Bishop is brought in to clean up diocese

Pope John Paul II names Bishop Sean Patrick O'Malley to lead the Diocese of Palm Beach in the wake of a sex abuse scandal.

©Associated Press
September 4, 2002

PALM BEACH GARDENS -- A bishop known for his tough policies on sexual abuse was named Tuesday by Pope John Paul II to lead the Diocese of Palm Beach, replacing a bishop who quit after admitting he molested a student years ago.

Bishop Sean Patrick O'Malley had served as bishop in Fall River, Mass., since 1992, when he was called in to clean up a sexual abuse scandal surrounding allegations against a former priest.

O'Malley is credited with establishing a model system for dealing with sexual abuse accusations against priests, which include referring victims to social workers unaffiliated with the church and conducting background checks for all employees and volunteers.

In Palm Beach, O'Malley's appointment follows two pedophilia scandals.

Bishop J. Keith Symons admitted in 1998 that he molested five altar boys decades earlier and quickly resigned. He was replaced by Bishop Anthony J. O'Connell, whose outgoing nature helped the church move forward after Symons' abrupt departure.

In March, O'Connell, 63, admitted that he inappropriately touched a student at a Missouri seminary in the late 1970s. The teenager had sought counseling from O'Connell after being abused by another priest.

O'Malley assured the public that his background is free of scandals and accusations and said he plans to implement at least some of the policies he started in Fall River.

"The whole church feels the pain of this scandal and is anxious to try to bring some healing and reconciliation to our families and communities that have been so shaken by these sad events and by the mishandling of these situations on the part of the church," O'Malley said. "I see there are great needs here, and I will do my best to meet those needs."

O'Malley, 58, was born in Lakewood, Ohio, and served as bishop in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, before his transfer to Fall River a decade ago.

In the 1970s, he ran the Catholic Hispanic Center in Washington, served as vicar for the Hispanic, Portuguese and Haitian communities and headed the church's Office of Social Ministry.

He laid down new policies in Fall River in 1994 after the Rev. James Porter pleaded guilty to molesting 28 children and was sentenced to 18 to 20 years in prison.

O'Malley will be installed Oct. 19.

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