CAIRO, NY - A Greene County priest is on administrative leave after allegations that he allegedly sexually abused a minor.
Rev. Jeremiah Nunan, 74, is place on a temporary leave as pastor at Sacred Heart Parish in Cairo and Our Lady of Knock Mission in East Durham.
A civil lawsuit was filed claiming Nunan sexually abused a minor between 1996 and 2003 and between 2007 and 2011 when the individual was an adult. Nunan has denied the allegations.
This is the second time Nunan is placed on administrative leave during an investigation of an allegation of sexual abuse of a minor. The previous allegation involved alleged abuse in the late 1960s and early 1970s in Hudson. He was later cleared of those allegations and restored to ministry.
Several parishioners deny these accusations and say he'll be cleared again. One parishioner Alicia Weiss says, "I am very shocked and I don't believe it because my son and my children we've lived here for 21 years and there's never one indication that he's ever been inappropriate in any way."
Weiss says all her children grew up going to Sunday school at Sacred Heart Parish and was saddened to learn Rev. Nunan can no longer officiate at any sacrament or present himself as a priest while the Greene County District Attorneys Office investigates.
"In today's society, makes it so easy for people just to sue each other or you know, make any kind of accusations until they get what they want," Weiss says.
Another parishioner M.A. Tarpinian says, "I have all the faith in the world that this once again that this will also be found to be unfounded and a lie."
The Albany Diocese has arranged for other priests to celebrate Mass and perform other ministerial duties at the two parishes in his absence.
The Albany Diocese urges anyone who as a child was sexually abused by a Catholic priest or deacon to report the matter to a law enforcement agency or to the Diocese. To report an incident of abuse or to seek help contact (518) 453-6646 or by e-mail at assistance.coordinator@rcda.org.
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