A priest who founded a local Catholic television network is the target of a federal criminal investigation for allegedly viewing online child porn, his bishop said.
Monsignor Michael Dempsey, 77, was placed on administrative leave and barred from publicly acting as a priest after informing Brooklyn Diocese Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio of the probe by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency on Jan. 14, the diocese said.
DiMarzio also ordered Dempsey to vacate Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Church in Forest Hills, Queens, where he had lived since 1961.
Dempsey “notified us that he was being investigated by Immigrations and Customs.
He indicated that it was for inappropriate behavior on the Internet . . . [involving] pornographic images of children,” said diocese Monsignor Kieran Harrington.
Dempsey served as the diocese’s executive director of pastoral communications from 1978 until his retirement last year.
In 1966, he founded Catholic Telemedia Network, which aired The Prayer Channel, now known as NET.
His lawyer, Margaret Shalley, declined comment, as did an ICE spokesman.