Posted on 11/23/2010 7:34:51 PM PST by marshmallow
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — In a murder-for-hire case worthy of a Dan Brown novel, a Roman Catholic priest has been arrested on charges that he solicited a hit man to kill a teenager who had accused him of sexual abuse.
Authorities said John Fiala first offered the job to a neighbor, who blew the whistle and helped police arrange a sting. They said Fiala got as far as negotiating a $5,000 price for the slaying before investigators moved in.
The 52-year-old clergyman was arrested Nov. 18 at his suburban Dallas home and jailed on $700,000 bond. In April, he was named in a lawsuit filed by the boy's family, who accused Fiala of molesting the youth, including twice forcing him to have sex at gunpoint.
The abuse allegedly took place in 2007 and 2008, when Fiala was a priest at the Sacred Heart of Mary Parish in the West Texas community of Rocksprings, a rural enclave known for sheep and goat herding.
The family's lawsuit also named the Archdiocese of San Antonio and Archbishop Jose Gomez, alleging that church leadership should have known Fiala was abusive.
The suit was filed just a month before Gomez was introduced as the new incoming leader of the Los Angeles Archdiocese. He is currently serving as an assistant to Cardinal Roger Mahony, who will retire next year. Gomez then automatically becomes archbishop.
The allegations against Fiala seemed like they could have formed a plotline for Brown, who wrote "The Da Vinci Code" and other religiously themed thrillers. But the accuser's attorney said they hit too close to home.
(Excerpt) Read more at google.com ...
I believe that in certain "extraordinary circumstances" a priest who has been removed from ministry may perform priestly functions. However, I'm not certain what those circumstances are but life and death situations might certainly be amongst them.
You need to read a little more down the posts before you decide to jump in with old news. But thanks for attempting to play.
This guy had been removed from the priesthood by the Church before sexual assault claims were made because of some "custodial interference" incident involving the accuser and his grandmother.
This guy, Fiala, sounds like he should be locked away permanently. Texas style.
You clearly didn't read the article. He was removed before these sexual abuse allegations came to light. The cause for removal was custodial interference between the alleged victim and the teen's grandmother.
One more question, if I can: Can a priest who has not been removed for some reason, but the accusations and proof is there, receive the Sacrament of the Eucharist himself? Doesn't a person have to be 'worthy' of receiving it?
You missed my point. The words FORMER PRIEST is what got my attention. Because I did not think priests could be removed for ANYTHING. According to the RCC.
It's only amazing if you reject #1582 in the Catechism of the Catholic Church which I posted in #12 above. If you accept the teaching of the Church on this issue, it's quite logical.
Then again, any Catholic teaching is "amazing" to those who reject it.
Can a priest who has not been removed for some reason, but the accusations and proof is there, receive the Sacrament of the Eucharist himself? Doesn't a person have to be 'worthy' of receiving it?
Reception of the Euchrist depends on one thing and one thing only; that one is not presently in a state of mortal sin. Dismissal from the priesthood does not imply that. It simply means unfit for ministry.
Thus, if a priest molests a child and is removed from ministry, he may certainly receive the Eucharist if he sincerely repents of his sin. That doesn't mean that he won't sin again. It simply means that he is firmly resolved at that time to do all in his power to avoid that sin in the future.
Make that #15!
Thanks for answering all my questions. You have been very informative and pleasant. I think that’s all I can ask for. :)
Happy Thanksgiving.........
And to you. Happy Thanksgiving!
Not quite. "laicized" is a secular term not found in Canon Law.
CHAPTER IV: LOSS OF THE CLERICAL STATE
Can. 290 Sacred ordination once validly received never becomes invalid. A cleric, however, loses the clerical state:
1° by a judgement of a court or an administrative decree, declaring the ordination invalid;
2° by the penalty of dismissal lawfully imposed;
3° by a rescript of the Apostolic See; this rescript, however, is granted to deacons only for grave reasons and to priests only for the gravest of reasons.
Can. 291 Apart from the cases mentioned in can. 290, n. 1, the loss of the clerical state does not carry with it a dispensation from the obligation of celibacy, which is granted solely by the Roman Pontiff.
Can. 292 A cleric who loses the clerical state in accordance with the law, loses thereby the rights that are proper to the clerical state and is no longer bound by any obligations of the clerical state, without prejudice to can. 291. He is prohibited from exercising the power of order, without prejudice to can. 976. He is automatically deprived of all offices and roles and of any delegated power.
Can. 293 A cleric who has lost the clerical state cannot be enrolled as a cleric again save by rescript of the Apostolic See.
Can. 976 Any priest, even though he lacks the faculty to hear confessions, can validly and lawfully absolve any penitents who are in danger of death, from any censures and sins, even if an approved priest is present.
I just thought, for once, I would go with what the Catholic Church SAYS.
You might try brushing up on your reading of Scripture to help you understand the teaching of the Church.
"For He testifieth: Thou art a priest for ever, according to the order of Melchisedech." Hebrews 7:17
If they have been accused, they AUTOMATICALLY are suspended from public ministry (without any appeal process as far as I know) and cannot perform those duties - that has been the rule in the US since at least 2002 or 2003. They are suspended until the investigation is over.
It is all so typical.
Love your tag line!
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