Florida diocese rejects ‘completely inaccurate’ Irish priest’s claims

The Diocese of Palm Beach has rejected as “completely inaccurate” claims by an Irish priest that he was “frozen out” by the Catholic Church for raising safeguarding concerns about a fellow priest.

The US diocese was responding to an article in the Irish Independent which reported on the case of Strabane native Fr John Gallagher who is based in Florida.

Fr Gallagher claimed he is living in a friend’s home after locks at his parochial house were changed and he was placed on medical leave by his bishop in the Diocese of Palm Beach.

He also claimed he was told by a Church official to put a priest accused of abuse on a plane rather than cooperate with police after he raised concerns about an Indian priest who was subsequently arrested on charges of possession of pornography and showing the material to a minor.

Regarding the criminal charges against Fr Jose Palimattom, OFM, the diocese insisted it had previously stated publically its “immediate response, contact and cooperation with authorities regarding the investigation”.

Responding to each claim, the diocese insisted that Fr Gallagher “was not demoted but given a new assignment with residence”, that the locks “were not changed at Fr Gallagher’s former parochial house, leaving him homeless”, and added that Fr Gallagher “requested a medical leave freely on his own and has been negligent in informing the diocese of his current residence”.

Non-cooperation

Fr Gallagher, however, said he had experienced the “full wrath of the Church and the full force of non-cooperation”.

He said he was “not receiving any justice and has been attacked for exposing the crime”.

“I’ve had no support from the Church. Clergy have basically ostracised me,” he said.

In a statement earlier this month, Bishop Gerald Barbarito of Palm Beach confirmed that he had “suspended all priestly faculties which were previously granted” to Fr Palimattom “so that he does not have permission to provide any ministry” within the diocese and gave assurances that he would “continue to cooperate with investigators”.