A tale of two pastors

The sex scandal that has become the Catholic Church has hit Charlotte. A one time priest is accused of sexual misconduct with a 14-year-old boy dating back to 1977. That’s 33 years ago. Talk about justice delayed.

Here’s what The Charlotte Observer reported about it:

The Rev. Joseph Kelleher, 82, has also been placed on administrative leave by the Diocese of Charlotte, pending further investigation. The Ireland-born priest retired in 1999, but since then has served as chaplain at Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School in Kernersville, said diocese spokesman David Hains.

In Charlotte, according to a list on the diocese’s website, Kelleher served at St. Patrick Cathedral from September 1966 until April 1968, and at Our Lady of the Assumption from August 1977 to July 1986.

Albemarle Police Chief Gerald Michael told the Observer that his office talked with Kelleher on Wednesday and that Kelleher agreed to come to the Albemarle police department today. He will be charged with one count of taking indecent liberties with a child, police said.

Michael said the incident is alleged to have occurred in 1977 on the grounds of Our Lady of the Annunciation Catholic Church in Albemarle. Kelleher was assigned there from April 1973 to August 1977.

Up the East Coast, in Connecticut, there is another priestly sex scandal. Only this one didn’t take 33 years to be uncovered.

Father Kevin Gray, 64, a former pastor at Sacred Heart Church in Waterbury, allegedly embezzled money from the church over the course of seven years.

He used it to pay for fancy restaurants, clothing, vacations, hotels, a New York City apartment and a male companion’s tuition at Harvard University, according to an affidavit obtained by CNN affiliate WTIC and filed with the Connecticut Superior Court.

The affidavit says that between June 2003 and March 2010, Gray spent about $205,000 at high-end restaurants, $132,000 in hotel stays and $85,000 at clothing stores. While in New York City, he frequented the Waldorf Astoria, Omni Berkshire, and the W Hotel Times Square, among other posh hotels, the affidavit states.

He also allegedly shopped at high-end retailers including Barneys, Armani and Saks Fifth Avenue.

Along with expensive taste, Gray allegedly kept company with a number of male escorts, and allowed some to have credit cards in their name on his account.

One escort, Islagar Labrada, allegedly charged more than $49,000 to the account.

So, why is it that  a priest who  allegedly stole money to pay for sex got caught and dealt with swiftly, but a priest who allegedly molested a little boy had 33 years of freedom to move from school to school, parish to parish?

It comes down to money. I’ve learned a long time ago that churches are less about saving souls and teaching the word of God and more about raising money and making you feel guilty for thinking about or having sex. Just think about this: If it cost money to molest boys in the flock, this would’ve been brought to an end a long time ago.

This article appears in Jul 6-12, 2010.