Monk accused of molesting Berks boy

A monk from an Eastern Catholic Church monastery has been charged with molesting a 14-year-old Berks County boy at a retreat in Susquehanna County.

The Rev. Angelus Ferrar, who is based in Scranton with the Melkite Greek Catholic Church, Eparchy of Newton, molested the boy at Our Lady of Solitude Cloister and Retreat, a monastery and working farm in Warren Center, state police said Tuesday.

Ferrar, 48, of Little Meadows surrendered Friday to state police in Gibson, Susquehanna County.

Ferrar remained free on $10,000 bail following arraignment before District Judge Jeffrey L. Hollister on charges of corrupting minors and indecent assault.

According to investigators:

The victim and his family were staying at the retreat to deal with personal problems.

Ferrar befriended the boy and inappropriately touched him three times between November and January.

The family reported the abuse to the victim assistance coordinator in the Allentown Diocese, their home diocese.

The Allentown Diocese contacted the Scranton Diocese and state police, said Matt Kerr, Allentown Diocese spokesman.

Neither Ferrar nor the Melkite Greek Catholic Church is affiliated with the Scranton Diocese, but the assaults occurred in an area overseen by the diocese, officials said.

Scranton Diocese officials said Eparchy of Newton officials contacted the district attorneys in Susquehanna and Berks counties after learning of the allegations. Berks District Attorney John T. Adams said his office is not involved because the assaults did not occur in the county.