Church files implicate more Boston priests

BOSTON -- One Roman Catholic priest was allowed to say weekly Mass although he was accused of molesting boys as they slept. Another was transferred from parish to parish even though a colleague complained he was "sick and needs help."

The cases were outlined in the latest batch of personnel files to be released by lawyers suing the Boston Archdiocese over its handling of child-molesting priests. The latest batch consists of about 3,000 pages on 13 priests.

At the same time, two of the lawyers representing alleged abuse victims are defending the archdiocese's new temporary leader, Bishop Richard G. Lennon, saying he worked to remove abusers.

The documents contain several allegations, including those made against the Rev. Joseph K. Coleman, who was accused molesting a 14-year-old boy in 1987.

When confronted by church officials, Coleman acknowledged that while drinking heavily, he had touched the boy on two occasions and once performed a sexual act, all while the boy was sleeping.

Coleman also acknowledged performing sexual acts twice on a sleeping 15-year-old boy.

"He admits to a strong attraction in this area of sexuality and has touched other young boys in the genitals by way of a quick brush or touch. Again, it was done while they were sleeping," a 1987 internal church memo reads.

Church officials sent Coleman to the Institute of Living, a psychiatric facility in Hartford, Conn. Over the next six years, Coleman was not allowed to return to parish work but was given a position as chaplain at two Catholic hospitals and was allowed to say weekly Masses.

In 1993, Coleman's case went before the archdiocese's review board. The board recommended that Coleman continue therapy, but appeared concerned that Coleman may have abused other boys.

"The board suggests he consider placing an apology in his file for any victim who might come forward in the future," reads a 1993 summary.

Not in full control

Coleman, who is listed in the archdiocese as being on health leave, told the Boston Herald he was not in full control of himself at the time of the allegations because he had a drinking problem.

"I've been dealing with this for years, but I can't imagine how difficult it is for the victims to deal with it for years, especially without the assistance of professional help," he said.

The abuse scandal led to Cardinal Bernard Law's resignation last week. He was replaced by Bishop Richard G. Lennon, who will hold the post until a successor is named by the Vatican, a process that could take months.

Lawyers who represent more than 200 of the alleged abuse victims defended Lennon on Tuesday after another attorney cast doubt on Lennon's role in the scandal.

In a letter to archdiocese lawyers, attorneys Roderick MacLeish Jr. and Jeffrey Newman said they had not found anything in their review of more than 10,000 documents that suggests Lennon played a role in placing known molesters back into parish ministry.

In fact, the lawyers said, church documents show that Lennon was involved in the process of defrocking at least three priests who were accused of sexually abusing children.

Another priest file released Tuesday contains a church memo describing the Rev. Gerard Creighton as "homicidal" and fixated on schemes to make money.

In 1973, the Rev. John McNally wrote a letter to then-Cardinal Humberto Medeiros, pleading for help.

Creighton was placed on a leave of absence in 1979 and retired six years later. He was later accused of molesting a female teenage parishioner in Boston in 1958. The archdiocese agreed to pay the woman $150,000 and pay for her counseling.