Posted on 05/18/2006 6:13:24 PM PDT by Revelation 911
(Gates, N.Y.) An 80-year-old priest has been charged with sexually abusing a 12-year-old girl.
The Rev. John Steger is a priest at St. Jude the Apostle Church on Lyell Road.
He's charged with two counts of sexual abuse and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child. Police said the alleged inappropriate touching happened at the church rectory, where the girl was doing chores.
Police said the girl told her parents, who contacted police. The alleged abuse happened once at the end of April and once at the beginning of May.
In a statement, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester said Steger has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the criminal case. He will not be allowed to engage in any public ministry.
The diocese said it is fully cooperating with the investigation.
Steger has been a priest in the diocese since 1951. He's been a pastor at St. Jude since 1968. He previously served at St. Theodore Church in Gates, St. Alphonsus Church in Auburn and St. Joseph Church in Wayland.
This is Matthew Clarks diocese
Very glad she reported it to her parents and the Church is awaiting the results of the investigation. Prayers for her and her family and all in the parish.
My sympathies, though this priest predates Clark's ordination to the episcopate. I'm just 'down the road' from you in Howard Hubbard country. Clark and Hubbard are good friends and cut from the same cloth, if you get my drift. Both were appointed at the recommendation of ARCHBISHOP JEAN JADOT . Hang in there! We're only 6 or 7 years away from their retirement.
80 years old and 12? Good grief, it's a wonder the man didn't just keel over in the act. This is just plain disgusting.
It's a lie! This can't be true!
(A HETEROsexual sex fiend in the Catholic Church?)
I see the ambulance chasing attorneys are at it again!
possibly - we dont know all the details - but the circumstances enough warrant a severe reaction - a 12 yr old girl or any minor for that matter should not be in the rectory - Its unclear if the girls patrents knew of the circumstances - I doubt they would have allowed it
I remember my Uncle telling the story that when he was a newly ordained Priest back in the 60s he lectured his boss (the Pastor) not to have teenagers do stuff like that.
Fortunately the Pastor was never accused of anything, but after he left one of these kids robbed the rectory.
So it's not only to protect the kids that they should be kept out of the rectory it's also to protect the Priests.
Another example, one guy here in Boston (who was given a HUGE check by the Archdiocese) claimed a Msgr. had molested him in his room, when it was prooven that teenager were never allowed upstairs (plenty of proof that he couldn't have been snuck up there) he was thoroughly exonerated (that combined with the history of the guy making up stuff).
The Archdiocese still gave the guy a big check and the Priest has disappeared....one of the many reasons I don't like our current Cardinal.
Would "Jeez Louise" be a French name for Jesus, perhaps?
no, my sanctimonious friend - rather my mothers pet word for exasperation at seeing her beloved Catholic church sullied
My pet word for exasperation at seeing my beloved Lord sullied is....not "sanctimonius." Rather, it is "prayer," for you. I trust you won't mind that too much, coming from one you've already dismissed.
May He bless you abundantly.
jeez louise
may He bless you as well
All Priests and parish staff know that any youth in the presence of an adult MUST have 2 adults present..This is clearly the existing guideline...In no way is Bishop Clark doing anything but what he is supposed to do..One of the parishes we have attended have had 2 of this type of case..Of course depending on which priest you liked he was not guilty and if you didn't like him he was guilty. The church needs to once and for all face the fact that the priesthood needs changing. Does the church need to be a "Phoenix" to get the attention..so be it!!!
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