Joseph Keith Symons

Styles of Joseph Keith Symons
Reference style	His Excellency The Most Reverend
Spoken style	Your Excellency
Religious style	Bishop

Joseph Keith Symons (born October 14, 1932) is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church.

Symons served as Bishop of Palm Beach in Florida from 1990 to 1998. Previously, he served as Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of St. Petersburg for several months in 1981, then was appointed Bishop of Bishop of Pensacola-Tallahassee in October 1981.

In 1998, Symons sent a letter of resignation to Pope John Paul II after admitting he sexually abused five boys early in his career.

Biography[]

Early life[]

Symons was born in Champion Township, Michigan, on October 14, 1932.^[1] He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of St. Augustine in Florida on May 18, 1958.

In 1971, Symons became chancellor of the Diocese of St. Petersburg.^[2]

Auxiliary Bishop of St. Petersburg[]

On January 16, 1981 John Paul II appointed Symons as the Titular Bishop of Sigus and the Auxiliary Bishop of St. Petersburg in Florida . He was installed and consecrated by Bishop William Thomas Larkin of St. Petersburg on March 19, 1981. Archbishops Edward Anthony McCarthy and Thomas Joseph McDonough were the co-consecrators.^[1]

Bishop of Pensacola-Tallahassee[]

On October 4, 1981, John Paul II appointed Symons as the second bishop of the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee. He was installed and consecrated on November 8, 1983.

Bishop of Palm Beach[]

On June 12, 1990, John Paul II appointed Symons as the second bishop of Diocese of Palm Beach. He was installed and consecrated on July 31, 1990.^[1]

Symons served as a member of the Committee for Latin America, part of the National Council of Catholic Bishops. He also was a member of the Southeast Pastoral Institute, providing outreach to Hispanics.^[3]

In 1991, Symons authorized the taping of an exorcism. The rite was performed by Reverend James J. LeBar and other priests on a 16-year-old girl known as "Gina". Footage of the exorcism was then broadcast on ABC's 20/20 TV program. In allowing the taping, Symons said that he hoped it would help "counteract diabolical activities around us."^[4]

In 1996, a husband and wife charged that years earlier Symons had ignored their report that a St. Petersburg priest had abused their children and tried to bribe them by offering to pay for therapy for their sons. Symons said he had the priest submit to a psychiatric evaluation.^[2]

In April 1998, a 53 year old man informed a priest and Archbishop John C. Favalora that Symons had sexually abused him when he was an altar boy decades earlier. When confronted about the allegations, Symons admitted his guilt. The Vatican immediately asked Bishop Robert N. Lynch of the Diocese of St. Petersburg to hear Symons' confession. During that session, Symons admitted that he had abused four other boys. He also said that he had confessed the abuses to a priest at the time, but the priest simply told Symons to avoid alcohol and remain chaste.^[3] According to Lynch, the molestations all took place in the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee.^[5]

Retirement[]

On June 2, 1998, Lynch announced that John Paul II accepted Symon's resignation as bishop of Palm Beach and named him as Apostolic Administrator of the diocese.^{[6][7] [5]}Symons issued a written statement that said:^[6]

As painful as it is for me and will be for others, I feel it important to make public the reason for my resignation. Early in my 40 years of priestly ministry, I was involved in inappropriate sexual behavior with minors. Realizing the gravity of my past actions, I have in succeeding years tried to live my promises of celibacy and chastity and have immersed myself in my ministry as priest and as bishop.... I have prayed each day for these persons and their families. It is a memory with which we have lived far too long. I apologize to all whom I have hurt in any way and if, by this action, they might seek spiritual, emotional, and psychological comfort and assistance, then this painful moment for the Church and me may prove to be beneficial.

After his resignation, Symons was to be sent away for treatment and counseling.

On July 30, 1998, the St. Petersburg Times reported that Symons’ accuser had first complained to the church about Symons in 1995. John M. Smith, then bishop of the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee, brokered a meeting between Symons and his accuser. In the meeting, Symons admitted his guilt. However, he denied molesting other youths (which he admitting doing in 1998) and promised to get counseling, which he never did until after his resignation.^[5]

References[]

External links[]

• Roman Catholic Diocese of Palm Beach Official Site