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A priest in the Archdiocese of Chicago has been barred from ministry there after allegations he engaged in “inappropriate conversations” with both children and adults.
Father Jose Molina, a priest of the Institute of the Incarnate Word, was accused of engaging in “improper and inappropriate conversations and communications with minors and adult women,” Chicago archbishop Cardinal Blase Cupich said in a May 9 letter.
Cupich, in the letter addressed to parishioners at St. Francis of Assisi Parish on Chicagoʼs Near West Side, said he had sent Molina back to the provincial house of the Institute of the Incarnate Word and had removed Molinaʼs faculties to minister in the archdiocese.
The letter also said the archdiocese has “reported the allegations to civil authorities,” while Molinaʼs accusers were “offered the services of the archdiocese’s Office of Assistance Ministry.”
The archbishopʼs letter did not offer any further details about the allegations against Molina and indicated the investigation was ongoing.
Priest in New Mexico also removed from ministry
A priest in New Mexico was also recently removed from ministry amid allegations of the theft of diocesan records.
In a May 8 letter to parishioners at the Basilica of San Albino, Las Cruces Bishop Peter Baldacchino said Father Chris Williams had been “relieved of all his duties” in the diocese and suspended as pastor of the basilica amid a controversy involving the reported theft of tens of thousands of diocesan files.
The bishop said a civil discovery process revealed that Williams and “certain employees” of the basilica allegedly conspired to steal “over 60,000 private diocesan records,” specifically financial records. The diocese has referred the theft to law enforcement, he said.
The alleged robbery “exposed the diocese and all parishes to a significant risk of misappropriation and theft,” the bishop said.
Williams’ brother, Father Michael Williams, would serve as the temporary pastor of the basilica, Baldacchino said, noting he was unable to share further details due to the ongoing investigation.
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In every report of molestation or morally inappropriate behavior, it should be standard procedure to report which seminary formed the bishop/priest/deacon, in what year he was ordained, his religious order (if applicable) and which bishop ordained him. This will help readers assemble a picture of who facilitated the rot amongst our clergy.
The problem is that these issues of sexual abuse, which permeated the CC, may be connected to the top of the Church hierarchy. See this excellent article in CWR on Cardinal Fernandez. As a priest in his thirties in Argentina, he wrote an openly sexual, erotic book. But he was made a Cardinal and head of a very important office at the Vatican by his fellow Argentinian Pope Francis. See
https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2023/08/09/the-erotic-poems-of-archbishop-victor-manuel-fernandez-audience-context-commentary/
The Erotic Poems of Abp Fernández: Audience, Context, Commentary
While much attention has been given to Archbishop Víctor Manuel Fernández’s 1995 book Heal Me with Your Mouth: The Art of Kissing, of greater interest than his theological reflections on kissing is the future prefect’s foray, atypical for a cleric, into erotic poetry.
August 9, 2023 John Smith Analysis, Features 62
Some interesting stuff going on in New Mexico with the Neocatechumenal Way:
https://voiceofthelaity.com/
https://www.lepantoin.org/wp/the-quiet-capture-of-the-las-cruces-diocese/
The two are unrelated and should not be lumped together. This is irresponsible reporting. Crux reported on Las Cruces earlier this week and that report provided far more context.
Objectionable behavior by clerics is either immoral or illegal. Either requires a sanction. However, “inappropriate” is mealy-mouthed, limp-wristed gobbledygook.