Former Menlo Park pastor involved in dressing-room incident ‘defrocked’

The former pastor of a Menlo Park parish who admitted to following a 17-year-old boy into a clothing store dressing room last year has had his priestly faculties revoked following an investigation by the Archdiocese of San Francisco.

William Myers, who served as pastor of St. Raymond Catholic Church in Menlo Park from 2007 until he was suspended last year, “cannot publicly function as a priest,” archdiocesan spokesman George Wesolek said in an email toCalifornia Catholic Daily

Although police later determined no crime had been committed in the April 19, 2011 incident at a Ross Dress For Less store in San Francisco, archdiocesan officials told the press last year that Myers had been suspended pending an investigation by the archdiocese’s Independent Review Board — and while Myers underwent treatment for “sexual addiction.”

At the time, Wesolek described the dressing-room incident between Myers and the teenager as “a boundary violation.”

Myers, ordained in 1988, had earlier been a priest of the Stockton diocese, but took a leave of absence from 1996 until 2000, apparently to undergo therapy for “sexual identity” issues. He transferred to the Archdiocese of San Francisco 11 years ago.

Stockton Bishop Stephen Blaire told the Menlo Park Almanac that, while the diocese was aware that Myers had undergone psychological counseling, “at no time was it suggested or otherwise reported to the diocese that the therapy was in any way related to sexual conduct with minors.”

Not long after the incident at the clothing store became public, about 200 parishioners, described in one press account as “angry,” gathered at St. Raymond’s seeking details from San Francisco Auxiliary Bishop William Justice, who had come to the parish to discuss the matter.

Bishop Justice told parishioners there had been no reports of any inappropriate behavior by Myers with children at the parish or its school and that, during Myers’ 11 years with the archdiocese, there had been no other complaints against him.

San Francisco police said officers were called to the Ross Dress For Less store about 1:30 p.m. on April 19, 2011. No arrests were made and no charges were ever filed in connection with the incident.

A tipster alerted the archdiocese to the incident on May 26, 2011. The next day, the archdiocese placed Myers on leave.

 

READER COMMENTS

Posted Monday, January 09, 2012 12:43 AM By Clinton
Again and again we have seen the terrible state the Church Militant is in because of the ‘anything goes’ mentality that has permeated for the last 50 years. What a terrible price that has been paid because of the high amount of homosexuals admitted to the priesthood. Can someone tell me why the SSPX is on the outside looking in, while liberal bishops and priests are allowed to wreak havoc on the Church? May Our Lord have mercy on us. +JMJ+


Posted Monday, January 09, 2012 3:53 AM By Mac
As has been said by several posters, until US Bishops insist that the “Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition” is used in all US Seminaries as one of the texts, Priests formation has not been and is not good. Let us strongly encourage our Bishops to make certain that all Seminaries use the CCC as a text to avoid accidental or purposeful human errors from being taught to our Seminarians. Let us pray for Vocations to the Priesthood, and for our existing Bishops and Priests – we need them.


Posted Monday, January 09, 2012 3:59 AM By Mac
Clinton, the SSPX is a separate topic. Regarding the SSPX at this time – CCC “….SCHISM is the refusal of submission to the Roman Pontiff or of communion with the members of the Church subject to him.” The FSSP is the faithful EF (Tridentine) order of Priests.


Posted Monday, January 09, 2012 4:11 AM By Gabe
Yes Clinton! Thank you! It seems like everything and anything is tolerated except good traditional priests, and good traditional liturgy!


