(NY)
The Tablet [Diocese of Brooklyn NY]
July 3, 2025
Prospect Heights — The Diocese of Brooklyn has “officially removed” Father Raymond Flores from ministry and will add him to the diocese’s list of credibly accused priests following the recommendation of an independent panel that investigates abuse allegations.
Bishop Robert Brennan announced the decision in a press release on July 3.
Father Flores, who hasn’t served in the diocese for over a decade, was ordained in the diocese on June 29, 2013, and assigned as a parochial vicar for Divine Mercy in Brooklyn until November 8, 2014, when he was temporarily removed from ministry “due to an inappropriate relationship with an adult.”
After years of counseling and discernment, Father Flores expressed a desire to return to active ministry. According to the diocese, in September 2018, he “assumed duties” at St. Mary Help of Christians parish in the Diocese of Charleston, South Carolina, so he could serve outside of the Diocese of Brooklyn, where the adult with whom he had the inappropriate relationship resided.
In July 2019, he was accused of engaging “in inappropriate online conduct with a minor who misrepresented himself as an adult,” the July 3 press release stated.
“The allegation was immediately reported to Charleston law enforcement authorities and the Diocese of Charleston placed Father Flores on administrative leave immediately,” the diocese said, adding that authorities closed their investigation and no charges were filed.
“After receiving the results of a preliminary investigation conducted by the Diocese of Charleston, on or about January 2020, the Diocese of Brooklyn initiated a canonical process to remove Father Flores from the clerical state,” the press release continues. “In the wake of COVID and its aftermath, the priority for the Diocese of Brooklyn became handling the Child Victim Act cases, beginning with priests in active ministry.
“Father Flores has not been in ministry and has not functioned as a priest since 2019.”
The July 3 statement explained that Bishop Brennan ordered a new investigation by the Diocesan Review Board (DRB) in March, through which it was determined that “there is sufficient evidence of sexual abuse of a minor.”
“The finding by the DRB is not a legal determination of guilt,” the diocese said. “It is recognition of the possibility that wrongdoing may have taken place.”
The diocese also noted in its statement that it takes all allegations of sexual misconduct with minors seriously and that it abides by the charter adopted by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in Dallas in 2002, called the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. This includes a zero-tolerance policy stating that any member of the clergy who is determined to be credibly accused of sexual misconduct with a minor is permanently removed from ministry.
The diocese also conducts initial and ongoing background checks on all employees and provides age-appropriate sex abuse awareness training for children and adults.
Anyone who is a victim of sexual abuse within the diocese is encouraged to call the confidential reporting line (888-634-4499), which connects directly to law enforcement authorities.