On the same day allegations surface that a local priest was forced to cover up a case of abuse, Cardinal Sean Patrick O'Malley is in town talking about the joys and challenges of priesthood.
The former Bishop of the Palm Beach Diocese addressed a crowd of more than 300 at St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary in Boynton Beach.
"For me as a future priest, soon to be ordained priest, to learn from an older brother his life experience and his love for the church that for me personally is a great great honor," said Deacon Martin Nguyen.
Nguyen has been studying at St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary and will be ordained in May. New priests like him were the subject of Cardinal O'Malley's speech addressing the joys and challenges of priesthood.
"Priests face many difficulties today," said Cardinal O'Malley to the audience.
He spent little time addressing scandals priests may come across. Like the one Father John Gallagher says changed his life. Gallagher claims the Diocese told him to resign after reporting another priest for abuse last year. Cardinal O'Malley answered our question about what priests too afraid to speak up should do when it comes to reporting abuse.
"Coming together to form support groups, having a very serious rule of life," added the Cardinal.
A rule of life surrounded by prayer and ministry and truth. That's what soon to be Father Nguyen's goal is. He made references to Pope Francis' well known support for transparency.
"The time for hiding, the time for covering up is long gone, we are held to a standard we are witnesses to the truth and that's what we’re called to do," added Deacon Nguyen.
The Diocese of Palm Beach released a statement denying Father Gallagher's allegations, saying they are "misrepresentations of facts."
