FIVE PRIESTS RETIRING WITH ABUSE ACCUSATIONS

Five of the 10 priests listed as retiring this year from the Diocese of Rockville Centre had their priestly faculties removed recently because of allegations of sexual misconduct.  The Long Island Catholic, a weekly newspaper published by the Roman Catholic diocese, listed the priests in an article about new priest assignments, including retirements.  The article did not mention misconduct charges, although the newspaper published a story earlier mentioning allegations against two of the men.  The other five priests retiring had no charges against them.  Those retiring priests who have allegations against them are:

- The Rev. Joseph C. McComiskey, pastor of St. Edward the Confessor Church, Syosset, since 1990.  An allegation against him was made on the diocese's new sex abuse hotline and was referred to local prosecutors.  No details of the complaint were available

- The Rev. Louis Newman, who has worked in a San Diego diocese for the last decade after serving in several parishes on Long Island, the last one being SS. Syril and Methodius in Deer Park in the mid to late 1980s.   No details of the complaint were available.

-  Msgr. Charles A. Ribaudo, formerly of St. Dominic's Church in Oyster Bay since 1987, who was removed as a result of allegations that he had abused Michael Hands more than 20 years ago when Hands was a high school student.  Ribaudo denied the allegations in an April interview.  Hands, who went on to become a priest, pleaded guilty in March to sodomy charges involving a teenage boy.

- The Rev. Robert Saccacio, who had been pastor of St. Martin of Tours in Amityville since 1987, in connection with allegations he had abused a teenager in the 1960x.  Saccacio retired May 1.

- The Rev. Kenneth Nee, who was pastor of Our Lady of Fatima in Manorhaven since 1980, in connection with allegations he had abused a teenager in the 1960s.  Nee retired May 1.