Posted on 11/01/2005 8:28:52 PM PST by ncountylee
WORCESTER, Mass. --A Roman Catholic priest arrested in Las Vegas last year for allegedly performing a lewd act on another man inside an adult bookstore was removed from his post as pastor of a Worcester parish.
Sign up for: Globe Headlines e-mail | Breaking News Alerts Bishop Robert McManus told parishioners on Sunday that the Rev. James Aquino was being relieved of his duties at Our Lady of Loreto parish, where he'd been pastor since 1986.
McManus, who called the situation "a grave scandal," had known of Aquino's October 2004 arrest for several months. But the bishop had allowed him to remain in his post because Aquino denied the charges and McManus believed he might have been arrested due to a misunderstanding.
Just last week, Aquino, 66, took to the pulpit to publicly deny the charges, telling parishioners he had just entered the Adult Super Store, which sells sexually explicit books, magazines and videos, when police swooped in.
"I want you to know that I never, never engaged in any sexual activity of any kind," he said.
But Aquino's arrest report and court records, which contradicted his claims of innocence, were recently posted on the Web site of a lay advocacy group, Worcester Voice of the Faithful, The Telegram & Gazette reported.
According to the arrest report, police said for about 30 minutes they witnessed Aquino in a theater at the store masturbating himself and another man in public view. Aquino also gave police an incorrect Social Security number, the report said.
Aquino pleaded guilty to a disorderly conduct charge in March. The complaint was dismissed in September after he performed 50 hours of community service and received counseling.
In a statement, McManus did not mention the Web site but said he decided to place Aquino on leave...
(Excerpt) Read more at boston.com ...
This happens to me all the time. I am just walking down the street minding my own buisness and whoosh I find myself suddenly INSIDE of an adultoriented store. I don't know how this happens. Any clues?
LMAO. Hilarious!
Getting rid of them one homosexual at a time ...
Sad ping!
"I've never had sex with that woman"
Now now, there wasn't anything torrid going on...this was a man of faith ministering to one in need - lending a hand...
(/sarcasm)
He thought he was in a semenary.....
Purge.
I thought whatever happened in Vegas stayed there?
I mean, I'm sure it exists but the Catholic priests are the ones it seems to happen to the most often.
What's up with that?
Prior to 2001, McManus would have told Aquino to go to confession, and all would be well.
Other denominations don't require celibacy. Sometimes men get these . . . urges and . . well it's complicated. But yeah the celibacy thing.
And when after almost a year, this came to the Bishop's attention, he didn't ask the Priest why it took so long for him to hear about it? Isn't something like an arrest something you should tell your Superiors? Why didn't the Bishop place him on a leave of absence, while he was awaiting the LVPD to fax him a copy of the arrest report?
It makes me wonder if the Bishop even had any interest in knowing the sordid details, until the Catholic Lay group forced the Bishop's hand.
I'm quite frankly, as a Catholic, getting a little tired of Bishops who show no real interest in being guardians of the Faith or their flocks.
Kudos to the wickedly funny punsters on this thread.
LOL, good one.
A prson with a sin problem like this is an instant disqualifiaction for any church office.
Aw right bigfootbob, this thread ain't big enough for TWO bobs. Main street at high noon.
So how is this man going to make a living now?
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