Pastor receiving treatment for addiction to child porn

Former Waterford pastor Dennis Carey has been receiving treatment for his child pornography addiction at a Pennsylvania facility that specializes in behavioral health problems of Catholic clergy members, according to his attorney.

Carey, 65, resigned from Waterford’s St. Paul in Chains Church on June 29 after state and local police served a search warrant on the rectory, where Carey lived, and seized computers they said contained hundreds of images of child pornography. He posted a $100,000 bond following his July 3 arrest for possession of child pornography and has been making appearances in the New London court where major crimes are heard.

During his court appearance Monday, defense attorney Ronald F. Stevens said Carey, who admits he needs help for his child pornography addiction, has for the past month been receiving treatment at the St. John Vianney Center in Downingtown, Penn. Stevens said Carey is nearly finished with the treatment and would be discharged soon to an aftercare program. He said Carey likely will live with family members, either in the Boston or New York areas, upon his release from the treatment center.

“This is a really difficult addiction to deal with,” Stevens said in a phone interview this afternoon.

He said it is doubtful that Carey would return to the clergy.

Following Carey’s arrest, Bishop Michael R. Cote wrote to parishioners of the Diocese of Norwich that he has started the process of dismissing Carey from the church. Cote wrote also that he would offer to send Carey to a residential treatment program. The letter indicated that the diocese did not pay for Carey’s bond and is not funding his defense.

Carey’s next court date is Oct. 15.