Charged priest suspended

BY ROBERT L. BAKER

A monastery priest accused of sexually assaulting a teen boy has been suspended and relieved of all priestly duties, the same day his charges were bound over to Susquehanna County Court.

Phillip Albert Ferrara, 48, of 550 Lake of the Meadows Road, Little Meadows, waived his rights to a preliminary hearing Monday before District Judge Jeffrey Hollister in Montrose on three counts of indecent assault of a person under the age of 16 and three corruption of minor charges stemming from incidents that occurred between Nov. 3, 2010, and Jan. 2. All are misdemeanor counts.

According to a police affidavit, Ferrara allegedly told a 14-year-old boy his sperm duct was blocked and was causing him intense back pain and a massage would help.

The juvenile was on retreat with his family at the Our Lady of Solitude monastery, in Apolacon and Middletown Twps., at the time of the alleged incidents.

The alleged victim said he had massaged Ferrara’s penis with his feet on two occasions, according to the affidavit.

Ferrara also told police he asked the boy to lie on top of him during the third incident but then thought he had crossed the line and questioned the youth’s intentions.

Ferrara said he then ended his close relationship with the youth.

Ferrara told police the teen’s family had come to the retreat due to home issues and that the boy had reportedly downloaded pornography off the internet.

According to the affidavit, Ferrara claimed to police he was trying to help the family with its issues and that is why he accepted them to come stay at the monastery.

Ferrara is out on $10,000 unsecured bail.

His formal arraignment is April 26.

Ferrara was previously referred to as Superior Hieromonk Angelus on the Our Lady of Solitude website, which is part of the Melkite (Byzantine) Catholic Church which is in full communion with the Roman Catholic Church.

Archbishop Cyril Bustros of the Melkite Eparchy in Newton, Mass., released a statement Monday that upon learning of the credible occurrence of abuse of a minor, “Rev. Ferrara was immediately suspended and relieved of all priestly duties and placed in a treatment center for evaluation.”

Butros added that he “is profoundly saddened by this event and offers deep apologies and prayers to the victim and family. The Diocese of Newton is committed to the protection of all God’s children and will take swift action in responding to all allegations of abuse.”