Wally... A Confidant, Advisor and Closest Friend!!

I first met Fr. Harris the summer before I started at the Prep. I admit it was a little intimidating. I was introduced to him by my parish priest at a summer camp that hosted kids for the month of July. He told me I would enjoy my time at the Prep but not to bother looking him up because he didn't speak to Freshman. I took this as a challenge. I didn't care that he towered over me or outweighed me. I think that took him by surprise. I admired the way he treated people no matter the stage in life. Yes, he has a sharp wit at times with a biting sense of humor but the only thing he ever wanted was that we all give the best effort in everything we tried.

I know more than most the "tough love" approach. In my Junior year, my Dad died. To this day, that was the hardest thing I've dealt with. Wally was there for me . He stood by me as I mourned my Dad's passing. He got me to refocus my mind as I was destroying all I had achieved at the Prep. My overall interest in everything I was doing was gone. I didn't care about school, sports or life. Those who knew me back then can attest to the fact that my world revolved around the Prep. Wally Harris was not only my teacher, he was and still is a friend in the truest sense of the word. From that time to this day, Wally has been my closest friend, confidant and advisor. My relationship with Wally has grown as I have grown. He had stood by me as I contemplated priesthood and ultimately decided that this vocation was not what God had planned for me to do. He never lost faith in me even when I lost mine. He brought me back to my faith and re-introduced me to God with love and simple honesty.

This is why I know these charges against him are FALSE. THE MAN I KNOW, LOVE AND RESPECT WOULD NEVER HARM A CHILD. IT GOES AGAINST EVERYTHING HE HAS TAUGHT ME AND WHAT HE BELIEVES IN. I pray everyday that this nightmare for him ends soon. I don't understand the motives of these men making these allegations, but know this, I will do whatever is necessary to clear his good name. Pray that they find the courage to right this wrong. Pray that the Church acts quickly and doesn't drag her feet. A man's life and reputation is at stake. I've known Wally 28 great years. He is my brother in every sense of the word. He has told me that trust in GOD helps him deal with this situation. I believe and trust what he tells me to be the Truth Church politics should play no part in this. Let's hope all parties concerned remember we need the truth.


Brendan Haugh

Cathedral Prep Seminary - Class of 1986

What ever happened to Innocent until Proven Guilty?

It was with an overwhelming shock, sadness, and anger, which I read the allegations that are being thrown around about Msgr. Harris. It is not so much the allegations themselves, because sadly and unfortunately we as a society become numb to such things after we are faced with similar scenarios over the course of so many years. However appalling the circumstances, the newspapers write about it as another daily event and most people shrug it off as common occurrence within the Catholic Church and its priests these days. The reality however tells a different story. Some may be guilty of the crimes they are accused of, but others are caught up in this “witch hunt” without an ounce of truth behind the allegations they face.

What caused this type of outrage and anger in me when I read these STORIES, was the fact that these allegations were being brought out about a man whom I proudly have called a father figure, a role model, and a friend for the better part of 22 years. I in my heart know, as do the accusers, as do the many thousands of people whom have had any type of interaction with Msgr. Harris that these allegations are simply LIES. This is a man who has always stood for righteousness, and has always taught his students that this is the way to lead your life. He not only taught us this lesson through his words but has always shown us by the way he conducts himself on a daily basis.

There were many boys who entered the doors of Cathedral Preparatory Seminary in the days in which Msgr. Harris patrolled the halls, taught students, provided guidance, and basically dedicated most of his life to making sure that we left that school prepared for our next steps in life. I, as will many, must honestly say that I am a better person today for having known Msgr. Harris. This is a man with integrity and it saddens me that a man like this can have his name dragged through the mud while we sit back and the church sits back and allows it to happen without any recourse. His character, dedication to his students and parishioners, and all the good work which he has done over the course of his vocation, call out for a man who deserves better than this.

First of all, unless there was an admission of this to come from Msgr. Harris’ mouth, there is absolutely no way I would ever believe any of it, and I pray that no one else is fooled into believing it. If these so-called “men” believe their allegations to be true, why wait over 20 years to bring this out to the public. Here we are allowing a man, who has done so much good in his life for so many people, to be desecrated while his accusers are protected and shielded from having to face the public and own up to their defamatory allegations. This is nothing more than cowardly actions. How much easier can we as a society make it for someone to make false accusations about someone else, without there being any penalty?

I now begin to question their motives especially considering the timing. Here we have an African American priest who has risen to some level of prominence within the Catholic Church and among the Catholic Community. Add to that his role in the organization of the Pope’s recent visit to the United States, and the publicity which surrounded it. It does not take much to realize that any disgruntled person, anyone with a grudge against the church or even any personal grudge against Msgr. Harris, let alone anyone just looking to get some money, could easily see his name in the news during these events and decide that this would be the perfect time and the perfect scenario to steal the headlines.

Do we want the TRUTH in this situation though, or are we just idly going to sit by hoping that time will sweep it under the rug and the News chasers will find another story that grabs their attention? The truth for all doubters is easily and irrevocably attained with the use of a polygraph test for all parties. For those who know Msgr. Harris like I do, a polygraph will never be needed because we know the TRUTH is that he is INNOCENT and FALSELY ACCUSED.


Peter Alves
Cathedral Preparatory Seminary – Class of 1990