FL–Priest arrested on child sex charge

FLORIDA
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests

For immediate release: Tuesday, Jan. 6

Statement by David Clohessy of St. Louis, Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests ( 314 566 9790, SNAPclohessy@aol.com , davidgclohessy@gmail.com )

A Catholic priest has been arrested on charges of showing pornography to a boy. Now, Palm Beach’s bishop – and other Catholic employees – must step up and help police by aggressively seeking out other victims, witnesses and whistleblowers.

[CBS 12]

This weekend, Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito should go to every parish where Fr. Jose Palimattom worked. He should emphatically beg anyone who may have seen, suspected or suffered crimes by the priest to call law enforcement. He should put notices about the priest in every parish bulletin and church website.

Barbarito must also explain to his flock why

—the priest was put at Holy Name Catholic Church in West Palm Beach even though he “also got in trouble in India for being involved with an underage boy while working there” and why that incident “was not reported to law enforcement.”

—it was the child’s father – not Catholic officials – who alerted authorities.

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