17 Priests Reported Disciplined in Long Island Sex Abuse Cases

By Bruce Lambert
New York Times
January 25, 2005

The child sex abuse scandal in the Roman Catholic diocese on Long Island has resulted in the defrocking of eight priests and the permanent suspension of nine, while three await canonical trials, the bishop of the diocese said. Two other priests were cleared after inquiries, and proceedings against a third have been deferred, the bishop said.

Without providing names, Bishop William F. Murphy of the Diocese of Rockville Centre reported the status of sex abuse cases involving 23 priests in a three-page letter being distributed this week to parishioners and priests in the diocese, which covers Nassau and Suffolk Counties. No clergyman with credible charges ''is working in our diocese or as far as we know, any other,'' he wrote. Bishop Murphy's letter was first reported on yesterday in Newsday.

Critics said the bishop should identify the suspended and the defrocked priests to protect children, just as the public is notified about sex offenders convicted in court. The critics include the Long Island chapter of Voice of the Faithful, which requested the bishop's report; the national Survivors Network for Those Abused by Priests; and Parents for Megan's Law, a national group based in Suffolk.

A church spokesman, Sean Dolan, said that the names of priests convicted in criminal trials had been made public, but that identifying the suspended priests, not all of whom are necessarily guilty, could violate their privacy.

Bishop Murphy's letter said that he had permanently suspended nine priests who had been the subject of credible accusations. The nine would retain their pensions and health care benefits, the diocese has said. A Vatican panel reviewed the allegations against 14 others, removing eight from the priesthood and scheduling three for canonical trials.

Two other priests returned to duty after complaints against them were found to be unsubstantiated, and proceedings were deferred for another priest who is ailing, lives out of the diocese and is not working, Bishop Murphy said.

The diocese is contesting several lawsuits alleging abuse, saying that their charges of intentional fraud are untrue, he said.