A Florida priest claims the Diocese of Palm Beach is retaliating against him for reporting a pedophile priest. Father John Gallagher is a Catholic priest from Ireland, serving in Palm Beach.
The controversy began when Gallagher learned that one of his associate priests at Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church showed pornographic pictures to a 14-year-old boy in January 2015. The police arrested Father Jose Palimattom, a native of India. Palimattom pleaded guilty, was convicted, and was sentenced to six months in jail and one year of probation on a charge of showing obscene material to a minor.
Shortly thereafter, Diocese officials removed Gallagher as a pastor from his parish in Palm Beach and transferred him to another parish in Stuart, Florida. According to Gallagher, he was not allowed access to his residence at the Holy Name parish.
In response to Fr. Gallagher’s assertions, the Diocese of Palm Beach hit back hard. “Father Gallagher is blatantly lying and is in need of professional assistance as well as our prayers and mercy,” the Diocese said in a statement.
Victim advocates and some church parishioners have rallied around Fr. Gallagher believing him to be a courageous hero in trying to protect children from a pedophile priest. The sheriff praised Gallagher’s willingness to cooperate and said he helped stop other potential crimes against children in the parish.