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	Allegations Shatter Image of Former Church Worker Choir Director Who Lied about Credentials Is Accused of Sexual Abuse of 2 Boys By Paige Hewitt Houston Chronicle [Houston TX] May 7, 2005 Stuart Murphy projected himself as a humble man of independent wealth, a Catholic of standing and influence. He told co-workers he was among the socially privileged invited to the bishop's Christmas party. He gossiped about Catholic brass. And although Murphy, a choir director at Annunciation Catholic Church in downtown Houston and a part-time teacher's assistant at the Cardinal Newman School on the west side, was prone to bouts of self-promotion, those who knew him reasoned, he was, after all, a Ph.D. That persona was shattered when Murphy was arrested March 30, charged with two counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child and four counts of indecency with a child. Shock was followed by questions — about his relationship with the church hierarchy, about his education, even about where he called home. Officials at the archdiocese quickly distanced themselves from Murphy. "He, to me, is not well-known by clergy or laity in the diocese," Monsignor Frank Rossi, chancellor for the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, said after the arrest. Rossi said Murphy, 57, never served on diocesan committees or in any role of authority in any diocesan activities. Calling the criminal allegations "very troubling," Rossi said Murphy was terminated from his job at Annunciation after he was charged. He said there had been no similar allegations previously. Joseph Arlinghaus, principal of Cardinal Newman, said he conducted a background check 2 1/2 years ago, before Murphy began assisting science teachers at the school, and confirmed that he had no criminal record locally. After the charges became public, Arlinghaus started checking up on other claims and found that Murphy's academic pedigree, and the close relationships he'd claimed, were "just not there." Quit for 'personal reasons' Citing "personal reasons," Murphy resigned from Cardinal Newman in late March, Arlinghaus said. He was charged a few days later. The criminal charges against Murphy stem from allegations made by two brothers in a conservative Catholic family that attended Annunciation, where he directed the choir. Detective Pam Klim of the Harris County Sheriff's Office said Murphy also assisted with altar-boy services there. Neither brother has ever been a student at Cardinal Newman, an independent Catholic school. The younger brother told investigators that Murphy abused him for at least six years, starting when he was 6 years old, and that the abuse stopped in June 2003, according to court records. The boy alleged that Murphy abused him at various locations, including at the child's Katy home, in a car, in a classroom at Cardinal Newman while serving as Murphy's "helper" at a summer camp and at Annunciation, where Murphy claimed he lived, the records show. The older brother, now an adult, told investigators Murphy started abusing him about 10 years ago at age 12. He said the abuse occurred two or three times per week, for about 18 months, and it took place at his family's home, court records show. Katy police Capt. Gay Dickerson said the parents told her they never knew about the abuse allegations until she discussed Murphy's confession with them in March. The family would not comment on the case when approached by a reporter. Abuse confession Dickerson said that while being questioned by investigators whether he had searched for child pornography on a friend's computer, Murphy "outright confessed" on video to sexually abusing three boys. The third boy in Murphy's confession, now an adult, told authorities he didn't recall any abuse. Murphy remains in the Harris County Jail in lieu of $600,000 bail and is scheduled to appear in court later this month. Murphy declined an interview at the jail. "The evidence is still being reviewed and collected by myself and the prosecutor," said his attorney, Brett Podolsky. Podolsky said it was premature to comment further. When Murphy approached Arlinghaus for a job, he came with a recommendation from Monsignor James Golasinski at Annunciation, where he had worked since 1993, and strong academic credentials. But Klim said Murphy falsely claimed that he held a doctorate from Texas A&M and a master's degree from the University of Houston. A&M officials confirmed for the Houston Chronicle that he was never a student there; UH said he attended classes from 1978 to 1986 but never earned a degree. Murphy, who is a 1966 graduate of Bellaire High School and who does have a bachelor's degree in liberal arts from the University of St. Thomas, also claimed that he attended seminary but was never ordained. The archdiocese would not confirm whether Murphy had attended seminary, citing privacy laws. Rossi acknowledged that Murphy began working for the Galveston-Houston diocese in 1977. Murphy worked from 1977 to 1982 as a teacher at Seton Catholic Junior High in north Houston. Rossi said the archdiocese was unable to contact former Seton students because it does not have a database from that far back. Work history In the early 1990s, Murphy worked for less than a year as a music minister at St. Luke the Evangelist, and he started working for Annunciation in 1993, Rossi said. Murphy started volunteering and working at Cardinal Newman about 2 1/2 years ago. Murphy also has claimed that his residence was at Annunciation — his driver's license, voter registration and the St. Thomas alumni registry, for instance, identify Murphy's home as 1618 Texas, the address of the church. Rossi said Murphy may have claimed his residence at the church, but he never lived there. "He was never a permanent resident there at the parish but apparently periodically would sleep on the couch," Rossi said. Diocesan policy forbids nonclergy from living on church property. He said diocesan officials were unaware that Murphy was staying at the church until about 18 months ago. Murphy then was told to find arrangements elsewhere, Rossi said. Murphy then rented a unit in an apartment house just east of downtown. Residents said they rarely saw him there. Child-pornography search In December, Murphy was housesitting in Katy for friends who recently had purchased a new computer. When the family returned, the computer's search-engine log indicated someone had searched for child pornography, Dickerson said. The family, then members of Annunciation Catholic Church — they since have left — contacted Golasinski, who contacted the archdiocese, officials said. Rossi said Golasinski urged the family to contact police, and the archdiocese sent out a letter to Annunciation parishioners alerting them of the allegations. The letter urged anyone who was a victim or knew about abuse to contact the archdiocese's attorney. The family reported the matter to Katy police. "It was alarming," Dickerson said. "Because of what he (Murphy) does, we were very concerned." An analysis of the computer indicated one search for child pornography and one for adult male pornography, and that someone may have tried to download something on a CD, she said. Investigators started talking to families, learning that Murphy was close with some Annunciation families with boys. Because the alleged incidents took place outside Katy and within Harris County, the case was turned over to the sheriff's office. Lt. Ruben Diaz said the investigation is ongoing and officials are analyzing Murphy's personal computer.
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