Rev. Spagnolia, ex-Lowell priest caught up in abuse crisis, die...

The Rev. Dominic George Spagnolia, shown during an interview in Lowell in 2005, was suspended by the Archdiocese of Boston three years earlier after an allegation that he molested a 14-year-old boy in 1971 ...

[Lin]

It's very sad this happened to such a great man, he christened my children. I do believe Father Spags was innocent of the crime he was accused of. The person who accused of this crime should be ashamed. Father Spags was loving and caring. He will be truly missed, but his legacy will go on in our church for a very long time as it has since his leaving of the church.

[he was not innocent]

you should be ashamed for defending his actions.

[Lin]

he was not innocent wrote:

you should be ashamed for defending his actions.

I am NOT ASHAMED because I believe his innocence. I am not defending my priest I am defending what I see to be true. I believe he was drug into the scandal as MANY priest were. Sorry for my belief. As many priests did have an affair when they were on PEROSAL leave, and though it was forbade by the church, I don’t feel that’s grounds for a false accusations. I have known this priest many many years, and there were many many more young men whom were at the church for help ALL the time for one person to make the accusation, I find it REAL hard to believe. This is my personal opinion and YES I am entitled to it. This man did great deeds for the community and the church. If I offend anyone, I am sorry, but I feel he was innocent and died from a broken heart. This accusation took the life out of him and as a church we were devastated to hear he would have to resign.

[lowellian]

I agree. As a parishioner of St. Pat's for many years, I agree wholeheartedly with my fellow community members. Fr. Spag was extremely vocal and anti-establishment, and everyone knows that the Catholic Church is pretty intolerant to such action. He was a man, who as Andrea, Peg and Fred states, infused new life into St. Pat's, and worked to get things done... to move forward, in an archdiocese and religion that refuses to evolve over time. Many many priests like Geoghan and Birmingham absolutely shattered the lives of so many young men in our communities, but the horrific actions of a few does not warrant doing away with "innocent until proven guilty"....what Spag did on his time, when he was not an active priest was his personal business. Should he maybe have divulged this information prior to the rally? Maybe, but, what right do we have to demand he lets us in on every aspect of his personal life? That is just what it was HIS personal life. And most importantly, just because he was gay, does not automatically make him a pedophile...that assumption is simply ridiculous, and was all too easy to use to banish him from the church.

he was a good man, with a good heart, who just wanted the best for St. Patrick's and its people. He will be missed.

[Las Vegan]

A pedophile, always a pedophile and a homosexual. OPEN YOUR EYES, I'm glad it wasn't my children he touched.+

[Father Spag Supporter]

This man is COMPLETELY INNOCENT. People who say he did something wrong obviously never met him.

I am devastated over his death, and I agree, I think he died of a broken heart before cancer.

God Bless you, my friend, you will be forever missed.

[what]

how do you know he was innocent? convince me. did the young man never meet him in 1971? and now his death certificate is forged???- how do you die of one thing before another? Oh yeah - reincarnation.

[The True]

The true is father Spags lied.

[Anonymous]

As far as we catholics who suffered at `their`hands, these priests who took advantage of the helpless, are all pigs in my eyes! They should have not become ordained priest if they had any strong sexual desires beyond their control. Homosexuality js so wrong. God created Adam and Eve. Not, Adam and Adam! Otherwise, he would have pro-created mankind that way. I have no sympathy for all those priests out there who deliberately abused children, women and even men. My life was turned upside down because of personal experience with a Monsignor. My father was abused by a priest at a very young age. Because of this, our family suffered for a very long time! Thanks to all you perverted priests out there who cannot and will not follow God`s commandements! Forgiveness is a difficult thing to do when one`s life has been deeply affected by this.

[Acre]

Homosexual = pedophile? I find it amazing that people who do not know the facts say guilty. The police and the archdiocese couldn't substantiate the charges. Anyone who was proven guilty deserves what they get. The archdiocese deserves their share of the blame. Those who were merely pointed at, suffered as well. Those who really suffered I wish you peace, but please know the truth before you accuse.
What I do know is that he was a good man who sat at my table and spoke of his hopes and dreams.
Requiescat in pace.

[Opportunist]

Lets face it, the church let us parishoners down throughout this scandal, HOWEVER, when word that suits were being filed there were many who jumped at the opportunity to file suit and collect $$$$$. Because of the time involved, there were no real threat of an investigation or cross examination in a trial due to the time involved. I am not saying that alot of these allegations did not occur, I am saying that alot of them did not, including this poor man. To those who condemn this man on the basis of one lone accusation, I implore you to investigate the story on your own and find out the nature and credibility of the accusation.
This man was railroaded and then made to resign when word of his homosexuality was released, Incidentally, this relationship occurred prior to his becoming a priest.

[dennis- carpentier sr]

what a sad day for the acre and saint Patrick;s parish ,i was raised around this church i made my first communion there in 1960 went to sunday school (catachism),
and after many years in lowell and going to raise my children catholic = this i did not do, i had alot of ?? about how and where the law came from= what really gets me now is that the evangelist Paul said=it ok to marry . but as for my self i will remain celebrate?? well may fr. spagnoila res in peace and i offer yo all of st. patr9icks

my sincere condolences,

god bless all amen

[dennis- carpentier sr]

Anonymous wrote:

As far as we catholics who suffered at `their`hands, these priests who took advantage of the helpless, are all pigs in my eyes! They should have not become ordained priest if they had any strong sexual desires beyond their control. Homosexuality js so wrong. God created Adam and Eve. Not, Adam and Adam! Otherwise, he would have pro-created mankind that way. I have no sympathy for all those priests out there who deliberately abused children, women and even men. My life was turned upside down because of personal experience with a Monsignor. My father was abused by a priest at a very young age. Because of this, our family suffered for a very long time! Thanks to all you perverted priests out there who cannot and will not follow God`s commandements! Forgiveness is a difficult thing to do when one`s life has been deeply affected by this.

you see the hype here = should n ot be ordained becaue of abilty to control sexuality??= IN THE BIBLE WHERE DOES IT SAY ANYTHING ABOUT = CELEBRACY?it does paul says he will be celebrate but if you cannot mange then marry>> this is the hype;yes some priest are at fault but not all there fault = head of the church= vatican = rome.

[Albino Lucani]

www.bishop-accountability.org
/abusetracker for daily verified coverage on why no laity should be donating any monies until MANY guilty pedophile enabling, aid and abetting cardinals and bishops are each removed from office, each canonically censored, and each placed under life time house arrest, as was mildly done to proven serial pedophile Marciel, founder of the religious cult order The Legion Of Christ, or alternatively, each is EXCOMMUNICATED.

No Curia Accountability? No Laity Monies! It's That Simple!

Albino Lucani
Reporting From Heaven

[clara]

May he rest in peace.