Joseph Keith Symons

Joseph Keith Symons (born October 14, 1932) is a retired Catholic bishop who resigned as Bishop of Palm Beach, Florida, in 1998 after admitting he was guilty of sexually abusing boys early in his career. He had been a bishop since 1981, serving as an auxiliary bishop in St. Petersburg and then as Bishop of Pensacola-Tallahassee from 1983 to 1990 and as Bishop of Palm Beach from 1990 until his resignation.

His Excellency, The Most Reverend Joseph Keith Symons
Bishop Emeritus of Palm Beach
Archdiocese	Miami
Diocese	Palm Beach
Appointed	June 12, 1990
Installed	July 31, 1990
Term ended	June 2, 1998
Predecessor	Thomas Vose Daily
Successor	Anthony O'Connell
Orders
Ordination	May 18, 1958
Consecration	March 19, 1981 by William Thomas Larkin, Edward A. McCarthy, and Thomas Joseph McDonough
Personal details
Born	(1932-10-14) October 14, 1932 Champion, Michigan
Previous post	Auxiliary Bishop of St. Petersburg Bishop of Pensacola-Tallahassee

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

Biography

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 St. Petersburg Diocese.[2] Pope John Paul II named him the Titular Bishop of Sigus and the Auxiliary Bishop of St. Petersburg in Florida by Pope John Paul II on January 16, 1981. 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.[1]

Symons was transferred to the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee on October 4, 1981, and installed as the second bishop of the diocese on November 8, 1983. He was then transferred to the Diocese of Palm Beach, Florida, on June 12, 1990, and installed as the second bishop of that diocese on July 31, 1990.[1]

In 1991, Symons 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."[3]

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. He said he had the priest submit to a psychiatric evaluation.[2]

In April 1998, a man in his 50s informed a priest and the Archbishop of Miami, John C. Favalora, that Symons had sexually abused him decades earlier. Symons admitted he had abused five boys early in his career. Pope John Paul accepted his resignation as bishop of Palm Beach on June 2, 1998, and named Bishop Robert N. Lynch of St. Petersburg as Apostolic Administrator of Palm Beach.[4][5] Symons issued a statement that said:[4]

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.

References

1. "Bishop Joseph Keith Symons". Catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved July 28, 2011.
2. Gross, Judy. "Palm Beach Bishop Admits Sex Abuse". National Catholic Reporter. Retrieved May 1, 2019 – via Questia.
3. Steinfels, Peter (April 4, 1991). "Exorcism, Filmed With Priest's Consent, to Be Shown on TV". New York Times. Retrieved December 29, 2014.
4. Navarro, Mireya (June 4, 1998). "Parish Seeks to Salve Hurts From Bishop's Molestations". New York Times. Retrieved July 28, 2011.
5. Rozsa, Lori; Witt, April (June 2, 1998), "Catholic Bishop Resigns after Admitting to Sexual Abuse of Children", Miami Herald, retrieved May 1, 2019 – via BishopAccountability

External links

• Roman Catholic Diocese of Palm Beach Official Site

Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Thomas Vose Daily	Bishop of Palm Beach 1990–1998	Succeeded by Anthony O'Connell
Preceded by René Henry Gracida	Bishop of Pensacola-Tallahassee 1983–1990	Succeeded by John Mortimer Smith
Preceded by -	Auxiliary Bishop of St. Petersburg 1981–1983	Succeeded by -