STATEMENT REGARDING REVEREND MARTIN M. BOYLAN

By Martin M. Boylan
Roman Catholic Diocese of Scranton
April 3, 2016

http://www.dioceseofscranton.org/statement-regarding-reverend-martin-m-boylan/

Late Friday evening, April 1, 2016, Diocesan officials received an allegation of sexual misconduct involving a minor against the Reverend Martin M. Boylan. The allegation is reported to have occurred when the accuser, now an adult, was a minor. In response to the allegation, the Diocese of Scranton immediately notified the Wayne County District Attorney’s Office, the county where the abuse is reported to have taken place; reported the incident through Pennsylvania ChildLine; removed the accused cleric from ministry and suspended his faculties to exercise priestly ministries within the Diocese pending an investigation of the accusation. The Diocese of Scranton will cooperate fully with all civil authorities in their investigation of this matter.

Ordained in 1980, Father Boylan was serving as pastor of St. Patrick’s Parish, Scranton, and Episcopal Vicar for the Northern Pastoral Region of the Diocese of Scranton at the time of the accusation.

Prior assignments were as follows: Assistant Pastor at St. Jude Parish, Mountaintop, St. Gabriel Parish (now Annunciation Parish), Hazleton, St. Patrick Parish, Scranton, St. Peter’s Cathedral Parish, Scranton, and St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Parish (now Our Lady of Fatima Parish), Wilkes-Barre; Chaplain at Bishop Hannan High School, Scranton and Marywood College (University), Scranton; Residence at St. Clare Parish, Scranton and St. Luke Parish, Stroudsburg; Administrator at Blessed Sacrament Parish, Wilkes-Barre and St. Rita Parish, Gouldsboro; and Pastor, St. Rita Parish, Gouldsboro, St. John the Evangelist Parish, Honesdale, St. Joseph Parish, White Mills, SS. Peter and Paul Parish, Towanda, St. Michael Parish, Canton, St. John Nepomucene Parish, Troy, and St. Aloysius Parish, Ralston.

The Diocese of Scranton encourages anyone who has been sexually abused by a member of the clergy or anyone else, to immediately notify local law enforcement authorities; and to contact Joseph DeVizia, Victim’s Assistance Coordinator, at (570) 862-7551; or Monsignor Thomas M. Muldowney Vicar General of the Diocese of Scranton at (570) 207-2269. We also urge anyone to report incidents of child abuse immediately to Pennsylvania ChildLine. The toll-free number is 1-800-932-0313.

The Diocese of Scranton is committed to protecting children and to providing support to victims of sexual abuse. In acknowledging the pain suffered by survivors of abuse, the Most Reverend Joseph C. Bambera, Bishop of Scranton, requests the faithful of the Diocese to join him in praying for the healing of all who have been harmed by abuse, for the countless lives affected by such actions, and for the many priests of the Diocese of Scranton who have been faithful to their vocation and the people they serve.