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

Trust Well Earned

I am a graduate of Cathedral Prep, Class of 1989. Msgr. Wallace Harris was on the faculty when I was at the Prep. During that time, he was Dean of Discipline and Vice Rector. He was my teacher and advisor. In fact, I would say he was my mentor.

Msgr. Harris was the Man who welcomed us all in the morning. He was also the one we had to see when we got out of line. He was the one who wasn't afraid to let us know when we were headed in the wrong direction. He spoke plainly, so there was never any confusion. At a time in our lives when we were trying to figure out who we were, he was there to point us in the right direction. I owe much of who I am to him. I am not trying to paint the picture of a saint, just the man that I know to be Msgr. Wally Harris.

The media is painting the picture of a monster, lurking in the halls of my Alma mater. The corrupter of young men and the stealer of innocence. In light of recent events, we are all shocked and confused. We hear allegations against our friend and immediately we say, "No way. Not Possible!" We read the reports and listen to the news and may even start to think that maybe, just maybe, the reports are true. Today, you don't even have to be proven guilty. Character assassination only takes an accusation. Because it made the papers, it must be true.

We cannot allow this to happen. I cannot believe the accusations. Wally Harris has lived his life with Dignity and Grace. He has been a moral compass for so many of us. He has shown the compassion and indeed the tough love that we have needed. He has been there for me when I needed him most. That media monster could not be the same man. That monster is not Msgr. Wallace Harris.

When everything finally comes out, I know that Msgr. Harris will be vindicated. I have no doubt whatsoever in my mind that He is the good man that we all know. He is one of the most humble and respectful men that I know. He is a true man of God. He has earned and will continue to have my trust and utmost respect.

Respectfully submitted,
Peter Orloff
Cathedral Prep Class of 1989

The Boy that Stands behind the Man.

My name is Benjie Flores and I am writing this letter in response to the sexual abuse allegations brought against Msgr. Wallace A. Harris of St. Charles Borromeo in Harlem. If these so-called events happen over 20 years ago, they would have occurred during Msgr. Harris’ tenure as Vice Rector and Dean of Discipline at Cathedral Preparatory Seminary, a Catholic high school located on West End Avenue on 87th Street in Manhattan (now St. Agnes High School for Boys). I know this to be accurate timing since I was a student there at the time in question.

My family and I have had a personal relationship with Msgr. Harris prior to me attending Cathedral Prep while he was a visiting priest at Our Lady of Good Counsel on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. I attended the parochial school (now closed by Cardinal Egan) from Grades 1-8 and was an altar boy most of those years. I even worked in the Parish Rectory for about 3 years and I knew Msgr. Harris very well and considered him to a be a valued mentor, entrusted confidant, and treasured friend. I ultimately decided to attend the Prep for my High School years because I knew he would never steer me wrong. Thank God I followed that calling. He would always refer to me as his “Son” due to the fact that we were both big portly guys that carried the majority of our weight in the belly region but oddly enough had tiny thin chicken legs to show for it. Fr. Harris quite often said that I had that quality that men hope to possess when entering the priesthood and that I should consider the vocation. Even though I chose another path in life, that did not deter him from being my dear friend and most trusted Counselor over the next 25 years.

I have maintained my close personal relationship with him over the past 2 decades, thru my college years, thru various jobs that I have held or lost, thru various girlfriends I have had and lost, from weddings and Christenings of friends and family that he presided over, to the death and burial services of my own father in March of 1995. I was in my last year at Penn State studying oversees in Costa Rica Central America when I got word that my father had suddenly passed away from a massive heart attack. It was one of those events in life that changes you forever and I don’t think I would have come out of it the way I did if not for Wally Harris. My family is primarily made up of women and I was always out-numbered by a fair margin at family functions and that was no different at my Dad’s funeral. I had held myself together pretty well for the sake of my Mom, Sisters and other family members but on the first day of the wake, when my Grandfather (my Dad’s father) walked in, I began to lose it. I could not fathom the idea of this 75 year old man having to bury his 51 year old son. As I turned teary eyed to look away, at that very moment walked right in to the arms of a just arriving Fr. Harris and that is when I let it all out. As I watch a father say good-bye to his son, another Father reached out to his Son, ME, and consoled and assured him the way Fathers do.

Wallace Harris is not only one of the finest priests’ I have ever come across in my life but he also exemplifies the true ideology of what it means to “Be a Man!” He goes the extra mile for everyone he meets while still preaching the Word of God with self-respect, positive conviction and exemplary character. He is so in touch with the trials and challenges that young men face in the world today and will always give you brutally honest feedback and sound advice even if it is not always in strict adherence to Catholic doctrine. Just imagine holding a job of this magnitude where your words, advice, actions, teachings and in many cases discipline would be the foundation of true moral fiber and shape the hearts and minds of hundreds of young impressionable boys. Msgr. Harris did this job day in and day out, every semester, every year, on weekends, during Summer & Holiday vacations, all the time. He did all this and still found ways to minister to the flock at various churches and parishes throughout the Archdiocese. To many, with no fatherly presence at home, he was that very being and figure to them.

My Dad, always told me, “Benjie it is always up to you and whatever you do in life, do it the best you can and always try to make a difference in this world. There are no short cuts!” Wally Harris exemplifies these very words and has and will continue to make a difference in this world. I have often said, the Archdiocese of NY could use a Wally Harris in every parish because the man gets the job done and I can honestly say, he wakes up every morning looking to do God’s work with everyone he meets.

I can not and will not believe these allegations unless hearing them directly from the sources and Father Harris’ complete admission to these events. If the chronology is correct, I most definitely know these accusers since our entire High School was no bigger than 100-120 total students. I just find it odd that these charges are brought up now, 20 years later when there was ample time to come clean and purge yourself of these emotional burdens, especially over the last 5+ years when the whole Boston Diocese scandal broke out and there was a nationwide manhunt for pedophile priests. The Church and the media were pleading victims and assuring them of total protection and privacy that their voices would be heard without prejudice. They promised that severe but appropriate action would be taken swiftly and accordingly and for the most part they lived up to their word.

The sad thing in this case as with so many across the county is that the mere accusation portrays a verdict of guilty in the eyes of so many due to the bad apples that did spoil the bunch. Is there a problem with pedophilia and priests in the Church? Yes, I do believe there is. This is an issue that is not just localized in the United States and the Catholic Church but all over the world in every major religion. Some of you may not know this, but the very rules and guidelines to remove a priest in the Archdiocese of NY were formulated by the man accused, Wallace Harris. That is how serious he knew this problem was and he also had the forthsight to know that many innocent men were in danger of being accused with little to no recourse in thier defense.

When all the evidence is presented and testimony is heard, I firmly believe that Msgr. Harris will be vindicated fully; but at what cost? What happens to the career of a man that many believed was to be the first NY African American Bishop since the Most Rev. Emerson Moore passed away in 1995. Many, including myself, believe Msgr. Harris has what it takes to be an Archbishop, maybe even the 1st Black Archbishop in NYC history. Damn shame that we are all so quick to presume guilt quicker than innocence just because it makes for a better storyline.

In closing, my heart-felt prayers and good-will go out to all victims of sexual abuse, no matter what their age, color, religion, sex, nationality or sexual orientation may be. It is a morally wrong and evil act that does deserve just punishment and must be dealt with in a swift efficient manner. I also pray for the Souls of the men and women that have performed such horrendous acts on innocent children that they may seek the help they so desperately need and ultimately find God again because anyone on this particular path is obviously lost and needs help to find their way home.

Benjie Flores

Cathedral Prep - Class of 1990