The Archdiocese of New York has suspended a priest who had continued his clerical duties despite two settlements paid for allegations of sexual abuse of teenage boys.
The Rev. Donald G. Timone, 84, is the subject of an internal investigation by the archdiocese, but had continued to celebrate Mass in New York and California, more than a year and a half after an archdiocesan compensation program paid settlements to the two men, as detailed last week by The New York Times.
A spokesman for the archdiocese, Joseph Zwilling, said on Friday that the archdiocese would no longer allow Father Timone to remain in ministry while it weighed permanently removing him.
One of the men who came forward with claims of abuse by Father Timone committed suicide in 2015 after what his widow said was a decades-long struggle to come to terms with the abuse.
In recent years, Father Timone has been dividing his time between New York and California, where his niece lives.
Lidy Connolly, the vice president of administration at John Paul the Great Catholic University in California, where Father Timone has been working as a chaplain, spiritual adviser and teacher, said that the Archdiocese of New York had informed the university on Wednesday that Father Timone’s letter of good standing — a required credential for a priest — had been revoked. He was no longer working there, she said.
A church secretary at the Church of the Nativity in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., where Father Timone often assisted as a priest, said on Thursday that Father Timone was no longer listed on the Mass schedule. He had been scheduled to be a celebrant as recently as Dec. 16, according to the church bulletin.
Father Timone has been active since the 1980s with Courage, an international Catholic ministry that counsels people who experience same-sex attraction to remain celibate, in accordance with Catholic teaching. He spoke at the group’s national conference in 2017, and has continued to counsel young people and their families as a spiritual adviser since his retirement as a priest.
In a letter posted on Friday on Courage’s website, the Rev. Philip G. Bochanski, the organization’s executive director, said that Father Timone had been “a friend and collaborator of the Courage Apostolate for many years.” He said that there were no allegations against Father Timone connected with his work at Courage, but he encouraged anyone with information to come forward.
Full story at The New York Times.
I do not know what Canon Law states– but I believe that any priest (or bishop) convicted of a crime, should be immediately laicized! Good Catholics and their families, truly deserve clerics that are 100% trustworthy!
I have to wonder why, when New York paid compensation, they did not also revoke all credentials at the same time. Apparently the University and the parish promptly acted to end the relationship with this priest.
No John Paul the Great did not respond promptly at all. They delayed action until students held them accountable
What an absurd accusation.
This is absurd. Students are home for Christmas.
Why would you say this?
It is so easy and correct to express our disappointment and disdain of the leaders of the Church in their complicity in all of these scandals.
However, stop and think of the majority of our priests and bishops and tbose ordained men in the consecrated life who remain continent and faithful to their vows of chastity. They are tbe unsubg heroes, who daily dispense the Sacraments withour complaint.
Take a look here and remember them:
https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/thank-god-for-faithful-priests-who-like-st.-joseph-are-often-quiet-heroes
Amen, Hippo Gus, amen. From the young Catholic boy named Michael who saved me from molestation in a movie theater to the older priest who saved my life by telling me not to take the contraception pill, I say amen. These are the unsung heroes whom we still pray for whether alive or dead. May the innocent be exonerated and the guilty condemned if unrepentant.
I know Fr. Timone from ministry in Courage and Encourage. His teaching was faithful; his heart was compassionate. I know only what media report. When a priest is accused, he has no power over his defense. The diocese removes him from ministry, assumes control over the case, and sometimes payment is issued as a settlement by the church to “resolve” the complaint without public proof of guilt. While 1Cor 6 tells us not to take our lawsuits before non believers, turning over cases to the civil justice system may bring clarity and truth and justice for the alleged victim and the alleged perpetrator. Several priests I know of, all faithful to the tradition and Scripture of the church, are still out of ministry because of unresolved…
Here is more information from tje CNA:
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/omalley-sent-concerns-about-ny-priest-to-apostolic-nuncio-after-ny-times-report-21103
Given the source of the news organization, there is credibility.
Each diocese is now turning on each other over this blatant act of deception on the part of the New York Archdiocese:
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com
Members of the College of Cardinals themselves are now turning on each other over Fr. Timone:
https://www.churchmilitant.com/news/article/breaking-omalley-turns-in-dolan-for-abuse-cover-up
Looks like Cdl. Dolan, Archbishop of New York, has become the successor to the tradition of Cdl. Mahony regarding cover-ups.
This is an interesting turn of events.
Not too long ago, it was announced that Cdl. Cupich was named to head the organizing committee for the February 2019 synod on abuse, while Cdl. O’Malley was completely left out.
Could this be the Holy Father’s retribution against O’Malley for making the Holy Father look bad early in 2018 on the drlivery of a letter from an abuse victim? Also, he should be on the organizing committee by virtue of the fact that he heads up investigations on abuse.
Go figure..
Leaving O’Malley out of the organizing committee activities for the upcoming synod on abuse is something to be expected from the Francis Pontificate. O’Malley is being punished for doing his job.