Catholic Diocese suspends retired priest after sexual misconduct allegation

Raleigh, N.C. — Rev. Michael F. Burbidge, Bishop of Raleigh, has suspended retired Rev. Kenneth R. Parker after an allegation of sexual misconduct with a minor that dates back to 1982.

The Catholic Diocese of Raleigh received the allegation Nov. 13, 2009, Burbidge said.

Parker was informed of the allegation three days later and denied the claim, Burbidge said.

Upon completion of the preliminary investigation, the findings were presented to the Diocesan Review Board on Jan. 15.

After accepting a recommendation from the board, Burbidge said he informed Parker on Tuesday that his public priestly faculties were suspended.

As required by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, the matter is now referred to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith at the Holy.

Parker was ordained for the Priesthood for the Diocese of Raleigh on May 25, 1965.

Parker’s pastoral assignments have been:

June 10, 1965 - Missionary Apostolate, St. John Neumann, North Wilkesboro
June 5, 1966 - Assistant Pastor, Our Lady of Grace Parish, Greensboro
April 24, 1968 - Assistant Pastor, St. Patrick Parish, Charlotte
May 8, 1968 - Administrator, St. Peter Parish, Charlotte
June 10, 1968 - Pastor, Immaculate Conception, Forest City
Sept. 10, 1970 - Pastor, St. Catherine Parish, Tarboro
May 1, 1974 - Pastor, Sacred Heart Parish, Whiteville
July 5, 1979 - Pastor, Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Newton Grove
Jan. 8, 1985 - Pastor, St. Mary Mother of the Church Parish, Garner
July 8, 1986 - Leave of Absence
July 7, 1987 - Associate Pastor, Sacred Heart Parish, Pinehurst
July 7, 1988 - Pastor, Sacred Heart Parish, Whiteville
Sept. 1, 1993 - Retired

Parker retired in 1993. Since then, he has provided temporary assistance to parishes during the period when pastors are on vacation.

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One thing that amazes me whenever a story about a Sexual crime with a clergy member happens, from whatever church, someone always comes on and says why don't they talk about the good the church is doing. Well that would be because, this article is about the sexual crime that has happened with this person, not the good the person has done, or the church has done. That is not to say there hasn't been those incidents also, but this article is to bring attention the crime and to discuss the crime. Would you want every time there is a huge donation article or another type of article on the good things done, the opposite, for their to be a list of the crimes done. Doesn't make any sense. As for teenager and minor they are still not adults. The dynamics of the spiritual relationship is very complicated and makes it very complicated for a victim to come forward, and doesn't always and actually very rarely have anything to do with repressed memories.

warrior
January 25, 2010 4:00 p.m.

to exxe75: "Is there a Catholic priest that hasn't been investigated for misconduct? This is terrible."...yes and less than 1% of all accused priests were acutually found guilty.

to TarheelsDontLikeEdwards: #1-the fund raiser the diocese has every October is for the Right to Life groups such a Birthchoice, Project Rachel, Pregnancy Suppoort Services. The Bishops Annual Appeal is a way to raise funds for groups like Catholic Charities who help people, all people, get food, clothing, housing, couseling. #2-There are more cases of pedophilia outside of the Catholic Church than in it...there are more accusations against Protestant ministers, most of them married, than Catholic priests.

to Timbo: Fr Parker is retired but he does assist in parishes where the priest is not available.

And let me point out that Bishop Burbidge, not only suspended the priest but reported it to the authorities.

wondermom24kids
January 25, 2010 11:03 a.m.

NOD2004 wrote: "It's people like you that make it even more difficult for people to report their abuse."

Wrong, and stop taking sentences out of context. Read the entire post. I'm as opposed to this kind of crime as you are....perhaps more so. Meanwhile, you are doing just what I cautioned against. Your post converts the word "minor" into "children".

Please come back when you have cultivated the valuable skill of seeing both sides of a situation.

QTC
January 25, 2010 10:33 a.m.

If you think sexual deviance only exists in the Catholic Church you haven't been on the personal section of craigslist. About a month ago a married deacon at a very large Baptist church was looking for action. A person working with youth was caught at Providence Baptist a couple of years ago.

It only gets attention when it's a big church. You never hear this about little bitty churches with 50 or so members.

ProzacDispenser
January 25, 2010 10:03 a.m.

Funny how you all have comments to make on this story about the misconduct of one person yet none of you have anything good to say about other stories involving the Church - like the story about the congregation in Apex and their work in Haiti.

NotFromHere
January 25, 2010 9:42 a.m.