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.
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