The Diocese of Brooklyn dismissed a priest from ministry service for being involved in sexual abuse claims.

The congregation relieved Rev. Peter Mahoney for being "credibly accused" of sexual assault.

The Diocese Removes the Priest From Ministry

According to Daily News, the longtime Diocesan priest will be terminated from his duties.

Rev. Mahoney has been removed from his role at Saint Anne Catholic Church. The church, which serves the Hispanic community, is located in Flushing, New York City.

Aside from that, he was also fired from his post at St. Nicholas of Tolentine Church in Jamaica.

Rev. Mahoney reportedly works part-time in both churches and spearheads worship services.

The report said that the Catholic priest cannot be involved in public ministry anymore.

The Diocese forbids him in conducting Eucharistic Masses for the faithful. He reportedly cannot perform any public service.

The news outlet said that Rev. Mahoney cannot also reside in a religious residence following the issue.

The Diocese of Brooklyn will also include his name on the list of credibly accused Catholic priests. The list is available on the website of the Brooklyn congregation.

The list has the names of over 100 current and resigned priests involved in sexual abuse claims. It also contains the name of deceased priests who were credibly accused of sex assault.

Sexual Abuse Allegations

Church officials revealed that the 86-year-old priest allegedly sexually abused a minor.

The report said that the victim was sexually harassed between 1975 and 1978. At that time, Rev. Mahoney was a priest at St. Martin of Tours Church in Bushwick, Brooklyn.

The claims were originally brought to the Diocese's attention in October 2020 through its tip line.

The Diocese immediately launched an investigation to validate the claims, the report said. The congregation then notified the law enforcement officials.

Moreover, the Diocese of Brooklyn also received another sexual abuse claim against the priest. 

Diocesan officials disclosed that the allegation emerged through a lawsuit filed in April.

Furthermore, the lawsuit detailed that the alleged sexual abuse occurred in 1963 and 1964.

Daily News reported that the priest was the head of the Church of St. Leonard of Port Maurice School.

According to the complaint, Rev. Mahoney allegedly groomed a young student for abuse. 

The lawsuit claimed that the priest abused the victim at least once between the ages of 12 and 13.

The Paramus, New Jersey-based claimed victim has already passed away, the report said.

As a result, the alleged victim's estate has brought the case on his behalf, according to the report.

About the Diocese of Brooklyn

Based on its website, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn was established in 1853.

It was initially founded to cater to the needs of over five million Irish Catholic immigrants.

The Diocese reportedly continues to be a diverse congregation as it welcomes in the community.

It serves the Catholic faithful in the boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens. There are around 1.5 million Catholics in both boroughs.

The Diocese also has jurisdiction in over 150 parishes and nearly 30 ethnic ministries.

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