Posted Monday, January 09, 2012 4:51 AM By Barb
Homosexual behavior (homoerotic sex) is at first a habit, then an addiction and finally a compulsion. Those who practice and/or promote homosexual practices are in a state of iniquity (a deep lawlessness of the heart and mind). God has seared their consciences because they have worshipped the self and the same sex, repeatedly and unrepentantly, instead of God. Read Romans 1:18-32. Those who practice same sex activities have a mind which is depraved with and by sin and they cannot see. The men prance around like drama queens, mistresses of their own domains, without any heed of their sin. The women march about defiantly spouting outrage and taking umbrage at God’s plan for sexuality. Because God has punished them for their guile by turning their minds over to the perversity that they practice, He is the only one who can remove the depravity, but only with the cooperation of the sinner. Not even good psychiatric care will heal them. When and if they hit rock bottom, God will grant them the humility they need to be saved. Until then, they will have minds infected with God’s justice. For now, we must individually be very careful whom we subject to the deviant practices of those who are depraved because they will pervert the masses. Our children are most at risk. As a Catholic, I find it difficult to tell the truth in love to this group because they will not see. They cannot see. Remember the word “iniquity.” And because God asks it of us, we must pray for their salvation.


Posted Monday, January 09, 2012 5:05 AM By Abeca Christian
Brother and sisters in Christ, Today I want to warn many that live in California, that “gay activism” is growing and we will see a growing amount of it because this state has opened those doors to that agenda. With the primary elections coming, “gay activism” will become more and more hostile and blunt. Even in San Diego, they have managed to suppress and silence those with values their voice! With their fear tactics, many of us are falling victims to this. Because they have been given permission to do so with laws that lack moral values and impose themselves on many, they will be much stronger this year with the Elections coming. More and more heterosexuals are joining forces with what they call “gay rights”. They have lost all common decency and are even hostile on our children’s innocence, they are spreading their love of unnatural lifestyles with children. They have succeeded to silence many who disagree. I wish I can give all accounts but I am not able to through this post but I want people to not let their guard down, know that it is a real spiritual battle that we, of faith and love in Christ and his truths, can no longer ignore.


Posted Monday, January 09, 2012 5:11 AM By RR
Clinton: Excellent point and question! This article is why homosexuals DO NOT belong in the priesthood.


Posted Monday, January 09, 2012 5:39 AM By AnnAsher
Finally an appropriate action by an investigating Diocese- men who attempt to sexually violate minors are not Priests.


Posted Monday, January 09, 2012 6:22 AM By JMJ
Well Clinton, our Holy Father invited the SSPX back into the fold, but it seems that they want things their way, which of course, is not God’s way, & THEY said no thanks, so they, just like the so called “traditionalists” that deny Vatican II are as you say: outside looking in. Heaven has been warning us for many years now that we will see many Cardinals, Bishops & Priests leading souls into perdition, which sadly, is happening. Come Holy Spirit, enlighten & guide us, amen. +JMJ+


Posted Monday, January 09, 2012 6:36 AM By Ted
Good question, Clinton. I wish I had an answer. Someone in the Church (in addition to the pope) needs to view the SSPX as the moderating influence they could be. It seems only liberals are seen as a moderating influence, which is a huge mistake, as the Church needs to be pulled in a direction that carries her away from modernism and liberalism, not further in that direction. I fear that is the reason they’ve not been normalized. If they were given the opportunity to come back into full communion with what they consider to be reasonable conditions, they would gladly come back. To offer conditions they cannot live with is to force them to remain the “bad guy” in the eyes of the public. It’s more politics, simply that. It is transparent to me that that moderating influence is feared by many and that is why no agreement is forthcoming.


Posted Monday, January 09, 2012 6:58 AM By Maryanne Leonard
Clinton, could you clarify what you mean by “why the SSPX is on the outside looking in, while liberal bishops and priests are allowed to wreak havoc on the Church?” Do you feel the SSPX should be doing something about what is going on inside local churches?


Posted Monday, January 09, 2012 7:07 AM By Larry
SSPX “is on the outside looking in” because that is where they choose to be. They have been offered many chances to reconcile with the Church, but they cannot bring themselves to take orders from the Holy Father. They prefer that he take orders from them. If you are looking for mass celebrated according to the older form along with correct theology–remember the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter is NOT “on the outside looking in,” because unlike SSPX, they are willing to admit publicly that they themselves are not the magisterium of the Church, but one of its servants.


Posted Monday, January 09, 2012 7:19 AM By David L
Clinton: the SSPX is on the outside looking in because they refuse to accept the teaching of an ecumenical council of the Church…technically that makes them heretics.


