Joseph Keith Symons

Joseph Keith Symons (born October 14, 1932) was a Catholic bishop in Florida whose 1998 resignation ignited the Palm Beach sex abuse scandal.^[1]^[2]

Symons was ordained a bishop in 1981, and went on to serve the Diocese of St. Petersburg, the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee, and the Diocese of Palm Beach.^[3] Symons admitted to sexually abusing five boys earlier in his career, and resigned his office in 1998.^[1]

Biography

Symons was born in Champion Township, Michigan on October 14, 1932.^[3] He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of St. Augustine in Florida on May 18, 1958.

Symons was named the Titular Bishop of Sigus and the Auxiliary Bishop of St. Petersburg in Florida by Saint John Paul II on January 16, 1981.^[3] He was consecrated by Bishop William Thomas Larkin of St. Petersburg on March 19, 1981. Archbishops Edward Anthony McCarthy of Miami and Thomas Joseph McDonough of Louisville were the co-consecrators.^[3]

Bishop Symons was transferred to the See of Pensacola-Tallahassee on October 4, 1981 and installed as the second bishop of the diocese on November 8, 1983.^[3] He was then transferred to the See of Palm Beach in Florida on June 12, 1990 and installed as the second bishop of that diocese on July 31, 1990.^[3]

In 1991, Bishop Symons controversially authorized the filming of the rite of exorcism performed by the Rev. James J. LeBar and other priests on a 16-year-old girl identified only as "Gina". The footage of the exorcism was then publicly broadcast on ABC's 20/20 TV program. Symons explained that he hoped that the broadcasting would help "counteract diabolical activities around us."^[4]

Symons resigned as bishop of Palm Beach on June 2, 1998 after admitting that he had sexually abused five teens when he was a priest.^[2]

References

1 2 Rozsa, Lori; Witt, April (June 2, 1998). "Catholic Bishop Resigns after Admitting to Sexual Abuse of Children". Miami Herald.
1 2 Navarro, Mireya (June 4, 1998). "Parish Seeks to Salve Hurts From Bishop's Molestations". New York Times. Retrieved July 28, 2011.
1 2 3 4 5 6 "Bishop Joseph Keith Symons". Catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved July 28, 2011.
↑ Steinfels, Peter (1991-04-04). "Exorcism, Filmed With Priest's Consent, to Be Shown on TV". New York Times. Retrieved 2014-12-29.

Episcopal succession

Catholic Church titles
Preceded by René Henry Gracida	Bishop of Pensacola-Tallahassee 1983–1990	Succeeded by John Mortimer Smith
Preceded by Thomas Vose Daily	Bishop of Palm Beach 1990–1998	Succeeded by Anthony O'Connell

Diocese of Palm Beach

Bishops	Thomas Vose Daily Joseph Keith Symons Anthony Joseph O'Connell Seán Patrick O'Malley Gerald Michael Barbarito

Churches	Cathedral St. Ignatius Loyola Cathedral Former St. Joseph's Church, Palm Bay

Education	Seminary St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary High Schools Cardinal Newman High School, West Palm Beach John Carroll Catholic High School, Fort Pierce Pope John Paul II High School, Boca Raton

Miscellany	Florida Catholic Old St. Anastasia Catholic School

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Diocese of Pensacola–Tallahassee

Bishops	René Henry Gracida Joseph Keith Symons John Mortimer Smith John Ricard Gregory Parkes Martin Holley

Churches	Cathedrals Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, Pensacola Co-Cathedral of Saint Thomas More, Tallahassee Basilica Basilica of St. Michael the Archangel, Pensacola Parishes St. Joseph's Church, Pensacola Former Sacred Heart Church, Pensacola

Education	High Schools John Paul II Catholic High School, Tallahassee Pensacola Catholic High School, Pensacola

Other	Florida Catholic

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Diocese of St. Augustine

Bishops	Augustin Verot John Moore William John Kenny Michael Joseph Curley Patrick Joseph Barry Joseph Patrick Hurley Paul Francis Tanner John J. Snyder Victor Galeone Felipe de Jesús Estévez

Churches	Cathedral Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine Parishes Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, Jacksonville

Education	High Schools Bishop John J. Snyder High School, Jacksonville Bishop Kenny High School, Jacksonville St. Francis High School, Gainesville St. Joseph Academy, St. Augustine Former college Saint Joseph College of Florida

Priests	Joseph Keith Symons

Miscellany	Florida Catholic

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