LI priest steps aside after sexual misconduct allegations surface

A priest in the Diocese of Rockville Centre has stepped aside after being accused of sexual misconduct with children, the diocese said Monday.

The Rev. Richard Kammerer had been serving as associate pastor of Corpus Christi Roman Catholic Church in Mineola. He is the third priest in the diocese to step aside in the past two months.

Kammerer could not be reached for comment.

The Nassau County District Attorney’s Office said it had been notified by the diocese and is investigating the allegations.

The diocese received information that caused it to become concerned about Kammerer’s "interactions with youth,” diocesan spokesman Sean Dolan said.

Kammerer will stay off the job "until further notice while this concern is addressed," Dolan said.

In early September, New York Attorney General Barbara Underwood said her office has subpoenaed all eight Catholic dioceses in the state as part of an investigation into sexual abuse of children by clergy.

Underwood’s announcement came weeks after the release of the Pennsylvania attorney general's grand jury report, which detailed the alleged sexual abuse of at least 1,000 children by about 300 priests over 70 years in the commonwealth.

A day after Underwood launched her investigation, the Rev. Brian J. Brinker stepped aside from his position as a chaplain at Our Lady of Consolation Nursing and Rehabilitative Care Center in West Islip.

Diocesan officials cited new allegations of abuse against Brinker, who allegedly sexually abused a minor from 1993 to 1997, Dolan said. He previously was cleared of another allegation dating to 1996, Dolan said.

In late September, the Rev. William G. Breslawski agreed to step aside while church officials investigate allegations that he sexually abused a middle schooler nearly 40 years ago and had an “inappropriate interaction” with two adults in the 1980s.

Breslawski most recently served as pastor of the St. Anthony of Padua Church in Rocky Point.