buzzlady
<font color=purple>Loves to play tag!<br><font col
- Joined
- Apr 3, 2003
- Messages
- 3,328
A priest from our church was arrested for sexual assault. It makes me so angry that if this is a true allegation that it has taken over 10 years for him to be arrested. There are so many more kids that he could have done this to during those years.
From our local paper
SOUTH AMBOY: Simon Palathingal, a religious order priest who served with the Diocese of Metuchen since late 2001, was arrested Thursday on four counts of sexual assault of a child that allegedly occurred in 1990 and 1991 when he was working with the Diocese of Milwaukee.
The arrest was conducted here by Milwaukee and South Amboy police officers. An extradition hearing will likely begin next week, unless Palathingal waives extradition from New Jersey, according to Milwaukee Assistant District Attorney Gale Shelton.
The 62-year-old Palathingal, who was ministering here at St. Mary Roman Catholic Church, is being held in New Jersey, with bail set by Wisconsin courts at $1 million. Each count is a Class B felony in Wisconsin, with a maximum sentence of 20 years.
Bishop Paul G. Bootkoski, head of the Diocese of Metuchen, who learned of the allegations yesterday, revoked Palathingal's ability to minister in the diocese, and terminated his application to become a diocesan priest.
"While Father Palathingal apparently knew of this allegation when it first surfaced over a decade ago, the Diocese of Metuchen first became aware of the allegation this morning when it was notified of his arrest," according to a statement issued yesterday by the bishop.
"In light of these events, and the fact that when he applied to work in the diocese he affirmed that on no occasion has his behavior ever called into question his ability to associate with minors, Father Palathingal's faculties to minister in the Diocese of Metuchen have been revoked," the statement added.
The abuse allegedly began in the summer of 1990, shortly after the victim's ninth birthday, and continued until June 1991. It allegedly occurred at a Milwaukee residence where priests live, known as Jordan House.
According to the criminal complaint the abuse involved oral sex, sodomy and ************. The victim, according to the complaint, "reported that the defendant told him not to tell anyone about these sexual acts because it was 'between us' and 'our secret.' "
Palathingal has served in the diocese since December 2001. In addition to his duties at St. Mary, he was assigned briefly to St. Bernadette Parish in Parlin. He was seeking to become a diocesan priest at St. Andrew's Roman Catholic Church in the Avenel section of Woodbridge.
Palathingal was ordained in India by the Salesians of Don Bosco, headquartered in the Bangalore province of India. He received a graduate degree in journalism from Marquette University in Milwaukee in 1993.
Prior to coming to New Jersey, he worked with the Our Lady Queen of Heaven parish in Lake Charles, La. "He came here to be involved in a television media project, but that never panned out," said Monsignor Ronald Groth of the Diocese of Lake Charles.
Palathingal left the diocese when he was asked to take another assignment, said Groth.
In his statement yesterday, Bootkoski asked anyone with knowledge of alleged criminal activity involving Palathingal to contact the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office at (732) 745-3300.
When allegations of abuse by priests became a nationwide scandal, Bootkoski established a working agreement with the Prosecutor's Office.
"He has genuine interest in the truth, and justice, and helping those who were harmed to be healed. I would take his word before any other (bishop)," said Matthew Kelly, communications director for the state chapter of the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests (SNAP).
From our local paper
SOUTH AMBOY: Simon Palathingal, a religious order priest who served with the Diocese of Metuchen since late 2001, was arrested Thursday on four counts of sexual assault of a child that allegedly occurred in 1990 and 1991 when he was working with the Diocese of Milwaukee.
The arrest was conducted here by Milwaukee and South Amboy police officers. An extradition hearing will likely begin next week, unless Palathingal waives extradition from New Jersey, according to Milwaukee Assistant District Attorney Gale Shelton.
The 62-year-old Palathingal, who was ministering here at St. Mary Roman Catholic Church, is being held in New Jersey, with bail set by Wisconsin courts at $1 million. Each count is a Class B felony in Wisconsin, with a maximum sentence of 20 years.
Bishop Paul G. Bootkoski, head of the Diocese of Metuchen, who learned of the allegations yesterday, revoked Palathingal's ability to minister in the diocese, and terminated his application to become a diocesan priest.
"While Father Palathingal apparently knew of this allegation when it first surfaced over a decade ago, the Diocese of Metuchen first became aware of the allegation this morning when it was notified of his arrest," according to a statement issued yesterday by the bishop.
"In light of these events, and the fact that when he applied to work in the diocese he affirmed that on no occasion has his behavior ever called into question his ability to associate with minors, Father Palathingal's faculties to minister in the Diocese of Metuchen have been revoked," the statement added.
The abuse allegedly began in the summer of 1990, shortly after the victim's ninth birthday, and continued until June 1991. It allegedly occurred at a Milwaukee residence where priests live, known as Jordan House.
According to the criminal complaint the abuse involved oral sex, sodomy and ************. The victim, according to the complaint, "reported that the defendant told him not to tell anyone about these sexual acts because it was 'between us' and 'our secret.' "
Palathingal has served in the diocese since December 2001. In addition to his duties at St. Mary, he was assigned briefly to St. Bernadette Parish in Parlin. He was seeking to become a diocesan priest at St. Andrew's Roman Catholic Church in the Avenel section of Woodbridge.
Palathingal was ordained in India by the Salesians of Don Bosco, headquartered in the Bangalore province of India. He received a graduate degree in journalism from Marquette University in Milwaukee in 1993.
Prior to coming to New Jersey, he worked with the Our Lady Queen of Heaven parish in Lake Charles, La. "He came here to be involved in a television media project, but that never panned out," said Monsignor Ronald Groth of the Diocese of Lake Charles.
Palathingal left the diocese when he was asked to take another assignment, said Groth.
In his statement yesterday, Bootkoski asked anyone with knowledge of alleged criminal activity involving Palathingal to contact the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office at (732) 745-3300.
When allegations of abuse by priests became a nationwide scandal, Bootkoski established a working agreement with the Prosecutor's Office.
"He has genuine interest in the truth, and justice, and helping those who were harmed to be healed. I would take his word before any other (bishop)," said Matthew Kelly, communications director for the state chapter of the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests (SNAP).
( shift them one place to another - so they can abuse again 
