FLORIDA
NWF Daily
[statement from the diocese]
[statement from Msgr. Cherup that appeared in the parish bulletin]
By JULIE HATFIELD / Daily News
Published: Tuesday, September 3, 2013
FORT WALTON BEACH — Parishioners at St. Mary Catholic Church continue to be shocked and saddened at the removal of their pastor following a single allegation of sexual abuse of a minor 20 years ago.
Church members say they are “heartbroken” and “hurting,” and that they saw nothing in Monsignor Michael Cherup’s behavior to warrant an accusation.
“I do not believe Father Mike is capable of this, based on what I have witnessed with him over the last five years,” said Katie Canna, a mother of four whose teens have been involved with the youth group and whose younger children attended St. Mary School.
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