By Ben Simmoneau
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – The CBS 3 I-Team has learned that a
Catholic priest who was removed from the ministry over sex abuse
allegations now holds a sensitive security post at Philadelphia
International Airport.
The security checkpoint between Terminals D and E is a busy place
where thousands of people – including lots of kids – pass through every
day. But you might not believe who the I-Team observed working as a TSA
supervisor at that checkpoint this week: Thomas Harkins.
Until 2002, Harkins was a Catholic priest working at churches across
South Jersey. But the Diocese of Camden removed him from ministry
because it found he sexually abused two young girls. Now, in a new
lawsuit, a third woman is claiming she also is one of Harkins’ victims.
The I-Team asked Harkins about the suit as he was leaving his shift at the airport.
“I have nothing to say,” was Harkins’ reply.
The new lawsuit, filed in federal court against the Camden Diocese
says quite a bit. It accuses Harkins of sexually abusing an 11-year-old
girl 10 to 15 times in 1980 and 1981. The lawsuit, filed on behalf of
the alleged victim, claims the abuse occurred while Harkins was a priest
at Saint Anthony of Padua parish in Hammonton, NJ, with one assault
even occurring in Harkins’ bedroom at the rectory.
The I-Team asked Harkins if the traveling public should be worried.
“No, they shouldn’t be,” he said.
“The public should not be worried with you in a position like this despite your past?” reporter Ben Simmoneau asked.
“I have nothing to say,” Harkins repeated.
He then used his TSA badge to walk into a restricted area where our cameras could not follow.
“They should know who they’re hiring,” said Karen Polesir, a
Philadelphia spokeswoman with the Survivors Network of those Abused by
Priests (SNAP). She believes Harkins’ TSA job is inappropriate.
“As the public, we are screened to our underwear getting on a plane, and yet they hire a man like that.”
A TSA official tells the I-Team Harkins’ title is “Transportation
Security Manager, Baggage,” meaning he deals mostly with luggage, not
passengers.
“Sure, that’s his title,” Polesir said. “That doesn’t mean that’s
where he stays, that doesn’t mean he doesn’t fill other roles when
necessary.”
The TSA says all its employees go through a criminal background check
before they’re hired, but because these cases are so old, criminal
charges were not filed. A spokesman says the Camden Diocese settled the
first two lawsuits with Harkins’ accusers–it has not seen this suit
just yet.
