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	Sympathy for Priest Fired over Messages By Jack Minch and Matt Murphy Lowell Sun [Billerica MA] March 31, 2005 BILLERICA -- After working closely with Rev. Michael Randone for nearly three years, St. Theresa's pastor said he came to know a priest sincerely committed to helping the youth of his Billerica parish. But yesterday, Rev. Eugene Tully called his former colleague to offer some friendly words of comfort, a day after Randone was fired from his post at Central Catholic High School in Lawrence and resigned his parish in Haverhill amid allegations that he sent inappropriate online messages to students. "I didn't want to call him to get information or details. I spoke to him briefly to tell him we were thinking of him and that to let us know if we could do anything to help," Tully said. "I think he's upset, very saddened and hurt." Randone, 36, was fired Tuesday as Central Catholic's part-time chaplain because he was instant-messaging students over the Internet in violation of policy, according to the school. He could not be reached for comment yesterday. One message was sent to a juvenile female, according to a published report that quoted a Department of Social Services official. School officials reportedly said the message was of a sexual nature. Randone formerly worked at St. Theresa Church on Concord Road for three years before leaving to be pastor of Sacred Hearts Church in Haverhill in July 2003. He has resigned as pastor of that parish in the wake of his firing from the Lawrence parochial high school. "He had a great love for that school and was very proud of his association with Central Catholic," Tully said. Randone served as Tully's assistant for almost three years as parochial vicar for St. Theresa, and Tully said he never had any indication that Randone's relationships with the youth of the parish were anything but healthy. "It sounds like he overstepped school policy, and he could be a little headstrong but there's nothing wrong with that," Tully said. "He was terrific with youth. He just enjoyed them, cared about them, and got them involved." One such youth, Tim Kelley, a 17-year-old Central Catholic senior from Methuen, agreed. "My two cents is the only thing he's guilty of is he cared," Kelley told The Sun last night. Kelley related how Randone helped start the school's lacrosse program and was his assistant coach. When Kelley separated his shoulder at an early-season practice, Randone called his mother to ask permission to take him to the hospital. "He stayed with me the whole time," he said. Kelley said Randone would talk to kids online, but that "if a kid had a problem, he wanted to help." Randone, who is a Central Catholic alumnus, sent instant messages to students at least three times, according to a statement released by Brother Richard Van Houten, the school's president. One of the messages contained sexual content, but Randone denied sending it and claimed somebody else sent it in his name, said Van Houten. School officials could not verify the message's authenticity. Tully said while in Billerica, Randone could often be found on his computer, writing to former students. And those same students, in turn, called for Randone and came to the parish to visit. But the school does not allow unapproved contact between students and staff, and Randone received warnings for previous violations in 2002 and 2003. Electronic messages between staff and students are only allowed on a school computer so they can be traced, according to Van Houten. If Randone had used the school computer to send messages he could not have claimed somebody else stole his password and sent the message, he said. The school learned of the instant messages about two weeks ago and suspended Randone while it investigated. "By his actions, Father Randone has clearly indicated that he does not intend to abide by this critically important policy, and, therefore, he has left us no choice but to terminate him as school chaplain," Van Houten said. "The school has notified civil authorities and the Archdiocese of Boston of the circumstances surrounding this decision." An archdiocese spokesman did not return a telephone call seeking comment on Randone's future, but Tully acknowledged that the clergy-abuse scandal in the Catholic Church has severely strained priests' relationships with youth. "It's sad," Tully said. "Sometimes policy can make you feel as if your ministry is restricted." The archdiocese released a statement on Tuesday saying that it had been notified of the action taken by Central Catholic, and that upon receipt of the information the archdiocese notified civil authorities and began its own review of the situation. Essex District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett's office is investigating but has not reached any conclusions, according to spokesman Steve O'Connell. Meanwhile, in Billerica, Deputy Police Chief Thomas Conners has known Randone since his days working as one of the department's chaplains. "Honestly, a fine, fine guy," Conners said. "I would have nothing but accolades. I would never question him." The Rev. Paul Clifford, who is a chaplain for Lowell and Dracut police, said he has met Randone. "Always struck me as upright and concerned for helping people," Clifford said. "He always struck me a great guy, very caring." It was unclear yesterday when the school established its policy regulating after-school contact between staffers and students, but it goes back at least as far as 2002, Van Houten said. By that time, the country, and particularly the Archdiocese of Boston, were dealing with the fallout of sexual predators in the priesthood. "That's why boundary issues are so important," Van Houten said. Tully said he understands the need for policies that protect everyone involved, but questioned whether some rules do more harm than good. "Our association with Mike over his tenure here was nothing but positive. He's a good guy, but it seems we all live in a fishbowl these days," Tully said. "All institutions are feeling the fallout from (the abuses) and you try put in healthy guidelines to protect everyone involved, but just how far do you go?"
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