Review 21

Title: Accused in scandal, a pastor who rose high yet felt free to speak out

Newspaper: The New York Times

Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/10/nyregion/10harris.html

Date of Publication: August 9th, 2008

Msgr. Wallace Harris, pastor of Harlem's St. Charles Borromeo Roman Catholic Church was suspended and allegations that he had sexually abused two minors 20 years ago.

Harris, 61, was ordained in 1972. He's been at the helm of St. Charles Borromeo since 1992. Quite respected and appreciated by his community, the accusation was surprising and shocking.

Msgr. Harris has denied the allegation which concerns actions that allegedly occured 20 years ago. The abused is a man who used to be student in a High school where Harris used to teach

Although this terrible news emerged all of a sudden, the majority of Harlem's community back Harris and want to help hi fight the charges.

All this situation has as background many unfortunate events related to the same issue of abuse among the high and low prelates of the Roman Catholic Church. Many other priests has been acussed so far in the States as well as in other parts of the world. Yet, this circumstances are not essential to acuse a person who should be considered innocent until proved guilty of his actions. Two positions are formed from this issue those who firmly support the pastor, and the other side who believe the father must be tried because of his crime.