally.
In 2011, after seven years away, Deeley rejoined the Archdiocese of Boston and served as one of the top aides to Cardinal Sean O’Malley, who that year opened the vault on the archdiocese’s sex abuse cases by posting a database of priests who had been accused, as well as what became of them.
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