The Rev. Barry Gamache asserts that he is supported by members of the congregation at St. Mary’s Church following revelations about longtime church employee David Barboza. That assertion appears to be partly true. Some members stand by their longtime parish leader.

Others, however, are unsure, while some are frustrated and upset by what they see as a mishandling of the situation at best; obstruction at the worst.

Here are some of their responses; all requested anonymity.

One parishioner sent a letter to Rev. Gamache the same day the first Globe story broke on July 31. It reads, in part:

“Today, I read the Boston Globe article regarding David Barboza. Honestly, I am not surprised at all by it. I believe every word of it.

“I experience acute personal struggle attending the Church. The constant allegations of sexual abuse within the Church, including at St. Mary’s Church, make it difficult for me to accept words from the altar as coming from a place of normalcy or from an understanding of what it takes to live as a man, husband and father in this challenging world. Mr. Barboza’s presence on the altar worsened my struggles. 

“I do not understand, given the history of allegations against Mr. Barboza, why he was given a position of prominence in St. Mary’s Church. I do not understand how he was trusted to hold the body of Christ for tender to the mouths of parishioners and his victims, whether actual or alleged.

“You owe the community an explanation … I respect you and trust that you will address the matter.”

According to the letter-writer, Rev. Gamache has not, to this date, responded.

Another parishioner took a different view: “I am Catholic and firmly believe that you look for the good in people before you judge,” he said. “I think Father Barry did just that. As a leader, you will always be second guessed, but I believe Father Barry has made great decisions with our church and continues to lead with great passion for our parishioners.”

Likewise, another parishioner expressed her support: “…We are all hardwired to ‘default to truth,’ ” she said. “We have a very hard time believing something is not true unless there is overwhelming evidence someone is lying. With a reasonable answer, people will default to truth. We have a baseline assumption people are not lying to us. It’s what makes our society work.

“I think David was a master of deception, and Father Barry, without any hard evidence, defaulted to truth. He shouldn’t be crucified over human nature, and he believed the deceiver ( like everyone else in town that voted for and appointed him) … I don’t think it’s fair to chalk it up to a ‘corruption scandal’ and hold the believers, like Father Barry, and not the deceivers, accountable for their unacceptable behavior.”

Other responders, like this parishioner, were more equivocal: “I always thought he (Father Barry) was a pretty straight shooter, who admitted to being a human being, not preaching down to the little people. I have always thought it strange that David worked there, but again, I never had any real evidence … If Father Barry is covering his tracks, or the tracks of the Diocese, that is a disappointment.”

Another said, “My view of Father Barry is that he completely dropped the ball in both keeping David employed at St Mary’s and in his response to the matter. As parishioners, we looked to him for leadership and got none. I feel both betrayed by the church and disappointed in myself for not beating the drum louder. It is very confusing when a place that was supposed to represent all that is good has twice harbored child molesters.”

“I am disappointed to say the least!” said another.

Another parishioner, who characterized her family as active, weekly members of the parish, said that initially, they were a little more understanding of the Rev. Gamache’s position, but that has changed with the continued accusations that he was made aware of accusations against Barboza, as well as what has been described by congregants as Gamache’s near-total failure to communicate about this issue with the church community.

“Everyone was expecting him to address this, and I think everyone was shocked that nothing more was said, beyond ‘David doesn’t work here anymore’,” said the parishioner. “It’s ridiculous that David was ever even in that position, serving on the altar.

“There’s about a 90 percent chance that my family will leave St. Mary’s. It’s a shame, because I really liked that parish. But at this point, the only thing that might change my mind would be if the Diocese replaced Father Barry.”