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Good Shepherd’s Monsignor Brady Escapes Indictment On Sex Abuse Charges


by on May 11th, 2012

Brady, with Assemblywoman Weinstein, at Good Shepherd Sports Annual Little League's opening day celebration in 2011. (Source: assembly.state.ny.us)

A grand jury decided not to indict the beloved monsignor of Marine Park’s Good Shepherd Roman Catholic Church on sex abuse charges.

Thomas Brady, a longtime priest at Good Shepherd (1950 Batchelder Street) was arrested in October 2011, following allegations that he attempted “inappropriate sexual contact” and lewd comments with teenage boys.

According to the Staten Island District Attorney Daniel Donovan’s office, the evidence didn’t pass muster with the Grand Jury. They sent the following statement to Sheepshead Bites earlier this week:

After conducting a thorough investigation into these allegations, our office presented evidence to a Brooklyn Grand Jury, and the Grand Jury voted not to indict this defendant.

The grand jury proceedings took place on April 26.

Brooklyn Daily is reporting that Brady’s case is still under review by the Diocese.

Diocese spokeswoman Stefanie Gutierrez confirmed that Brady is still on a forced administrative leave away from his Marine Park parish and the allegations were being reviewed by a cannon lawyer, who will determine if Brady violated any church rules.

… Investigators said that one of the victims — a 13-year-old student at Good Shepherd Parochial School — was in the church rectory with Brady when the senior made several lewd comments. At one point, Brady “offered to have sex” with the minor, cops claimed.

Investigators did not say that Brady had touched the child. Neither did the Diocese, which accused Brady, an FDNY chaplain with close ties to Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hynes, of having inappropriate contact with the 13-year-old, as well as a second teen. Diocese officials learned about the second attack while investigating the first.

Brady, 77, has had several strokes and is currently suffering from lung cancer, leading many in the community to come to his defense, insisting it was all a misunderstanding and honoring him with a Christmas tree lighting in his name.

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  • ShadowLock

    Psh, that’s how you know not enough little boys came forth to the indictment.

  • Guest

    I’m a little disappointed in your headline for this story.  The Monsignor did not “escape” anything. A grand jury heard all of the evidence, and clearly decided that charges were not in order. This is how our system works. We are a country of laws.  Perhaps when they weighed the actual evidence gathered by the detectives during the investigation that determined that no physical contact took place against the entirely opposite allegations that were published in a local paper of strong physical contact, by what can only be describes as a frail and feeble older gentleman, they concluded that the story was full of way too many inconsistencies to warrant prosecution.  Isn’t it ironic that, with the exception of your article, I have seen no mention of the dismissed charges anywhere else in the media, unlike the frenzied media circus that went all out to convict the Monsignor in the court of public opinion when the story first broke.  Where does Monsignor Brady go to get his reputaion back?

    • nolastname

      Well said.
      William T. Sherman…”News from hell before breakfast”. LOL

  • Barkingspider07

    I’m glad that the decision was in favor of Msgr Brady.  I posted when this all started last year, that I didn’t believe that he did these crimes.  I know Msgr for a long time and his record is immaculate – all the kids have had nothing but good to say about him until those 2 (and only 2 out of thousands who know him) came forth with these charges.  I still  believe in my heart that these 2 boys were pissed off at him for some reason, and wanted to get even with him.  Kids do things like that, you know – especially in this day and age where they are much too aware of “their rights” and abuse said rights.  Don’t jump on me for this comment.  I know adults who have gone to jail because their kids hollered abuse, then the cops find out that the alleged abuse was that mom and dad would not buy them Nikes. 

    • nolastname

      It didn’t make sense then and it still doesn’t.

  • http://kibblesbits.wordpress.com/ Ann

    I am so glad I left the evil, abusive Catholic church. The influence they have, that lets the get away with sex abuse is shameful. People willingly hand their kids over for abuse. They continue to get away with it, as people continue to give them their money. I am a great parent, which is why I would NEVER leave my children around pedophiles, or raise them in a faith that covers up abuse.

    • 1carljonson

      Ann- Your comments are completely misguided.  Yes, there have been wrongdoings, but you should look carefully at what is going on in other institutions.  This is a societal problem far beyond just the Catholic Church.  Your comments are short sighted and ridiculous.  “People willingly hand their kids over for abuse.”  – Really Ann?  To say you never leave your children around pedophiles implies that other parents would knowingly do so?  Further, this comment shows your ignorance to pedophiles where the average pedophile is a married, 35 year old male with children, far from an old, 70+ year celibate.  It is more likely that your children’s uncle or other relative/close friend abuse them than a priest.  If you look at new statistics, the Catholic Church is by far the safer than any other organization regarding child abuse.  Unfortunately, there is evil in this world and anyone can abuse their power but to make a blanket statement about the Church is pathetic.  To be clear, I am not defending any who are guilty they should be prosecuted and punished to the full extent of the law.  In this particular case, the evidence was weighed and found insufficient.  It is called due process and despite your animoisty is afforded to all.  Please pray for priests and for the Church.  Pray for children and their safety.  Pray for yourself and your family.  May God bless you.

  • Linda

    Oh this is shocking..not. Barking spider please tell me you are kidding. Yes we know how 13 year old boys have beef with 70 year old priests that probably never talked to. Please. No one in their right mind would go up against someone who is worshipped in the community if there wasn’t something there. But again..not suprised by this