Area Priest Accused of Abuse, Placed on Administrative Leave

A Catholic priest from the area has been placed on administrative leave after allegations of child abuse from years ago have surfaced. Published reports said Monsignor Edward Weber, the director of the Priest Personnel Office in the Archdiocese, has served as pastor of West Nyack’s Saint Francis of Assisi parish since 1994, and as regional vicar of Rockland County since 2002. He was also at Saint Sylvester’s in Staten Island in the late 70s and early 80s, and the abuse allegedly occurred during his time there. Earlier this month Cardinal Dolan sent letters to parishioners of the three parishes Weber was affiliated with, and said the administrative leave is not a punishment, and that Monsignor Weber still has “the presumption of innocence.”