Diocese of Scranton is still in the news regarding the priest sex abuse scandal. It’s been over two years since the Pennsylvania’s Diocese of Scranton clergy sex abuse scandal came to light and the list of named priests continues to grow.
Over a dozen clergy members of Diocese of Scranton have been accused of sexually abusing children spanning decades.
Monsignor Joseph Kelly, now age 80 and retired, was involved with St. Francis of Assisi Kitchen in the city when he was the head of Catholic Social Services for ten years. Monsignor Kelly has been added this week to its list of those “credibly accused” of sexual abuse.
Eight other members of clergy were also named, however, Monsignor Kelly is the only clergy member still alive.
The other clergy members named this week are Edmund Byrne, Joseph Conboy, Francis Corcoran, Walter Ferrett, and Hugh McGroarty.
Monsignor Kelly denied the accusations:
“I say to my family, my friends, my former parishioners, that these claims are absolutely not true. I have spent the last 54 years as a priest who believes in and practiced respect for the dignity and safety of all I came in contact with, especially those under my supervision.”
The Diocese of Scranton finalized a report outlining the more than $24 million dollars provided to the 200 survivors of abuse from its survivors’ compensation program.
