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SEXUAL ABUSE CLAIM FOUND TO LACK CREDIBILITY
Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio has told parishioners of St. Pancras Church, Glendale, that an investigation of an allegation of sexual misconduct with a minor against the pastor, Father Vincent J. Gallo, has found the claim to be “unsubstantiated and lacking in credibility.”
“It is my decision that Father Gallo should remain as your pastor,” said the Bishop, in a letter read by the Episcopal Vicar, Father Sean Ogle, at the parish Masses on the weekend of March 13-14.
The Bishop said he reached his decision based on a report given him by a veteran professional investigator formerly with the New York Police Department and after consulting the Diocesan Review Board, a body comprised mainly of lay people.
In his letter, Bishop DiMarzio said a man who lived in Our Lady of Good Counsel parish, Bedford-Stuyvesant, accused Father Gallo of inappropriate behavior with him some time ago. Interviews by the investigator with parishioners who were there at the time led to information “that did not substantiate this allegation,” he said.
“In particular, the evidence indicated that Father Gallo was not assigned to the parish of Our Lady of Good Counsel during the time he was alleged to have abused the person bringing the allegation,” the Bishop said. “Father Gallo was serving in a different parish at that time.”
Bishop DiMarzio also addressed the matter of “misinformation” regarding whether an accused cleric is subject to immediate removal from ministry when an allegation is made, since Father Gallo was permitted to remain active after the Diocese received the allegation.
He said the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ “Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People” and the “Essential Norms“ for dealing with allegations of sexual abuse of minors by clergy do not require immediate removal from ministry of accused clerics.
“If the allegation is determined to be substantiated or credible, then the Bishop should take steps to restrict the ministry of the priest,” he said. “Since the allegation against Father Gallo did not rise to the level of credibility, he was permitted to continue to remain in the parish.”
Bishop DiMarzio said he recognized that the parish and Father Gallo, who has “offered his priestly service with dedication and enthusiasm” for almost 44 years, have been through “a difficult time.”
After the Masses at which he read the Bishop’s letter, Father Ogle and Sister Jane Scanlon, C.N.D., Vice Chancellor, were available to speak with parishioners.
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