EXPRESSING REGRET (Pastor: ‘Should have done more’ to prevent abuse)

Twenty years before he was drummed out of the priesthood for molesting boy, the Rev. Brian McKeon told the pastor of his first church that he had acted inappropriately with a teenager.  Nothing, however, was done.  McKeon's supervisor at St. Anthony of Padua Roman Catholic Church in East Northport, Msgr. Edward Donnelly said, I thought it was just a one-time thing.  Donnelly talked with the boy, but never asked him or McKeon what actually happened.  I didn't want to know, he said, adding that such things can run the gamut.  He never told the boy's parents or officials of the Diocese of Rockville Centre because, he said, I didn't want to get involved.  McKeon went on to molest at least six other teenagers and attempted to molest several others during the next 20 years.  Donnelly said, I know, in hindsight, probably I should have done more.  And I am sorry about that.

(New York)