Br. William Michael Burke

Diocese of St. Petersburg (Salesian)

Profession: 1983

Ordained: 1993

Suspended: 2002

Pastoral Assignment History:

Mary Help of Christians School (Tampa, FL)
Marian Shrine and Don Bosco Retreat Center (Stony Point, NY)
Don Bosco College (Newton, NJ)
Don Bosco Technical High School (Paterson, NJ)
Holy Rosary Church (Port Chester, NY)

Summary of Sexual Abuse Allegations Against Brother William Michael Burke:

Br. William Michael Burke was a Salesian brother that worked in the Diocese of St. Petersburg and in New York. In 2002, a civil suit was filed by a man alleging that Br. Burke sexually abused him at age 14 in 1986-1987 while attending Mary Help of Christians School in Tampa, FL. According to the lawsuit, Br. Burke kissed the victim, touched his buttocks with his hands through his clothing, and touched the victim's groin. The abuse was initially reported in 1989, but nothing was ever done about it until the the lawsuit was filed. Burke was working in a New York religious center until his suspension in 2002. In subsequent years, additional male boarding students from Mary Help of Christians School reported sexual abuse by William Burke.

In March 2020, the Salesians of Don Bosco, Province of St. Philip the Apostle, published a list of names of its members who have plausible accusations of sexual abuse with a minor. William Burke was on this list.

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Br. William Michael Burke – Diocese of St. Petersburg