Official Statement of the Diocese of Brooklyn

The Diocese of Brooklyn wishes to confirm that James Lara, aka Jaime Lara, who was ordained in 1973 and was in active ministry until his removal in 1992, was dispensed from the clerical state, otherwise referred to as laicized by the Holy Father.  This action was communicated via an ecclesiastical decree issued by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which is the Vatican office authorized to deal with cases involving sexual abuse of minors by a cleric.  This confirmation is being made in keeping with clause #6 of the aforementioned decree, and is consistent with the policies and procedures of the Diocese of Brooklyn, put in place for the protection of minors.

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The Diocese of Brooklyn wishes to confirm that Joseph P. Byrns, who was ordained in 1969 and was in active ministry until his removal in 2002, was dismissed from the clerical state, otherwise referred to as laicized, by the Holy Father. This action was communicated via an ecclesiastical decree issued by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which is the Vatican office authorized to deal with cases involving sexual abuse of minors by a cleric. This confirmation is being made in keeping with clause #6 of the aforementioned decree, and is in accord with the policies and procedures of the Diocese of Brooklyn, put in place for the protection of minors.

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The Diocese of Brooklyn wishes to confirm that William E. Finger, who was ordained in 1962 and was in active ministry until his departure in 1980, was dispensed from the clerical state, otherwise referred to as laicized, by the Holy Father. This action was communicated via an ecclesiastical decree issued by the Congregation for Divine Worship, which at the time was the Vatican office authorized to deal with cases involving sexual abuse of minors by a cleric. This confirmation is being made in keeping with clause #6 of the aforementioned decree, and is in accord with the policies and procedures of the Diocese of Brooklyn, put in place for the protection of minors.

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The Diocese of Brooklyn wishes to confirm that Stephen Placa, who was ordained in 1995 and was in active ministry until his departure in 2002, was dispensed from the clerical state, otherwise referred to as laicized, by the Holy Father. This action was communicated via an ecclesiastical decree issued by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which is the Vatican office authorized to deal with cases involving sexual abuse of minors by a cleric. This confirmation is being made in keeping with clause #6 of the aforementioned decree, and is in accord with the policies and procedures of the Diocese of Brooklyn, put in place for the protection of minors.

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The Diocese of Brooklyn wishes to confirm that Thomas O. Morrow, who was ordained in 1971 and was in active ministry until his departure in 1987, was dispensed from the clerical state, otherwise referred to as laicized, by the Holy Father. This action was communicated via an ecclesiastical decree issued by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which is the Vatican office authorized to deal with cases involving sexual abuse of minors by a cleric. This confirmation is being made in keeping with clause #6 of the aforementioned decree, and is in accord with the policies and procedures of the Diocese of Brooklyn, put in place for the protection of minors.

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The Diocese of Brooklyn wishes to confirm that Romano J. Ferraro, who was ordained in 1960 and was removed from active ministry in 1988, was dismissed from the clerical state, otherwise referred to as laicized, by the Holy Father. This action was communicated via an ecclesiastical decree issued by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which is the Vatican office authorized to deal with cases involving sexual abuse of minors by a cleric. This confirmation is being made in keeping with clause #6 of the aforementioned decree, and is in accord with the policies and procedures of the Diocese of Brooklyn, put in place for the protection of minors.

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The Diocese of Brooklyn wishes to confirm that Charles M. Mangini, who was ordained in 1968 and was in active ministry until his removal in 1993, was dispensed from the clerical state, otherwise referred to as laicized, by the Holy Father. This action was communicated via an ecclesiastical decree issued by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which is the Vatican office authorized to deal with cases involving sexual abuse of minors by a cleric. This confirmation is being made in keeping with clause #6 of the aforementioned decree, and is in accord with the policies and procedures of the Diocese of Brooklyn, put in place for the protection of minors.

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The Diocese of Brooklyn wishes to confirm that Christopher Lee Coleman, who was ordained in 1994 and was in active ministry until his removal in 2011, was dispensed from the clerical state, otherwise referred to as laicized, by the Holy Father. This action was communicated via an ecclesiastical decree issued by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which is the Vatican office authorized to deal with cases involving sexual abuse of minors by a cleric. This confirmation is being made in keeping with clause #6 of the aforementioned decree, and is in accord with the policies and procedures of the Diocese of Brooklyn, put in place for the protection of minors.

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The Diocese of Brooklyn wishes to confirm that Robert McConnin, who was ordained in 1973 and was in active ministry until his removal in 2007, was dismissed from the clerical state, otherwise referred to as laicized, by the Holy Father. This action was communicated via an ecclesiastical decree issued by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which is the Vatican office authorized to deal with cases involving sexual abuse of minors by a cleric. This confirmation is being made in keeping with clause #6 of the aforementioned decree, and is in accord with the policies and procedures of the Diocese of Brooklyn, put in place for the protection of minors.

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The Diocese of Brooklyn wishes to confirm that Thomas Nohilly, who was ordained in 1981 and was in active ministry until his removal in 2002, was dismissed from the clerical state, otherwise referred to as laicized, by the Holy Father. This action was communicated via an ecclesiastical decree issued by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which is the Vatican office authorized to deal with cases involving sexual abuse of minors by a cleric. This confirmation is being made in keeping with clause #6 of the aforementioned decree, and is in accord with the policies and procedures of the Diocese of Brooklyn, put in place for the protection of minors.

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The Diocese of Brooklyn wishes to confirm that Barry E. Ryan, who was ordained in 1976 and was in active ministry until his removal in 1994, was dismissed from the clerical state, otherwise referred to as laicized, by the Holy Father. This action was communicated via an ecclesiastical decree issued by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which is the Vatican office authorized to deal with cases involving sexual abuse of minors by a cleric. This confirmation is being made in keeping with clause #6 of the aforementioned decree, and is in accord with the policies and procedures of the Diocese of Brooklyn, put in place for the protection of minors.

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The Diocese of Brooklyn wishes to confirm that Patrick Sexton, who was ordained in 1977 and was in active ministry until his removal in 1990, was dismissed from the clerical state, otherwise referred to as laicized, by the Holy Father. This action was communicated via an ecclesiastical decree issued by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which is the Vatican office authorized to deal with cases involving sexual abuse of minors by a cleric. This confirmation is being made in keeping with clause #6 of the aforementioned decree, and is in accord with the policies and procedures of the Diocese of Brooklyn, put in place for the protection of minors.

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The Diocese of Brooklyn wishes to confirm that Daniel J. Sheehan, who was ordained in 1979 and was in active ministry until his departure in 1998, was dismissed from the clerical state, otherwise referred to as laicized, by the Holy Father. This action was communicated via an ecclesiastical decree issued by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which is the Vatican office authorized to deal with cases involving sexual abuse of minors by a cleric. This confirmation is being made in keeping with clause #6 of the aforementioned decree, and is in accord with the policies and procedures of the Diocese of Brooklyn, put in place for the protection of minors.

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