Brooklyn Diocese Expelled Priest Following 1970s Child Sexual Abuse Investigation

A reverend from the Diocese of Brooklyn, who worked part-time for the Hispanic community in two Catholic churches in Queens, was removed from public ministry after the institution found a complaint of sexual abuse of a minor dating back to the 1970s credible. .

The Rev. Peter Mahoney, 86, was removed after the Diocesan Review Board (DRB) investigated the complaint and concluded that the allegations may be true, the Diocese of Brooklyn said Monday. Mahoney worked at Saint Anne Churches in Flushing and St. Nicholas of Tolentine in Jamaica.

That means that Mahoney will not be allowed to celebrate Mass publicly, he will not be able to exercise any public ministry and he will not be able to live in a church residence. Your name will also be added to the list of priests credibly accused on the Diocese of Brooklyn website.

The allegation reached the Brooklyn Diocese Hotline on October 2, 2020, and was referred for investigation and forwarded to police on that date.

The alleged abuse took place between 1975 and 1978 while Reverend Mahoney was serving in St. Martin of Tours in Brooklyn. The Diocese of Brooklyn clarified that its decision should not be construed as a conviction of the priest. However, it is an acknowledgment of the possibility that a crime has occurred and therefore, out of concern for the safety of the faithful, it was determined that it was necessary to remove the priest from the ministry.

On April 8, 2021, a lawsuit was filed against Reverend Mahoney under the Child Victims Act with an indictment from another claimant.

The Diocese of Brooklyn is committed to providing pastoral care to victims. The Office of the Victim Assistance Ministry provides initial support counseling, counseling referrals, and pastoral resources for victims of sexual abuse. The Diocese organizes an annual Mass of Hope and Healing where the faithful gather and pray for victims of clergy sexual abuse.

The Diocese of Brooklyn has a zero tolerance policy that states that any member of the clergy credibly accused of sexual abuse of a minor is permanently removed from ministry.

Anyone who has been the victim of clergy sexual abuse is encouraged to report it to law enforcement or the toll-free hotline established by the Diocese at 1-888-634-4499. All calls are forwarded to law enforcement officials.

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