Posted Monday, January 09, 2012 8:10 AM By Brad
However, now, a soul named William Myers is totally adrift in the world ruled by the flesh and the devil. He’s probably sitting somewhere this morning in despair. Someone please say a Hail Mary for him with me, for this sheep who is so lost in a crag that our Lord is out looking for him, right now. O blood of Christ, cover us and save us.


Posted Monday, January 09, 2012 10:24 AM By JLS
Maybe it would help if the bishops would staff a facility with exorcists and then send all these sexuality challenged clerics there for a few years. Maybe they could even get federal govt funding for it.


Posted Monday, January 09, 2012 10:25 AM By Anne T.
Brad, although Barb’s post at 4:51AM is exactly right, I have said a Hail Mary for William Myers and for all who live in this darkness.


Posted Monday, January 09, 2012 10:27 AM By JLS
David L, which Magisterial doctrine do the SSPX bishops reject? Can you provide clear proof that is the case?


Posted Monday, January 09, 2012 10:44 AM By Abeca Christian
Larry is right the SSPX has refused to join us but they still practice very beautiful traditions of our infant church. Although I do not visit their gatherings due to their refusal to join Rome, I still respect them for keeping the many traditions that made Christ’s church. I continue to pray for their return, that would be a greater blessing! If they would join, they would do far more greater love for their lay faithful, teaching them humility and still keeping their original elements of Tradition, they can set a beautiful example. David L when you bring up the word ecumenical council I get a red flag because in today’s ecumenical practices there are many abuses and compromises. I have seen them and experienced them. Well here in the USA of course.


Posted Monday, January 09, 2012 10:46 AM By Ron
OK..so when will the Archdiocese of San Francisco investigate the MHR?


Posted Monday, January 09, 2012 1:07 PM By goodcause
Yet another acknowledgement that the current mandatory celibacy policy for priests is not working. The number of gay priests, or straight priests involved with a woman, is not small, and it is NOT a result of the so called “Woodstock” phenominium that the John Jay School of Criminal Justice concluded in its Church-funded study of the origins of the US sex abuse crisis. We Catholics should be prepared for periodic reminders in the press that our clergy is under enormous strain and a change in Church teaching about celibacy is overdue. Married clergy was good enough for Our Lord, so It’s good enough for me.


Posted Monday, January 09, 2012 1:20 PM By k
Brad, he was not laicized, so he is still responsible to the bishop and must obey him. He can be ordered into a treatment facility.


Posted Monday, January 09, 2012 1:52 PM By Abeca Christian
goodcause so what do you say about the heterosexual married pastors from other sects that have these same issues, what is your response to their issues.


Posted Monday, January 09, 2012 2:42 PM By MacDonald
Sad cases like this are not caused by celibacy, in my opinion. Just think of the MANY celibate priests and bishops who have done just fine, and have been happy and faithful in their ministry. When you have a major problem like addiction to children, this is GOING to be a problem whether you are female or male, married or single, old or young. People who go after children are in all walks of life and all careers. We need to do better screening for seminarians, teachers, etc., to better protect young people. Each time I open up the paper, there is yet another story of some teacher seducing her student, or some grandfather molesting his grandchild, or some coach abusing young men or women. IT’S EVERYWHERE. God help us work together to protect all young people from such horrible and scarring abuse.


Posted Monday, January 09, 2012 4:31 PM By Abeca Christian
Watch youtube video titled: “A Polish priest reveals the “truth” about homosexuality – Let the world know”. Finally a blunt, honest and non-politically correct priest!


Posted Monday, January 09, 2012 5:30 PM By JLS
goodcause, your claim is hogwash. Celibate clergy has been the rule in the only Church never to have been conquered by the Caesars of this world. Your flim flam that the Church has failed defies observation.


Posted Monday, January 09, 2012 5:39 PM By Dave N.
Was he actually defrocked (which requires action by the Vatican)? Or were his priestly faculties simply revoked? “Defrocking” is usually used interchangeably with a return to the lay state/laicization. Very, very few priests are actually subjected to this penalty. The editor replies: His faculties have been suspended. He has not been laicized.


