[fatima]

Coleus,Thanks for the bump,I knew he would answer in a big way.

[fatima]

I hit stop but thamks still came up so here's a bump for Father and thamks.

[Coleus]

Clarifying why Hanley left Mendham

In reading the Rev. Benedict Groeschel's March 10 letter to the editor, I find a significant error that I must correct. Father Groeschel is quite incorrect about the reason why the Rev. James Hanley left his post as pastor of St. Joseph's in Mendham in 1982. The Rev. Hanley left St. Joseph's to go on sabbatical. Soon after it was determined that he needed treatment for alcohol abuse. He was sent to Guest House in Minnesota for residential treatment.

Upon return from a sabbatical or treatment for an illness, it is common practice for a priest to receive a new assignment. So it was that Hanley was assigned to Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Wayne as a parochial vicar. There were no accusations of sexual abuse against Hanley in 1982 when he left Mendham.

The diocese did not transfer him to another parish after sexual abuse allegations were made. The first information received about sexual abuse came from Mark Serrano and his family when they came forward in late 1985.

It was at that point that the Groeschel became involved in counseling Hanley and advising Bishop Rodimer. It was at that time that Groeschel made an overture and helped to arrange the hospital chaplain position for Hanley in the diocese of Albany.

Marianna Thompson, director |of communications, Roman Catholic Diocese of Paterson