Free Republic

The Archdiocese of Miami knew one of its priests had been accused of sexually abusing at least three boys and young men, but allowed him to continue his clergy work involving children, its own records show.The church records were cited throughout a case-closeout memo following a 17-month Broward state attorney's investigation of the Rev. Neil Doherty. The controversial priest served in Miami-Dade and Broward counties for more than three decades, most recently as pastor of St. Vincent's Church in Margate.Their release on Wednesday marks the first time internal archdiocese documents about a priest's behavior have become public since the nationwide...

NEWARK, N.J. - A man who claimed he was molested by a Roman Catholic priest as a boy, then became an advocate for other victims, committed suicide by stepping in front of a train. Friends of James Thomas Kelly, 37, of Morristown said he was deeply hurt by the abuse. But they stopped short of saying that was the reason for his suicide on Sunday. Kelly was a member of SNAP, or Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, and spoke often about his experiences. Kelly helped establish the group's New Jersey chapter, said Mark Serrano, a SNAP board member....

Missionary Priest Is Charged With Sex Abuse of Queens Boy By THOMAS J. LUECK A priest visiting a Roman Catholic parish in Queens was arrested last night and charged with the sexual abuse of a 12-year-boy during a Father's Day excursion to Rockaway Beach. The authorities said the priest, the Rev. Peter Kiare, 41, a native of Kenya who is a member of a missionary order in Ireland, would be arraigned today in Queens County Criminal Court on charges of sex abuse, forcible touching and endangering the welfare of a child. He was arrested at 5:30 p.m. yesterday by detectives...

In a rare example of public disclosure, the Diocese of Allentown, PA announced Friday it has agreed to settle allegations of abuse by a retired priest for $275,000. The allegations by a 15-year-old boy resulted in criminal charges last year against the Rev. Edward R. Graff, who served the Allentown Diocese for 30 years before retiring to Texas in 1992. Although no lawsuit was ever filed, the teen from Texas accused Graff of abusing him several times last year. Authorities arrested Graff last Oct. 4 in the Texas panhandle on charges he sexually assaulted the boy. Afterward, about 30 MEN...