Posted Monday, January 09, 2012 5:43 PM By Jim
So exactly who allowed a priest with “sexual identity” issues to transfer to the Archdiocese of San Francisco of all places? Was this a prudent decision?


Posted Monday, January 09, 2012 9:33 PM By DES
Posted Monday, January 09, 2012 4:51 AM By Barb Homosexual behavior (homoerotic sex) is at first a habit, then an addiction and finally a compulsion. Those who practice and/or promote homosexual practices are in a state of iniquity (a deep lawlessness of the heart and mind). God has seared their consciences because they have worshipped the self and the same sex, repeatedly and unrepentantly, instead of God. Read Romans 1:18-32. Those who practice same sex activities have a mind which is depraved with and by sin and they cannot see. The men prance around like drama queens, mistresses of their own domains, without any heed of their sin. The women march about defiantly spouting outrage and taking umbrage at God’s plan for sexuality. Because God has punished them for their guile by turning their minds over to the perversity that they practice, He is the only one who can remove the depravity, but only with the cooperation of the sinner. Not even good psychiatric care will heal them. When and if they hit rock bottom, God will grant them the humility they need to be saved. Until then, they will have minds infected with God’s justice. For now, we must individually be very careful whom we subject to the deviant practices of those who are depraved because they will pervert the masses. Our children are most at risk. As a Catholic, I find it difficult to tell the truth in love to this group because they will not see. They cannot see. Remember the word “iniquity.” And because God asks it of us, we must pray for their salvation. VERY WELL SAID BARB – WORTH THIS REPETITION one exception I’d like to comment on, is “when they hit rock bottom” – not sure that this progression is on track, as, God gives His grace when and to whom He wants and not necessarily when we ‘hit rock bottom’…so praying for them is a charitable duty, to ask God for his Mercy for them and all of us sinners.


Posted Monday, January 09, 2012 11:26 PM By Clinton
We really need to pray for priests. Just as Our Lord prayed for the faith of Peter and the Apostles, we need to pray that the priests’ faith not fail. The devil demands to sift through them. Let us also pray to Our Lord that faithful men heed His call to the priesthood. +JMJ+


Posted Tuesday, January 10, 2012 1:05 PM By Kenneth M. Fisher
Barb, 4:51 AM Thank you for those words of wisdom; however we have to keep trying to get them to see the Light. Even if we run out of good apologetics for answers, then we just repeat what we have said or written before. Painful, yes, rewarding, YES! God bless, yours in Their Hearts, Kenneth M. Fisher


Posted Tuesday, January 10, 2012 1:20 PM By Kenneth M. Fisher
JLS, 10:24 AM, You know darn well that Government funding always comes with CONTROLS especially Federal funding! God bless, yours in Their Hearts, Kenneth M. Fisher


Posted Tuesday, January 10, 2012 1:24 PM By Kenneth M. Fisher
The SSPX wants reunifications with Rome, but they will never agree with the insane abuse of ecumenism, and they shouldn’t! God bless, yours in Their Hearts,


Posted Tuesday, January 10, 2012 3:02 PM By Larry
Kenneth, no one is being required to agree to any “insane abuse of ecumenism” as a price for being in union with the Church and Holy Father. That is a red herring.


Posted Tuesday, January 10, 2012 10:50 PM By Kenneth M. Fisher 
Larry, Check your facts, it is no “red herring”. It is a major obstacle to the agreement of both sides. God bless, yours in Their Hearts, Kenneth M. Fisher


