Diocese of Palm Beach FL - BishopAccountability.org

6 Accused in This Diocese

Fr. Edwin J. Collins

Ordained: 1954
Status: Accused

In 1998, Collins, a retired priest from Rockville Centre, NY, made advances toward a teenager in Palm Beach. The boy fought him off and immediately told the diocese; Collins resigned. The vicar general wrote a letter and placed it in Collins' file. Diocese of Rockville Centre was notified. Name not released to public in 2002 with other accused clergy. Family immediately complained to diocese about omission. Diocese said it "missed" the file. Included on the Rockville Centre diocese's list of accused in 3/21. Abuse allegedly occurred at St. William the Abbot in Seaford NY, where he was assigned 1968-76, and at Collins' house in Wellington FL.

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Diocese of Rockville Centre List 03.18.21

Sources:

Palm Beach Post 09.06.02
Sun-Sentinel 09.07.02
Palm Beach Post 02.28.04
Diocese of Rockville Centre List 03.18.21

Fr. Frank Flynn

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Ordained: 1967
Status: Settled

Diocese: Diocese of Palm Beach FL

From Ireland. Accused of seducing at least three women and of kissing and groping a young girl when she was ages 12-18. Police closed investigation in 9/02. Diocese was notified at least four times 1982-97 that Flynn was seducing women. Flynn left the diocese in 1997 and returned to Ireland because of a "weak heart." Working at seminary in Dublin in 2002. Retired by 2004. Diocese paid at least two settlements involving Flynn. Named in a lawsuit.

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Fr. Elias Francisco Guimaraes

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Order: SSP
Ordained: 1993
Status: Convicted

Diocese: Diocese of Palm Beach FL

From Brazil. Arrived in the in Palm Beach diocese in 2001. Arrested in 9/02 when he arrived on a beach for a sexual rendezvous with a detective who had been posing as a 14-year-old boy on the internet. Guimaraes sent many sexually explicit messages and bragged of having sex with a 14-year old boy and a 16-year-old boy. Pleaded guilty in 2003; sentenced to four years and three months in federal prison. Released 5/23/06. May have been deported to Brazil upon release.

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Fr. Francis Edward Maloney

Ordained: 1959
Status: Settled

Diocese: Diocese of Palm Beach FL

Ordained for the Diocese of Steubenville. Transferred in 1986 to the Palm Beach diocese. Removed from Florida parish in 2002 after 17-year-old accused him of behaving inappropriately around him. The youth said he found Maloney in bed with another man and that the priest would walk around his home nude while the youth was there. No criminal charges filed. Youth filed a civil suit in 3/03. Settled in 5/04 for less than $1M. Maloney admitted to a long-term, "sporadic" sexual relationship with the other priest.

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Fr. Jose Palimattom

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Order: OFM
Status: Convicted

Diocese: Diocese of Palm Beach FL

Arrested, charged with obscenity in 1/15 for showing child porn to a 14-year-old boy. Admitted behavior. Served 6 months jail then deported to native India in 6/15. Boy's father alerted police. Priest sought the boy's help to delete the photos. Assigned to Holy Name of Jesus, West Palm Beach since 12/14. Police said Palimattom had gotten in trouble in India for involvement with a boy. Diocese says background check prior to Palimattom's arrival showed no prior misconduct. Holy Name Administrator, Rev. John Gallagher, told police he was instructed that when Palimattom arrived he was to have no contact with minors without adult present. Gallagher, who also alerted authorities about Palimattom, claimed demotion/poor treatment by diocese as a result in 1/16. Diocese refuted claim. Gallagher filed suit v diocese 1/11/17. Appeals court dismissed the suit 5/18, saying court cannot get involved in church administrative issues.

Bishop Joseph Keith Symons

Ordained: 1958
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Palm Beach FL

Bishop of the Palm Beach Diocese from 1990 until he resigned in 6/98 when it was revealed that he had molested five boys early in his ministry (1958-60s) in the Miami archdiocese. The news was made public after a victim came forward to a church official. Symons admitted the abuse and also to the abuse of the other four youths. The Bishop of Pensacola-Tallassahee knew of abuse by Symons in 1995 but did nothing. By 1999 Symons was leading spiritual retreats for adults in MI. Included on the St. Petersburg diocese's list of credibly accused.

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Our Database of Publicly Accused does not state or imply that individuals facing allegations are guilty of a crime or liable for civil claims. The reports contained in the database are merely allegations. The U.S. legal system presumes that a person accused of or charged with a crime is innocent until proven guilty. Similarly, individuals who may be defendants in civil actions are presumed not to be liable for such claims unless a plaintiff proves otherwise. Admissions of guilt or liability are not typically a part of civil or private settlements. For more information, see our posting policy.