Sexual abuse scandal in the Catholic diocese of Palm Beach
Encyclopedia
The sexual abuse scandal in Palm Beach diocese is a significant episode in the series of Catholic sex abuse cases in the United States and Ireland.
, who resigned as ordinary in 1998 after admitting he molested five boys while he was a pastor
.
resigned in 2002 after admitting to molesting an underage seminarian
. When faced with the allegation, O'Connell held a press conference to admit his wrongdoing and publicly apologized to the man.
in Florida
, on September 3, 2002. He was installed on the following October 19. He served the Diocese of Palm Beach for less than a year before being appointed to return to Massachusetts to succeed Cardinal Bernard Law in Boston
.
has repeatedly pledged to remove from the ministry any priests found to have abused a child and to help abuse victims in any way the Church can, but he has seen no need to publicly name accused priests.
J. Keith Symons affair
The diocese had been rocked by revelations of sexual abuse against Joseph Keith SymonsJoseph Keith Symons
Joseph Keith Symons is a bishop in the Catholic Church in the United States. He served as auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of St...
, who resigned as ordinary in 1998 after admitting he molested five boys while he was a pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
.
Anthony O'Connell affair
Symons' successor Anthony O'ConnellAnthony O'Connell
Anthony J. O'Connell is a Roman Catholic clergyman who was the first Bishop of Knoxville in Tennessee, followed by service as the third Bishop of Palm Beach in Florida.-Early life:...
resigned in 2002 after admitting to molesting an underage seminarian
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
. When faced with the allegation, O'Connell held a press conference to admit his wrongdoing and publicly apologized to the man.
Role of Bishop Thomas Daily
In 2002, Most Rev. Thomas Daily (former Bishop of Palm Beach) was criticized for his past involvement in cases of priests accused of sexual abuse in the Archdiocese of Boston. He has acknowledged his "profound regret" over some of his decisions in the Boston Archdiocese.Bishop O'Malley intervenes
After serving in Fall River for ten years, Sean O'Malley was appointed bishop of Palm BeachRoman Catholic Diocese of Palm Beach
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Palm Beach is a Roman Catholic diocese in Florida. It was founded on June 16, 1984.The past bishops of the diocese are:#Thomas Vose Daily #Joseph Keith Symons...
in Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, on September 3, 2002. He was installed on the following October 19. He served the Diocese of Palm Beach for less than a year before being appointed to return to Massachusetts to succeed Cardinal Bernard Law in Boston
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the New England region of the United States. It comprises several counties of the state of Massachusetts...
.
Pastoral work of Gerald Barbarito
Bishop Gerald BarbaritoGerald Barbarito
Gerald Michael Barbarito is the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Palm Beach. He was appointed on July 1, 2003 and was later installed as the fifth Bishop of Palm Beach on August 28, 2003.-Early life and family:...
has repeatedly pledged to remove from the ministry any priests found to have abused a child and to help abuse victims in any way the Church can, but he has seen no need to publicly name accused priests.
See also
- AbuseAbuseAbuse is the improper usage or treatment for a bad purpose, often to unfairly or improperly gain benefit. Abuse can come in many forms, such as: physical or verbal maltreatment, injury, sexual assault, violation, rape, unjust practices; wrongful practice or custom; offense; crime, or otherwise...
- Child abuseChild abuseChild abuse is the physical, sexual, emotional mistreatment, or neglect of a child. In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Children And Families define child maltreatment as any act or series of acts of commission or omission by a parent or...
- Child sexual abuseChild sexual abuseChild sexual abuse is a form of child abuse in which an adult or older adolescent uses a child for sexual stimulation. Forms of child sexual abuse include asking or pressuring a child to engage in sexual activities , indecent exposure with intent to gratify their own sexual desires or to...
- Religious abuse
- Sexual abuseSexual abuseSexual abuse, also referred to as molestation, is the forcing of undesired sexual behavior by one person upon another. When that force is immediate, of short duration, or infrequent, it is called sexual assault. The offender is referred to as a sexual abuser or molester...
- Sexual misconductSexual misconductSexual misconduct is misconduct of a sexual nature. The term may be used to condemn an act, but in some jurisdictions it has also a legal meaning....
- Spiritual abuseSpiritual abuseSpiritual abuse is a serious form of abuse which occurs when a person in a cult-religious authority or a person with a unique spiritual practice misleads and maltreats another person in the name of a deityor church or in the mystery of any spiritual concept...
- Woodstock defence