Priest at New Hyde Park church accused of forcible touching, police say

A New Hyde Park priest was arrested this week and accused of forcibly touching a 22-year-old man, Nassau police said.

In a news release Friday, police said 62-year-old Thomas Moriarty worked at the Church of the Holy Spirit. He was arrested Thursday and released on “non-monetary” conditions after pleading not guilty at a hearing the same day in Hempstead First District Court, records show. Moriarty could not be reached Friday and court records did not list an attorney for him.

As of Friday afternoon, the Church of the Holy Spirit website listed Thomas M. Moriarty Jr. as a parochial minister serving under the church’s pastor. His name was later removed from the site.

The Rev. Eric Fasano, a spokesman for the Diocese of Rockville Central, said in an email Friday: “Father Moriarty has voluntarily resigned from ministry and will not identify himself as a priest while due process and diocesan procedures are being followed. The accusation is that Father Moriarty served as Associate Pastor Do not include any congregation from the Church of the Holy Spirit in New Hyde Park.”

Holy Spirit church offices were closed Friday and officials there could not be reached.

Police said the touching occurred at 12:30 a.m. on Oct. 26 in Oceanside. A police spokesman declined to specify a location, citing privacy concerns.

Moriarty is scheduled to next appear in Nassau County Court on Nov. 15 before Judge David Goodsell, according to court records.