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CHARGES AGAINST PRIEST FOUND TO BE CREDIBLE
Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio has announced that allegations of sexual misconduct with minors made against a priest of the Diocese of Brooklyn were found to be credible.
In separate letters concerning Father Joseph P. Byrns read at the Masses last weekend (June 26-27) in St. Rose of Lima Church, Parkville, and St. Anastasia’s Church, Douglaston, the Bishop said he based his announcement on investigations conducted by the Queens District Attorney’s Office and the Diocesan Review Board.
Father Byrns had served in both parishes, recently as pastor at St. Rose of Lima, and after ordination in l969 as a parochial vicar at St. Anastasia’s.
Two brothers, Robert and Father Timothy Lambert, said that as youths living in the Douglaston parish they were abused by Father Byrns. They presented the allegations to the Diocese.
“The diocesan representatives who listened to the charges took them seriously,” Bishop DiMarzio wrote in his letter to St. Anastasia’s parishioners. “Father Byrns, in his own defense, insisted, emphatically and repeatedly, that the charges were false. At the same time, the persons who made the claims were equally insistent about the truthfulness of their allegations. The diocesan representatives, after examining the matter over an extended period of time, found it extremely difficult to determine where the truth lay in a complex matter.”
The bishop said that when the District Attorney’s report was received, the Diocese, then headed by now-retired Bishop Thomas V. Daily, placed Father Byrns on administrative leave, “meaning that he was not permitted to function publicly as a priest,” but could celebrate Mass privately.
Bishop DiMarzio gave the case to the Diocesan Review Board, formed in compliance with the U.S. Bishops’ “Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People” and the accompanying Norms. The board, after an investigation by a former Police Department sex crimes expert and following its own review, concluded that the claims were credible.
“I accepted the board’s report and met with Father Byrns, advising him that he would not be permitted to return to active priestly ministry,” the bishop said.
Both letters noted that documentation on the case was sent to the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, in accordance with canon law.
The steps the Diocese has taken “have been essential to maintaining our commitment to carrying out the mandates” of the bishops’ charter and the accompanying norms, he said.
Bishop DiMarzio said he wanted to use the occasion of his announcement to apologize publicly again to victims of clergy sexual abuse and to their families.
The bishop’s letter to St. Anastasia’s parishioners reached out “to others in the parish who say they were victims, and/or their families,” asking them to “let us know” of instances of inappropriate sexual behavior with minors by clergy.
“As representatives of Christ’s healing Church, we wish to serve anyone who has suffered because of such abuse,” he said.
For abuse victims, he added, “even the passage of time has not eased the pain.”
In his letter to the congregation at St. Rose of Lima, Bishop DiMarzio acknowledged that “for more than two years, your community of the faithful. . .has endured the trial” of knowing about the accusations against Father Byrns.
As loyal parishioners, he said, “you. . .surely comforted him with your expressions of support.”
Bishop DiMarzio expressed gratitude to Father Fred Marano, the administrator; Josephite Sister Maureen Sullivan, the pastoral associate, and others on the parish staff for their “commitment to the spiritual well-being of all members of the parish community.”
He urged parishioners of St. Rose of Lima and St. Anastasia’s to remain firm in their faith in “a challenging time for our Church.”
In the letter read at the Parkville church, Bishop DiMarzio said: “As a Diocese, we remain committed to protecting all children and young people in every way.”
Several members of the newly established Diocesan Healing Team were on hand at the two parishes after the weekend Masses to speak with parishioners concerned about the announcement.
Dominican Sister Ellen Patricia Finn, diocesan Victim/Survivor Coordinator, led the group at St. Anastasia’s, assisted by Georgeann Campbell, Joseph Dass and Alfred Wassler.
At St. Rose of Lima, Josephite Sister Patricia Hudson, diocesan Safe Environment Coordinator, was assisted by Beverly Madar and Timothy McBride.
Both groups were also scheduled to be available for parishioners at the respective parishes one evening in the week following the announcement.
Sister Ellen Patricia coordinates the work of the healing team, whose 20 members, many of them experienced counselors, include eight lay persons, seven priests, three Permanent Deacons and two women Religious.
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