A former Auburn priest has been accused of sexually abusing a child more than 30 years ago while working at a Monroe County parish, officials with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester said Tuesday.
The Rev. Conrad Sundholm, 80, a retired priest now living in Florida, is accused of abusing the child while working at St. Salome's Church in Irondequoit in the mid-1970s, the diocese said.
An investigation determined the allegations lodged against Sundholm were credible and he has been barred from exercising any public ministries or priestly faculties, the diocese said. Those practices include celebrating Mass, weddings or funerals.
While a letter announcing the allegation was read over the weekend at every church Sundholm served with in Florida and New York, no one else came forward claiming Sundholm abused them, the diocese said.
Sundholm, who was ordained in 1955, served in Auburn at St. Mary's from 1965 to 1971 and at Holy Family and St. Aloysius from 1982 to 1999, the diocese said.
Sundholm, of Spring Hill, Fla., said he was made aware of the allegations last winter and that he had a relationship with the victim that lasted well after the alleged abuse is believed to have happened.
When asked if any inappropriate behavior occurred within their friendship, Sundholm said he could not comment because he was not aware of what he is specifically accused of doing.
“I never considered anything I did abuse,” Sundholm said. “For 20 years after that (the victim) never made me aware of anything abusive.”
Doug Mandelaro, a spokesman for the diocese, said a private firm that uses retired FBI and police experts investigated the allegations and presented their work to a review board, whose members include retired law enforcement officers, child advocates and mental health professionals.
That board offered a recommendation on the credibility of the complaint, which will be sent to the Vatican for a final review and disposition, Mandelaro said.
The maximum action the Vatican can do is to strip Sundholm of his priesthood, Mandelaro said.
Information regarding the alleged abuse has been forwarded to the Monroe County District Attorney's Office, but the status or nature of any criminal proceedings was not available.
To report a case or to receive help and guidance from the diocese, people can call (585) 328-3228 ext. 1215, (800) 388-7177 ext. 1215 or send an e-mail to pedeville@dor.org.
Staff writer Nate Robson can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or nathan.robson@lee.net
An investigation determined the allegations lodged against Sundholm were credible and he has been barred from exercising any public ministries or priestly faculties, the diocese said. Those practices include celebrating Mass, weddings or funerals.
While a letter announcing the allegation was read over the weekend at every church Sundholm served with in Florida and New York, no one else came forward claiming Sundholm abused them, the diocese said.
Sundholm, who was ordained in 1955, served in Auburn at St. Mary's from 1965 to 1971 and at Holy Family and St. Aloysius from 1982 to 1999, the diocese said.
Sundholm, of Spring Hill, Fla., said he was made aware of the allegations last winter and that he had a relationship with the victim that lasted well after the alleged abuse is believed to have happened.
When asked if any inappropriate behavior occurred within their friendship, Sundholm said he could not comment because he was not aware of what he is specifically accused of doing.
“I never considered anything I did abuse,” Sundholm said. “For 20 years after that (the victim) never made me aware of anything abusive.”
Doug Mandelaro, a spokesman for the diocese, said a private firm that uses retired FBI and police experts investigated the allegations and presented their work to a review board, whose members include retired law enforcement officers, child advocates and mental health professionals.
That board offered a recommendation on the credibility of the complaint, which will be sent to the Vatican for a final review and disposition, Mandelaro said.
The maximum action the Vatican can do is to strip Sundholm of his priesthood, Mandelaro said.
Information regarding the alleged abuse has been forwarded to the Monroe County District Attorney's Office, but the status or nature of any criminal proceedings was not available.
To report a case or to receive help and guidance from the diocese, people can call (585) 328-3228 ext. 1215, (800) 388-7177 ext. 1215 or send an e-mail to pedeville@dor.org.
Staff writer Nate Robson can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or nathan.robson@lee.net
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Post your comment - click hereThere are 15 comment(s)
Unknown... wrote on Nov 18, 2009 3:16 PM:
parishoner wrote on Nov 18, 2009 1:49 PM:
united we wish wrote on Nov 18, 2009 12:42 PM:
patchwork wrote on Nov 18, 2009 12:08 PM:
interesting wrote on Nov 18, 2009 11:47 AM:
whybother wrote on Nov 18, 2009 10:52 AM:
streetcat wrote on Nov 18, 2009 10:33 AM:
longboard, you are speaking for yourself and have no business speaking for the parishioners of Holy Family.
The fact that someone loves sports does not ensure their purity. This is irrelevant. Many criminals have loved sports. Do you think sports are some kind of shield? What the heck are you talking about?
If you had a friendship with Conrad Sundholm, them I understand being defensive and unhappy about this.
I wouldn't even suggest breaking that friendship over it. He may have sought forgiveness and done his best to deal with this matter. Just as other priests have. But the pain is still there for many people. And the institutional problem remains. "
flower wrote on Nov 18, 2009 9:58 AM:
trust(ed) them with our children. No wonder so many young people are leaving the church look who's their role models! "
one opinion wrote on Nov 18, 2009 9:44 AM:
liberal karl wrote on Nov 18, 2009 9:00 AM:
WAKE UP. "
patchwork wrote on Nov 18, 2009 8:32 AM:
twingles13 wrote on Nov 18, 2009 7:48 AM:
Oa wrote on Nov 18, 2009 5:21 AM:
longboard315 wrote on Nov 18, 2009 4:45 AM:
longboard315 wrote on Nov 18, 2009 4:43 AM:
Why would this woman wait all these years to finally say something? Something really stinks here.
Have no fear Father, were all behind you @ HF! "