Diocese of Palm Beach FL - BishopAccountability.org

6 Accused in This Diocese

Fr. Edwin J. Collins

Ordained: 1954
Status: Accused

In 1998, Collins, a retired priest from Rockville Centre, NY, made advances toward a teenager in Palm Beach. The boy fought him off and immediately told the Diocese; Collins resigned. The vicar general wrote a letter and placed it in Collins' file. The Diocese of Rockville Centre was notified. Name not released publicly in 2002 with other accused clergy. Family immediately complained to the Diocese about the omission. The Diocese said it "missed" the file. Included on the Rockville Centre Diocese's list of accused in 3/2021. Abuse allegedly occurred at St. William the Abbot in Seaford NY, where he was assigned 1968-1976, and at Collins' house in Wellington FL.

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Diocese of Rockville Centre List 03.18.21

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Fr. Frank Flynn

Ordained: 1967
Status: Settled

Diocese: Diocese of Palm Beach FL

From Ireland. Working in FL since at least 1978. Accused in 4/2002 of kissing and groping a young girl 1979-1986 when she was ages 12-18. Police closed its investigation in 9/2002. Accused of making unwanted sexual advances toward at least three women, an "affair" with at least one woman. The Diocese was notified about Flynn's behavior toward women at least four times 1982-1997. He left the Diocese in 1997 and returned to Ireland because of a "weak heart." Was working at a seminary in Dublin in 2002. Retired by 2004. The Diocese paid at least two settlements involving Flynn. Named in a lawsuit.

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Fr. Elias Francisco Guimaraes

Donate Photo

Order: SSP
Ordained: 1993
Status: Convicted

Diocese: Diocese of Palm Beach FL

From Brazil. Arrived in the in Palm Beach diocese in 2001. Arrested in 9/2002 when he arrived on a beach for a sexual rendezvous with a detective who had been posing as a 14-year-old boy on the internet. Guimaraes sent many sexually explicit messages and bragged of having sex with a 14-year- old boy and a 16-year-old boy. Pleaded guilty in 2003; sentenced to four years and three months in federal prison. Released 5/23/2006. May have been deported to Brazil upon release.

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Fr. Francis Edward Maloney

Ordained: 1959
Status: Settled

Died: 10/26/2011
Diocese: Diocese of Palm Beach FL

Ordained for the Diocese of Steubenville. Transferred in 1986 to the Palm Beach diocese. Removed from a Florida parish in 2002 after 17-year-old accused him of behaving inappropriately around him. The youth said he found Maloney in bed with another man and that the priest would walk around his home nude while the youth was there. No criminal charges filed. The youth filed a civil suit in 3/2003. Settled in 5/2004 for less than $1M. Maloney admitted to a long-term, "sporadic" sexual relationship with the other priest. He died in 2011.

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Fr. Jose Palimattom

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Order: OFM
Status: Convicted

Diocese: Diocese of Palm Beach FL

Arrested, charged with obscenity in 1/2015 for showing child abuse images to a 14-year-old boy. Admitted behavior. Served six months in jail then deported to his native India in 6/2015. The boy's father alerted police. Palimattom sought the boy's help to delete the photos. Assigned to Holy Name of Jesus, West Palm Beach since 12/2014. Police said Palimattom had gotten in trouble in India for involvement with a boy. The Diocese said a background check prior to Palimattom's arrival showed no prior misconduct. Holy Name Administrator, Rev. John Gallagher, told police he was instructed that when Palimattom arrived he was to have no contact with minors without an adult present. Gallagher, who also alerted authorities about Palimattom, claimed demotion/poor treatment by the Diocese as a result in 1/2016. The Diocese refuted the claim. Gallagher filed suit against the Diocese 1/11/2017. Appeals court dismissed the suit in 5/2018, saying court cannot get involved in church administrative issues.

Bishop Joseph Keith Symons

Ordained: 1958
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Palm Beach FL

Bishop of the Palm Beach Diocese from 1990 until he resigned in 6/1998 when it was revealed that he had molested five boys early in his ministry (1958-1960s) in the Miami archdiocese. The news was made public after a victim came forward to a church official. Symons admitted the abuse and also to the abuse of the other four youths. The Bishop of Pensacola-Tallassahee knew of abuse by Symons in 1995 but did nothing. By 1999 Symons was leading spiritual retreats for adults in MI. Included on the St. Petersburg diocese's list of credibly accused.

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Our Database of Publicly Accused does not state or imply that individuals facing allegations are guilty of a crime or liable for civil claims. The reports contained in the database are merely allegations. The U.S. legal system presumes that a person accused of or charged with a crime is innocent until proven guilty. Similarly, individuals who may be defendants in civil actions are presumed not to be liable for such claims unless a plaintiff proves otherwise. Admissions of guilt or liability are not typically a part of civil or private settlements. For more information, see our posting policy.