Early life

Joseph Symons was born in Champion Township, Michigan, on October 14, 1932.^[1] He was ordained a priest by Archbishop Joseph Hurley for the Diocese of St. Augustine on May 18, 1958. In 1971, Symons became chancellor of the Diocese of St. Petersburg.^[2]

Auxiliary Bishop of St. Petersburg

On January 16, 1981 John Paul II appointed Symons as the titular bishop of Sigus and as an auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of St. Petersburg. He was consecrated by Bishop William Larkin on March 19, 1981. Archbishops Edward McCarthy and Thomas Joseph McDonough were the co-consecrators.^[1]

Bishop of Pensacola-Tallahassee

On October 4, 1983, John Paul II appointed Symons as the second bishop of the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee. He was installed on November 8, 1983.^[1]

Bishop of Palm Beach

On June 12, 1990, John Paul II appointed Symons as the second bishop of the Diocese of Palm Beach. He was installed on July 31, 1990.^[1] Symons served as a member of the Committee for Latin America, part of the National Council of Catholic Bishops. He also was a member of the Southeast Pastoral Institute in Miami, Florida, which provides outreach to Hispanics.

In 1991, Symons authorized the taping of an exorcism. The rite was performed by Reverend James J. LeBar and other priests on a 16-year-old girl known as "Gina". Footage of the exorcism was then broadcast on ABC's 20/20 TV program. In allowing the taping, Symons said that he hoped it would help "counteract diabolical activities around us."^[3]

In 1996, a married couple charged that years earlier Symons, when serving as auxiliary bishop of St. Petersburg, had ignored their report that a diocese priest had abused their children. The couple said that Symons then tried to bribe the couple by offering to pay for therapy for their sons. Symons said he had the priest submit to a psychiatric evaluation.^[2]

In April 1998, a 53 year old man informed a priest and Archbishop John C. Favalora that Symons had sexually abused him when he was an altar server decades earlier. When confronted about the allegations, Symons admitted his guilt. The Vatican immediately asked Bishop Robert N. Lynch of St. Petersburg to hear Symons' confession. During that session, Symons admitted that he had abused four other boys. He also said that he had confessed the abuses to a priest at the time, but the priest simply told Symons to avoid alcohol and remain chaste.^[4] According to Lynch, the molestations all took place in the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee.^[5]

Resignation and legacy

On June 2, 1998, Lynch announced that John Paul II had accepted Symons' resignation as bishop of Palm Beach and named Lynch as apostolic administrator of the diocese.^{[6][7] [5]}Symons issued a written statement that said:^[6]

As painful as it is for me and will be for others, I feel it important to make public the reason for my resignation. Early in my 40 years of priestly ministry, I was involved in inappropriate sexual behavior with minors. Realizing the gravity of my past actions, I have in succeeding years tried to live my promises of celibacy and chastity and have immersed myself in my ministry as priest and as bishop.... I have prayed each day for these persons and their families. It is a memory with which we have lived far too long. I apologize to all whom I have hurt in any way and if, by this action, they might seek spiritual, emotional, and psychological comfort and assistance, then this painful moment for the Church and me may prove to be beneficial.

After his resignation, Symons was to be sent away for treatment and counseling.

On July 30, 1998, the St. Petersburg Times reported that Symons’ accuser had first complained to the church about Symons in 1995. Bishop John M. Smith, then bishop of Pensacola-Tallahassee, brokered a meeting between Symons and his accuser. In the meeting, Symons admitted his guilt. However, he denied molesting other youths (which he admitting doing later in 1998) and promised to get counseling, which he never did until after his resignation.^[5]