Posted Wednesday, January 11, 2012 11:13 AM By Larry
Kenneth, I’m not in favor of any “insane abuse of ecumenism,” and I haven’t been threatened with excommunication. Maybe you should define what you consider to be an “insane abuse.” I don’t recall the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter agreeing to any insane abuses, nor EWTN, nor Bishop Bruskewitz of Lincoln, who has called SSPX a “non Catholic” group. How long are you going to keep making excuses here for SSPX, a group which has broken communion with Rome and is leading souls into schism and towards hell under color of traditional piety? More important–how long are YOU going to be able to stay loyal to a Rome which brands as outlaws whom you hold as heroes for the faith? Pope Benedict is elderly and in frail health. Whether he resigns as some suggest he might, or passes away in office, I think before too many more years or decades we will see a new pope–perhaps Burke or Arinze or someone else. When first that pope–then the next and the next after that affirms that there will be no retreat from the Council, no additions, deletions or re-writes, and no truck with those who keep insisting otherwise (i.e. SSPX)–how will you manage to stay loyal to the popes as Vicars of Christ on earth while believing that they are on the wrong side of God on this issue? Sooner or later you’ll come to a fork in the road which will lead you either to acceptance of the Council as God’s will or sedevacantism. Either you’re wrong, and God really does stand behind the Council, or the man in the Vatican is not really the successor of Peter and does not really speak for God. Just like you cannot serve God and mammon, you cannot go on indefinitely serving both the pope and SSPX. Which will you choose? You’d better think about it. The time is coming.


Posted Wednesday, January 11, 2012 11:44 AM By k
They have said that the obstacles are doctrinal, not the application of doctrine.


Posted Friday, January 13, 2012 4:21 AM By Abeca Christian
How does one recover when a priest or bishop causes great harm? How do other excellent priests and bishops recover when they have to deal with the harm other priests or bishops have caused? The cut is deep, the pain is great! Forgiveness, a healthy option to help one move on and heal. Our priests are human too, even the most devout and traditional priests can cause great harm in other ways, like unjustly accuse an innocent mother or father due to false compassion in regard to other sources, I use to trust and persevered to bring my family for spiritual guidance especially when our children needed character building, it helped to encourage our children in the faith and for them to receive loving guidance from a good traditional priest, but from I experienced many of our priests are not trained to really council families in need or marriages in need. If a parent is not lucky enough, they may receive unjust guidance and the hurt and harm is great. Our priests are there to administer the sacraments, they are there for the Mass etc but many do not have the gift of understanding to give proper support to families who come to them for help even for unruly children. Some set the rules and judgements on what a holy family should do but are oblivious of what is really affecting the family, sometimes it is just easier to blame the woman just like with Adam and Eve. The only difference is the traditional woman of today, the ones who do seek to die of themselves to serve their husband’s and children, are sometimes the very victims of harsh judgement of their character. The set of laws set upon them and high expectations to maintain that traditional element comes with a high price, being seen negatively, her character is harshly judged. When in reality one is clashing with modern days and so are our children.


Posted Friday, January 13, 2012 4:23 AM By Abeca Christian
Disobedience, defiance and rebellion are sins too, they are the root next to pride adding hatred to the equation, thus bringing forth real reasons that lead to that dysfunction and destructive behavior.


Posted Friday, January 13, 2012 2:13 PM By Aaron
Reading over the above comments, it seems that many people believe the problem of pedophile priests is primarily in America. That assumption is simply not true! Within the past year, an Italian priest in Rome was arrested for sexual abuse with a minor; a recently completed study in the Netherlands concluded that 800 priests sexually abused 10,000 to 20,000 children during the period from 1945-1965. Only a few of the offending priests are still alive. It is incredibly important that civil authorities are called in for investigation when there is evidence of misbehavior of a priest; thank goodness someone called the police when the Menlo Park priest invaded the dressing room of the 17 year old; the former practice of asking a bishop to weed out perverts does NOT work, as evidenced by the scandal in Philadelphia; the pattern is clear: bishops just move the suspected abuser to another church! In every country in the world, where there is an accusation of a priest abusing children, police authorities MUST be called in for an investigation. Otherwise this vexing worldwide problem will NEVER be resolved!


Posted Sunday, January 15, 2012 2:12 PM By Abeca Christian
Aaron there is no proof what you just posted? Maybe an exaggeration. How many of them were false accusations bet they ignored that part. I think that your numbers are exaggerated.


Posted Sunday, January 15, 2012 4:21 PM By k
abeca, as staggering as the numbers are, that is the official report from the Church in the Netherlands, although I think the period ranged from 1965-1985-forty years. I believe there are 100 of the priests still alive. The rate of abuse in Catholic instituions was 20%.


