Priest indicted on sex abuse charges
Counts involve Montgomery County familyBy KAYLEIGH KARUTIS, The Leader-Herald
A Catholic priest charged in February with sexually abusing children from a Montgomery County family has been indicted in Montgomery County Court.
The Rev. John W. Broderick, 47, of Nicholville, St. Lawrence County, was indicted on three counts of engaging in two or more sexual acts with children younger than 11 years old, felonies, and one count of giving alcohol to a minor, a misdemeanor. The indictment, which was handed up Aug. 21, alleges the abuse took place from October 2005 to May 2007.
State police arrested Broderick in February, saying he had befriended the Montgomery County family and was acting as its "spiritual adviser" during the time of the abuse. Broderick, a priest with the Syracuse Diocese, left Montgomery County in May 2007 and moved to the Holy Name of Jesus Academy in Massena, St. Lawrence County, where he was arrested, authorities said.
When he was arrested, Broderick was charged with abusing four children. The indictment cites three instances of abuse because the fourth alleged victim had difficulty testifying, said attorney John Aretakis, the lawyer representing the Montgomery County family.
Calls to the Syracuse Diocese were not returned.
Aretakis, who has represented hundreds of alleged victims of sex abuse by priests, said the Albany Diocese is "putting its head in the sand" and ignoring Broderick's wrongdoings.
In February, the diocese said Broderick never contacted the diocese to ask for permission to practice as a priest in the Albany area.
"I would like Mr. Aretakis to provide proof or evidence of [his allegation the Albany Diocese is putting its head in the sand]," said spokesman Ken Goldfarb. "We received no complaint regarding Father Broderick. If we did, we would refer it to the diocese within which the priest was ordained."
Aretakis said the Albany Diocese is lacking in compassion regarding the alleged victims.
"All of the children abused by this guy are Albany Diocese children," Aretakis said. "All of the children involved were abused on Albany Diocese property."
Goldfarb said the allegation the abuse took place on Albany Diocese property is blatantly false.
"Prior to his arrest, [Broderick] resided at the Kateri Tekakwitha Shrine [in Fonda]," Goldfarb said. "That is not a diocesan property. It is not owned, operated or supervised in any way by the Albany Diocese."
A representative at the Kateri Tekakwitha shrine said Wednesday he was unfamiliar with Broderick and was not aware of Broderick ever using the shrine's facilities.
Goldfarb said the diocese was never given the identity of the Montgomery County family, and the family never contacted the diocese.
"They never came forward to seek assistance," he said. "If they had, we would see what we could do to help them. We don't know who they are, and they have never approached us."
Aretakis said Broderick has a court appearance Oct. 27.
Broderick is not at the Montgomery County Correctional Facility or the Fulton County Jail. It was unclear this morning if he incarcerated elsewhere or was out on bail.
Montgomery County District Attorney Jed Conboy could not be reached for comment today.
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Frmerres
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09-05-08 9:20 AM
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Rage is 100% correct about Pedophiles being almost exclusively "STRAIGHT married males". Homosexuals are NOT perverts OR pedophiles just because they're homosexual. The question here is WHY IS THE CATHOLIC CHURCH/ALBANY DICESE ABOVE THE LAW ESPECIALLY WHERE THE WELFARE OF 4 INNOCENT KIDS IS CONCERNED???? WHEN ARE THE CITIZENS GOING TO STAND UP & DEMAND THAT THESE PERVERTS BE JAILED JUST LIKE ANY OTHER CRIMINAL????
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RageoftheDay
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09-05-08 7:39 AM
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teebzz, you take a pill. Stop using ur for you are. It's stupid. I am defending something, common sense. And combating prejudice and ignorance. Then again, I don't know why I am trying to convert you.
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bubbasdad
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09-05-08 6:59 AM
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Organized religion. What a crock. The pope just needs to be quiet.
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teebzz
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09-04-08 9:32 PM
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rage , take a pill. sounds like ur defending something.
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RageoftheDay
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09-04-08 9:23 PM
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Nosense...PLEASE don't not tell me you are THAT stupid!!!! "75% of all priests are gay". This article is about pedophilia not homosexuality! Good grief you are as stupid as abruzzi!!! I CAN"T STAND IT!!! Homosexuality DOES NOT EQUAL pedophile! MORON! I am VERY VERY VERY sorry your nephews were abused by someone that should be trusted with children. I really am. There is no bigger crime as far as I am concerned than sexually abusing children. Those that do this unspeakable act will certianly have trouble meeting their maker. At least they should. BUT for the love of pete DO NOT call 75% of all priests homosexuals, it's NOT TRUE and DONOT insinuate homosexuals are pedophiles, it NOT TRUE. I bet if you really dug up the facts %75 of all pedophiles are married heterosexuals. I would love to see those statistices top shut up the ignorance. Stop the ignorance NOW!
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NoSenseAtAll
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09-04-08 5:26 PM
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WHY is this dirt bag NOT in jail ???? Conboy is soft on him for some reason and he should be locked up.......I have been married for 45 years and when we first got married I told my wife that 75% of priests were gay and she did believe it....But now she does....I hope John Aretakis stays aggressive and keeps up the pressure....I had two nephews abused sexually by Fr. Larue and although he is dead I would wish him dead as h.e.l.l.....so go John aretakis and send them all to hell.....
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RageoftheDay
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09-04-08 4:31 PM
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abruzzi - you are an IDIOT! I-D-I-O-T! Idiot, idiot, idiot, idiot!!!!! Did I say that enough times?!? I don't even know where to start?!?! The guy is a pedophile! Getting married will only make him a married pedophile.
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abruzzi
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09-04-08 1:26 PM
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letting them marry would help stop alot of this.
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FREEDOM
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09-04-08 11:00 AM
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Should get randy green on the case. I thought the pope was going to stop this?
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