On the eve of Christmas Eve, after three decades of silence, Rocco Parisi yesterday sued his former parish priest, the South Philadelphia church where he once worshiped, and local church leaders, claiming sexual abuse.
“I can forgive him, but I can’t let this happen to anyone else,” said Parisi, referring to Joseph P. Gallagher, the former priest whom Parisi claims gave him gifts and took him on trips in order to seduce him.
Parisi alleges that Gallagher sexually abused him numerous times when Parisi was a teenager and a member of St. Monica’s Church, 17th and Ritner streets.
Parisi told reporters that the priest had “destroyed my spiritual belief.”
