Diocese: Archdiocese of New York
Summary of Assignments:
- 1978: Ordained
- 1979-1985: St. Clare’s; Staten Island, NY
- 1986-1989: Church of the Visitation; Bronx, NY
- 1990-1992: St. Roch’s; Staten Island, NY
- 1993-1998: Chaplain at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center; Manhattan, NY
- 1999-2002: Sacred Heart; Patterson, NY
- 2003: Not listed in 2003 Directory
- July 2005: Laicized
Notes: LaBelle was removed in 2002 for misconduct of a non-sexual nature with two 15-year-old boys.
One mother at Sacred Heart contacted the Archdiocese 4 times between 1998 and 2002 with concerns about LaBelle’s inappropriate friendship with her 15-year-old son. The mother alleged that LaBelle bought her son fast food, cigarettes, three beepers, a cellphone, snowboarding equipment, and a pass to Thunder Ridge ski area. LaBelle reportedly disregarded the Archdiocese’s orders that he cease contact with the boy.
A second allegation was made against LaBelle in 2001, also involving a 15 year-old boy in 1998.
LaBelle has also been accused of molesting three 13-15 year old boys in the Bronx before he entered the seminary and for giving alcohol to an 11-year-old boy while LaBelle was a priest at Church of the Visitation.
Sources: The Journal News (NY) 04.21.02; Journal News 04.25.02; Journal News 09.14.03; Journal News 07.09.05; Newsday 07.09.05; New York Daily News 05.18.17; New York Times 05.18.17; Journal News 05.23.17; Church Militant 10.26.17; LoHud 12.12.17 ; http://bishop-accountability.org/; BA.org Summary of Directory Entries
Note: Years in parentheses indicate editions of the Official Catholic Directory. Because of the publication schedule of the Directory, a priest listed at a parish in a given year was also likely at that parish for part of the previous year.