www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall And still another one! Is there no end?

Scranton priest removed from ministry after allegation of sexual misconduct with child.

Scranton Times-Tribune Published: Monday, April 4, 2016

•Scranton priest removed from ministry after allegation of sexual misconduct with child unveiled'

A longtime Diocese of Scranton priest was removed from his ministry after an allegation of sexual misconduct with a minor surfaced late Friday.

The Rev. Martin M. Boylan, pastor of St. Patrick’s Parish in West Scranton and episcopal vicar for the Northern Pastoral Region of the Diocese of Scranton, previously held several pastoral and administrative roles at churches in Wayne County, from where the allegation stems.

The reported misconduct occurred when the accuser, now an adult, was a minor, according to a statement from Bill Genello, the executive director of communications for the diocese, emailed Sunday afternoon.

The diocese said it notified the Wayne County district attorney’s office because that’s the region where the alleged abuse took place. The Rev. Boylan previously served as administrator and pastor of St. Rita’s in Gouldsboro, and pastor of St. John the Evangelist Parish, Honesdale, and St. Joseph Parish, White Mills, Texas Twp., all in Wayne County. It is unclear which Wayne County church the Rev. Boylan was stationed at during the time of the alleged misconduct, or when he was stationed there.

Christ is in our midst!!

You must remember the "zero tolerance" policy adopted by the USCCB. An accusation triggers suspension while an investigation goes forward. Sometimes that investigation takes a long time and sometimes it is for incidents that have allegedly taken place decades ago.

Clergy I know say that an accusation is the end of one's career. And it is often difficult to prove an allegation one way or other that may have taken place years earlier. The bottom line is that this man is finished, whether he is later exonerated or not.

Bob

And if false accusation were not a problem, it would not have been included in the Ten Commandments.