Posted Sunday, January 15, 2012 9:55 PM By JLS
“Rate of abuse”, k? Is that 20% of all children in Catholic institutions abused, or 20% of all adults in Catholic institutions did abuse? Does this data include all the unknown cases or what? Or does it represent 20% of all the non-marital sex acts performed by anyone connected with a Catholic institution?


Posted Sunday, January 15, 2012 10:29 PM By Maryanne Leonard
k, 20% of what? 20% of the priests abused? 20% of the potential victims were abused? 20% of the priests still alive? Thanks. 20% is such a high percentage, when in the United States approximately 3% of the priests were found to have abused others, and that included such things as offering to rub suntan lotion on the bodies of teenaged boys while at the beach (plus lots worse things as well, of course). I am the last one to make excuses for abusing priests due to my own background, but it is always helpful to know as much as we can about the facts and figures surrounding allegations, and whether or not these were proven or reported. Some reports are not legitimate, of course, but then some priests are not reported I’m sure, so maybe it balances out in the long run.


Posted Sunday, January 15, 2012 10:37 PM By Abeca Christian
k are you serious? OMgosh that is horrible. I am having a hard time believing that. What went wrong over there? Geez God have mercy!


Posted Monday, January 16, 2012 3:22 PM By Abeca Christian
I’m still not buying it. I hope those numbers are incorrect. We need to know and show facts before we continue to hang our church with such posts. It’s not productive nor helpful. How can that many kids be abused and no one has done anything. It’s just hard to comprehend. Lets see the public schools have a higher number from what I heard.


Posted Monday, January 16, 2012 3:53 PM By k
20% of young people in reform schools, seminaries, orphanages run by Catholic orders or the Church were molested. The years are from 1945-1981, after which Catholic homes for children were phased out. It is twice of rate of young people molested who were not in Catholic institutions. Accusers reported a range of inappropriate behavior, from unwanted sexual advances to rape. The years were from 1945-2001. Abusers were priests, members of religious orders and lay people. When reported, victims were sometimes blamed; sometimes ignored. Consequences for offenders, when the allegations were taken seriously. was medical or psychological treatment, transfer and/or orders to do penance.


Posted Monday, January 16, 2012 7:57 PM By Maryanne Leonard
Holy cow, lay people are included in the figures as well? May I ask where you read this? It would be good to know exactly what you’re talking about, k, as even the two eras mentioned are of course quite different. Thanks.


Posted Monday, January 16, 2012 10:50 PM By Abeca Christian
What’s this world coming to. We are a wicked society. God have mercy on us. Our faith is holy and pure but people are the culprits who dirty it up but I pray for the lay faithful to continue faithfully, for our Lord will reign and His justice be done!


Posted Monday, January 16, 2012 11:04 PM By k
One source is the LA Times. Search Netherlands priest abuse.


Posted Friday, January 20, 2012 9:22 PM By Abeca Christian
3 conversions this week. In 3’s they come, in the name of The Father, The Son and The Holy Ghost! Amen!


Posted Wednesday, February 01, 2012 10:16 AM By Maryanne Leonard
k, I have researched your reference and other sources and am relieved to say that nowhere are your figures stated or even suggested that 20% of Dutch children in Catholic institutions were molested or abused by members of the religious community, administrators, and lay people. Yes, these figures include even lay people for some reason! But they do not even approach the numbers you “quoted.” Even though I myself have a horrible issue with a priest from that era when I was 19 years old and am of part-Dutch heritage, and thus of course identify closely with these poor children, it really bothers me when people misrepresent the truth. I’m glad I took the time to research this, because as horrible as it is, your figures are wildly distorted. Let’s all firmly resolve to keep to the truth in this matter as well as all others, as it is our most powerful weapon. If we lose our credibility, k, all is lost. Absolute adherence to the truth is essential in all matters.


Posted Wednesday, February 01, 2012 11:04 PM By Abeca Christian
Maryanne Leonard I appreciate the time you took to research it as well. I appreciate the truth. There is justice after all. Thank you for posting your findings. God bless you.