SCRANTON (PA)
The Times Tribune [Scranton, PA]
July 30, 2024
By Frank Wilkes Lesnefsky
A Diocese of Scranton priest revered for his work with the region’s poor is guilty under church law of sexually abusing two children, the diocese said Tuesday.
Monsignor Joseph P. Kelly is immediately and permanently prohibited from exercising priestly ministry and permanently barred from wearing clerical attire or presenting himself as a priest following the guilty verdict, according to a statement from the diocese.
While guilty under canon law, Kelly has not faced criminal charges.
The Vatican authorized the Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, bishop of Scranton, to impose a permanent penalty on Kelly but did not authorize his dismissal as a priest due to his age, according to the diocese. Kelly is 83 years old.
Ordained May 28, 1966, Kelly had 17 assignments throughout his career, including in Lackawanna and Luzerne counties. He received widespread recognition from the community for his work with disadvantaged children and adults, serving as the head of Catholic Social Services for a decade until he retired Dec. 31, 2015, as well as serving as executive director of St. Francis of Assisi Kitchen in Scranton until August 2019.
Attempts to reach Kelly were unsuccessful Tuesday.
The penalties are the conclusion of a canonical process launched nearly four years ago, the diocese said.
The Diocese of Scranton added Kelly in October 2020 to its list of individuals who have been credibly accused of sexually abusing children. He was placed on administrative leave at the time, which prohibited him from publicly celebrating the sacraments or presenting himself as a priest, according to the diocese.
By October 2020, seven individuals had come forward alleging Kelly sexually abused them as children, some of whom were compensated through the Independent Survivors Compensation Program, the diocese said. The diocese established the compensation fund in 2019 for victims of clergy sexual abuse.
The diocese received an additional allegation of sexual abuse of minors against Kelly in January 2023.
The Diocese of Scranton, in consultation with its Diocesan Review Board, determined five of the eight allegations had credible evidence.
The diocese investigated those five credible allegations and, as required by canon law, submitted the findings to the Vatican.