DORCHESTER (MA)
Dorchester Reporter

Apr. 19, 2012

By Reverend John J. Connolly, Jr.

Following is the text of a letter that Rev. John J. Connolly Jr., pastor of St. Brendan’s Parish, wrote to his parishioners on April 11:

Dear Parishioners and Friends of Saint Brendan’s:

It is with a heavy heart that I address you today. Like many of you, I read the story in this morning’s paper reporting that Father James H. Lane, one of my predecessors as pastor of this parish, has been the subject of an allegation of the sexual abuse of a child some forty years ago. Like many of you, I knew Father Lane personally, and I admired and respected him. Like many of you, I am deeply shocked and profoundly saddened by the allegation made public today.

As members of this parish and this archdiocese, we have been dealing with the tragic reality…