Joseph Keith Symons

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Joseph Keith Symons (born October 14, 1932) is a confessed child molestor who was a bishop in the Catholic Church in the United States. He served as auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of St. Petersburg from 1981–1983, as the second bishop of the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee from 1983–1990 and the second bishop of Diocese of Palm Beach from 1990-1998.

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.

Symons was named the Titular Bishop of Sigus and the Auxiliary Bishop St. Petersburg in Florida by Blessed John Paul II on January 16, 1981.[1] He was ordained a bishop 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]

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.[1] 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.[1] Symons resigned as bishop of Palm Beach on June 6, 1998 after it was learned that he had sexually abused five teens when he was a priest.[2]

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

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "Bishop Joseph Keith Symons". Catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 2011-07-28. 
  2. ↑ Navarro, Mireya (June 4, 1998). "Parish Seeks to Salve Hurts From Bishop's Molestations". New York Times (June 4, 1998). Retrieved 2011-07-28. 
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