web1_TTL083117Geisinger1.jpg

Geisinger breaks ground on new Kingston clinic to serve West Side

web1_Shakir-Soto-Broncos2017828123429799.jpg

GAR’s Shakir Soto playing for an NFL spot Thursday vs. Cardinals

<p>Police have closed their investigation into a priest accused of sex abuse, but church officials have not, according to a statement from the Diocese of Scranton issued Wednesday.</p><p>&#8220;The Diocese of Scranton learned today that the investigation by the Pennsylvania State Police into Father Martin Boylan has been closed because of a refusal on the part of the alleged victim to testify,&#8221; the statement said.</p><p>&#8220;While civil authorities have made this determination, the ecclesiastical process in Father Boylan&#8217;s case continues. Father Boylan&#8217;s status as a priest removed from ministry with his faculties to exercise priestly ministry suspended, continues to remain unchanged.&#8221;</p><p>The case became public in April 2016, when the diocese issued a statement noting officials had received an allegation of sexual misconduct against Boylan regarding a minor who is now an adult.</p><p>Following church policy, the diocese notified the district attorney&#8217;s office for Wayne County, where the incident allegedly occurred, and reported the incident via the Pennsylvania ChildLine.</p><p>Boylan was also removed from ministry pending an investigation.</p><p>A graduate of the University of Scranton and ordained in 1980, Boylan was serving as pastor of St. Patrick&#8217;s Parish in Scranton and Episcopal Vicar for the Northern Pastoral Region of the Diocese of Scranton at the time of the accusation.</p><p>He had a long list of assignments over the years, including several in Luzerne County: St. Jude Parish in Mountain Top, St. Gabriel Parish (now Annunciation Parish) in Hazleton, St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Parish (now Our Lady of Fatima Parish) in Wilkes-Barre, and Blessed Sacrament Parish, Wilkes-Barre.</p><style>
.neFileBlock {
	margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.neFileBlock p {
	margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
}
.neFileBlock .neFile {
	border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
	padding-bottom: 5px;
	padding-top: 10px;
}
.neFileBlock .neCaption {
	font-size: 85%;
}
</style>
<div class='neFileBlock'>
<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/web1_cross-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption"></div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/web1_cross-1.jpg</photo0><caption0></caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Mark Guydish</p><p>mguydish@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Mark Guydish at 570-991-6112 or on Twitter @TLMarkGuydish</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Probe of priest sex charges dropped by police, continued by Scranton diocese