Mount Carmel pastor accused

Deepa Bharath

A Roman Catholic priest, who parishioners call caring and kind, was

placed on administrative leave last week after a Riverside County man

filed a lawsuit alleging that the priest molested him about 25 years

ago.

The suit, filed in Orange County Superior Court, names both Msgr.

Daniel Murray, pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, and the

Diocese of Orange. It accuses the priest of sexually abusing the then

8-year-old victim in Garden Grove over a six-year period.

Murray, who has been pastor of the Balboa Peninsula church for

four years, was placed on administrative leave on Sept. 2 when he

returned from a vacation, said Father Joe Fenton, spokesman for the

Diocese of Orange.

“Msgr. Murray has categorically denied the allegations,” he said.

“Putting him on administrative leave does not mean he’s guilty. We’re

waiting for the litigation takes its course and if the jury

determined he is [not liable], we will reinstate him.”

The victim’s Corona-based attorney, Roland Bainer, was not

available for comment.

The lawsuit states that Murray inappropriately touched the boy

when he came to the priest for support when his parents were going

through a divorce. Murray continued to sexually abuse the victim

although the boy resisted, it states.

Murray has served several churches in Orange County over the 30

years he has been a priest, Fenton said. Before coming to Balboa,

Murray was the Director of Vocations for the Diocese in which

capacity he recruited and trained young priests, he said.

Church members are obviously shocked at the allegations that

concern their pastor, said Greg Kelley, who has attended the church

for about 20 years.

“But we don’t have all the details yet,” he said. “We’ll have to

wait and see.”

Other parishioners said they don’t believe the allegations.

“I don’t think he’s guilty,” said Marge Dignam. “What can I say?

He’s a wonderful man. You couldn’t ask for more.”

Joan Gray, also a long-time parishioner, said she respects her

pastor.

“I like him very much,” she said. “I’ve seen him as a kind and

caring person. I don’t believe it.”

The plaintiff is seeking unspecified damages.

Fenton said church members will have a chance to discuss the issue

on Tuesday during a “listening session” Monday night.

“We want to give people an opportunity to talk about how this has

affected them,” Fenton said.

He said Diocese Chancellor Shirl Giacomi had read out a letter

from Bishop Tod Brown after Saturday’s mass “giving them all the

facts.” That letter, he said, was read after all masses on Sunday as

well.

Monday’s session will take place from 7:30 to 9 p.m. at Our Lady

of Mount Carmel Church at 1441 W. Balboa Blvd. Information: (949)

673-3775.