Archdiocese: Allegations against priest are unsubstantiated

January 2, 2009 06:38 PM Email| Comments (6)| Text size – +

By Globe Staff

Two allegations of sexual abuse of a minor by a priest have been found to be unsubstantiated, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston said today.

In a statement posted on its website, the archdiocese said that Rev. James F. Power, 78, had been removed from administrative leave and assigned the status of senior priest.

While the claims were found unsubstantiated, the statement said Power must seek permission from the archdiocese's vicar general to administer sacraments beyond his family. Archdiocese spokeswoman Ann Carter had no comment on the statement.

Power was assigned to St. James the Great Church in Wellesley when he was placed on administrative leave in February 2002. The action was taken after a review of his file revealed he had been the subject of an allegation in 1993. A second allegation was reported in October 2002, the statement said. No details of the allegations were provided.

"The Cardinal and the Archdiocese remain committed to resolving cases of this nature in a manner that is as just as possible for all involved," the statement said.

Power was among a group of clergymen who were removed from their posts in 2002 after a review of personnel records dating back 40 years. At the time, the church had already settled sexual molestation claims against Power and several others in the group, according to people involved in the settlements, the Globe reported.

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6 comments so far...

I am sure there are a lot more innocent priests out there beside Father Power. It is amazing what the smell of "blood money" will do to some of these poor "abuse" little victims.

Posted by Paul Devine January 2, 09 07:13 PM

An article like this, which looks like a press release from the diocese, raises more questions than it answers. If the initial action was taken after a review showed allegations of abuse were made ten years earlier and simply placed in the file without investigation, does the new statement that the claim was "unsubstantiated" mean the old claim was now investigated and after inquiry could not be substantiated, or does it mean that no investigation was done but since no follow-up complaints were made, the diocese decided there is no reason to investigate further? Has dissubstantiation now joined transsubstantiation as a doctrinal way of addressing discrepancies? And what of the actual case against Power that was settled?

Posted by mike falkoff January 2, 09 07:37 PM

This is great news for those of us who know (and love) Jim, or Father Power, so well. He is a kind and caring person who will do anything for his friends and family. He has dedicated his life to the Church, serving God, and helping others. His good name and substantial work were all stripped away as a result of these false accusations. His work, generosity, and love can now be celebrated as it always should have been.

Thank you to all those who supported Jim through this ordeal. He has had so many people fighting and lobbying for him since 2002. The hard work finally paid off! Congratulations to Jim (FP), his family, his friends, and all of his supporters. What a great way to begin a new year!

Posted by SBM January 2, 09 08:26 PM

Yes, it's true, the SS also found "no wrong doing" in the extermination of 6.5 million Jews and 7.1 million non Jews!

O'Malley & Company, are all hand picked Bernie Law (less) La Cosa Nostra & have ZERO credibility!

Osama bin Laden is more truthful than these evil men.

To date, the USCCB (Unremoved Sexual Criminal Cabal Bishops) have ripped off and diverted over $3 Billion Tax Free Laity Offentory Plate US Dollars, to the contiuned scorched earth litigation, denial, racketeering, aid, abetting, perjury, wholesale child endangerment & assault, as well as enabling, of many thousands of still hidden pedophile clergy, with no end in sight, not correction, and most importantly, no removal of the main multi decade serial evil office holder cardinals and bishop perpertrators, who caused this mess!

There is a better chance of saving hens in the coop, from foxes in charge, than this bunch of pin head felons, wearing red hats and miters!

Where's RICO Prosecution?!

www.bishop-accountability.org/abusetracker for daily verifed & vetted coverage of the ongoing curia crime sprees.

The Solution? "STOP DONATING LAITY!" as St. Peter Damien correctly asserted.

Remember, The Curia's Motto Remains = ISAIAH 28:15!

St. Paul to the Ephesians, 5:11, reminds us also: "Do not deal in fruitless deeds of darkeness, but expose them!"

Edmund Burke was correct: "The only condition for the triumph of evil is for good men (or Women) to do nothing!"

Laity! It Is A Mortal Sin To Be Doanting Any Monies To The Roman Catholic Church, Or Any Of It's Charities, The Curia Skim Or Outright Diverts, Until Many Hundreds Of Overtly GUILTY Curia Are Each Removed From Office, Each Canonically Censored, & Each Place Under Life House Arrest, Like Serial Pedophile Founder Of The Legion Of Christ & Regnum Christi, Fr. Marciel, Or Alternatively, Each Is EXCOMMUNICATED!

House arrest should be a remote, dark, cold, damp, windy, bad food, no medical care, and forced hard labor location; like THE GULAG! Not a Papally Designated Basilica In Rome, As Arch Priest (more like ARCH DEVIL) with Stolen Boston Priest Pension Funds In The Many Millions Of Dollars, Like Bernard Law was allowed to do!

No Curia Accountability, Real Reform, Or Removal (Mostly John Paul II Appointed & No Saint!)? No Laity Monies! It's THAT Simple!

Fiat Lux & Veritas!

Albino Luciani,
MURDERED POPE,
NOT Smiling, From Heaven

Posted by Albino Luciani January 2, 09 08:51 PM

ArchBishop Sean should re-open the Parish he has shuttered in the wake of the false abuse claim.

Posted by AltarBoyz January 2, 09 11:23 PM

Unsubstantiated by the brotherhood protecting canon law. But, the church had settled previous cases and those had these TWO more added to them ?

My God ! When will officials of the Catholic Church in Amercia stand up and stop making fools of themselves ?

Posted by Bob Schwiderski January 3, 09 07:01 AM