SYRACUSE, NY: Priest resigns after inquiry

Episcopal clergyman, focus of sex abuse investigation, hasn't admitted guilt.

By Renée K. Gadoua Staff writer
The Post Standard
5/17/2006

A priest of the Episcopal Diocese of Central New York has resigned after a five-month investigation of allegations he sexually abused a boy in the 1970s while serving as rector of St. Paul's Church in Owego. Ralph E. Johnson, 79, voluntarily renounced his orders but has not admitted guilt, said Bishop Gladstone "Skip" Adams, spiritual leader of the diocese. "He is no longer a priest," Adams said.

As of Tuesday, Johnson has no clerical authority, cannot perform the sacraments and cannot wear a clerical collar, Adams said.

Johnson retains his pension from the diocese. Johnson could not be reached Thursday. In an affidavit given to the diocese, a former Owego resident said Johnson molested him at least 20 times in the rectory in Tioga County and at a cabin in Gibson, Pa.

The man, who was about 15 at the time, lives in Florida. "When he first invited me to sleep with him, I just thought it would be a typical sharing of a bed with each person having their own side. But then he began to fondle me," the man said in his affidavit. "When he did this, I would become hysterical and he would stop the attack, at least until the next night."

The Post-Standard does not identify victims of sex crimes. Johnson's name appeared in a lawsuit filed in January when the Rev. David Bollinger, rector of St. Paul's Church in Owego, sued Adams and the diocese for $4.35 million. Bollinger has accused the bishop of failing to respond to allegations of abuse by Johnson.

Bollinger said Adams retaliated against him for raising the issue by disciplining him and auditing his parish's finances. Adams has denied he tried to silence Bollinger. Until January, Adams said, no victim had notified him of alleged abuse by Johnson.

State Supreme Court Justice Jeffrey Tait reserved decision April 14 on a motion to dismiss the suit against Adams and the diocese. Shortly after Bollinger filed the lawsuit, diocesan officials received a copy of the Florida man's affidavit.

A process by the Diocesan Pastoral Response Team began, Adams said. Diocesan representatives interviewed the Florida man and Johnson. An independent psychologist met with the Florida man, and she affirmed his credibility as a witness and said further investigation was appropriate, Adams said. Officials also contacted the district attorney's offices in Tioga County and Gibson, Pa., he said.

Adams said the diocese's investigation found no record of any other allegations of inappropriate behavior by Johnson. He said this is the only clergy sexual abuse case the diocese has investigated since he became bishop in 2001.

Johnson was ordained in 1962. He served as rector of St. Paul's Church, in Owego, from 1970 to 1977. He also served at parishes in Binghamton and Windsor in the Central New York diocese and at a parish in Buckingham, Pa. He retired 15 years ago.

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