NEW YORK
Road to Recovery
MSGR. KENNETH F. O’CONNELL – PUBLICLY NAMED AS A SEXUAL ABUSER FOR THE FIRST TIME
SIX-FIGURE SETTLEMENT REACHED IN ARCHDIOCESE OF NEW YORK INDEPENDENT RECONCILIATION AND COMPENSATION PROGRAM AGAINST MSGR. KENNETH F. O’CONNELL WHO WAS THE CHAPLAIN OF THE NATIONAL CATHOLIC COMMITTEE ON SCOUTING
Peter Marghella, formerly of the Bronx, New York, was approximately a 12 year-old child when he was sexually abused by then Fr. Kenneth F. O’Connell, a New York Archdiocesan priest and Boy Scout chaplain, when Peter Marghella attended Camp Spes Mundi (Latin for “hope for the world”) in Hope Falls, New York, as part of Troop #21 which was located in Mount Vernon, New York. Fr. Kenneth F. O’Connell, who eventually became Msgr. Kenneth F. O’Connell (hereinafter referred to as Msgr. Kenneth F. O’Connell), was chaplain of Troop #21.
Msgr. Kenneth F. O’Connell was Chaplain of the National Catholic Committee on Scouting (1973-1975). After Msgr. O’Connell’s death at the age of 54 in 1984, the National Catholic Committee on Scouting instituted an award (Spes Mundi Award), named after the camp Msgr. Kenneth F. O’Connell founded, honoring an adult who financially supports the promotion of the Catholic faith through scouting.
Msgr. Kenneth F. O’Connell was also executive director of the Catholic Youth Organization of the Archdiocese of New York. When he passed away, Msgr. Kenneth F. O’ Connell was Pastor of Sts. John and Paul Parish in Larchmont, New York.
Peter Marghella was also sexually abused as a child by Br. Damian Galligan, FMS, a Marist Brother.
Peter Marghella, his attorney, and advocate will be available by telephone to discuss the sexual assault by Msgr. Kenneth F. O’Connell, who has been named for the first time, and the recent settlement with the Archdiocese of New York Independent Reconciliation and Compensation Program.
Contacts
Attorney Mitchell Garabedian, Boston, MA – 617-523-6250 – garabedianlaw@msn.com (portrayed in “Spotlight”)
Robert M. Hoatson, Ph.D., Road to Recovery, Inc. – 862-368-2800 – roberthoatson@gmail.com
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