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NYC pastor forced to leave amid abuse allegations
Staff and agencies
Mon Aug 4, 6:14 PM ET
NEW YORK - A Roman Catholic pastor who helped organize Pope Benedict XVI‘s visit to New York and gave the invocation at Gov. David Paterson‘s inauguration has been forced to leave his position because of allegations of sexual abuse.
The matter was referred to the Manhattan district attorney‘s office, which said Monday that the statute of limitations had expired.
The allegations against Harris, 61, were announced during Sunday Mass at Harlem‘s Church of St. Charles Borromeo, where he has been pastor since 1989.
Harris led a prayer at Paterson‘s inauguration in March and served as the event coordinator for part of the pope‘s visit in April, including the Mass at Yankee Stadium.
A message left Monday for Harris at a residence in Harlem wasn‘t immediately returned.
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