Priest Charged with Having Child Porn Patient at Behavioral Health Center

By Paul Petrone
The Patch
September 5, 2012

http://waterford.patch.com/articles/fdsfdsfdsfdsfds


Fr. Dennis Carey, who was arrested in July for first-degree possession of child pornography, is now a patient at the St. John Vianney Center.

At his court date Tuesday, it was revealed Fr. Dennis Carey is a patient at St. John Vianney Center in Downington, PA, "a faith-centered community that specializes in the treatment of behavioral health issues that are unique to Catholic clergy," according to the center's website.

Carey was formerly the head pastor of Waterford's St. Paul in Chains Rectory until he was arrested in July when police found 338 files of child pornography on computers he owned inside the Roman Catholic Church. Carey had his third court appearance Tuesday, where his case was continued until October 15.

At the appearance, Judge Susan B. Handy confirmed that Carey is a patient at the center, although she said he would be discharged soon to live either with his sister in Westchester, NY, or his parents, who live near Boston. Carey met $100,000 bail in July and was released on several conditions, including mandates to not to interact with children, to avoid the Internet and to not possess any pornography.

The center, according to its website, is a member facility of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and offers a "multi-disciplinary, research-based approach to the behavioral health issues of Catholic religious and priests."

"Our programs integrate treatment for behavioral health issues with each patient's vocational journey," the center's website says. "While fully and faithfully Catholic in our identity, what we hold in common with other Christians inspires us to welcome clergy from all denominations."

The center is named after St. John Vianney, the patron saint of the parish priest, according to the center's website. According to the website, the center's goal is to reconnect a patient with his or her faith and engender hope by listening to a patient and never allowing them "to feel as though they are a number, a diagnosis or a problem."

Patch called Michael Strammiello, Director of Communications for the Diocese of Norwich, which Carey is part of. Strammiello said he was not aware that Carey was in the center and said he couldn't comment about it.

Strammiello did say that the diocese is in the process of defrocking Carey. He added the diocese was watching what happened with Carey's court case.