Mexican bishop announces laicization of priest accused of sexual abuse of minors
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Mexico City, Mexico, Jul 31, 2009 / 06:28 pm (CNA).- Bishop Rodrigo Aguilar Martinez of Tehuacan announced this week the Holy See has approved the removal of “Nicolas Aguilar Rivera from the clerical state,” a priest who has been accused of the sexual abuse of minors in Mexico and the United States.
 
Bishop Aguilar explained that the decision by the Pope, which was made public by the prefect for the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Cardinal William Levada, is final and cannot be appealed.  He said all the priests of the Diocese of Tehuacan have been informed of the decision.
 
While he expressed sadness over the case, Bishop Aguilar also noted that there are “many priests who have given and are giving honest and spiritual testimony to their priestly ministry, and this gives us comfort, peace and joy.”
 
Armando Martinez Gomez, president of the College of Catholic Lawyers, said in an interview that Cardinal Norberto Rivera is innocent of charges that he covered up the priest’s abuse. “He has zero tolerance for these types of situations.  His conscience is clear and he has said that if Aguilar Rivera has any debt to justice then he should turn himself in.”

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Subscriber comments:
Published by: dAVID LARSEN
scituate Mass 08/03/2009 01:06 AM EST
Sex is a blessing or a curse. In the context of a Holy Sacramental,Catholic Marriage between a Man and a Woman it is a Holy Vocation,a blessing. Sex under any other set of circumstances is a curse. I am writing this as a Catholic,with a Catholic understanding of the meaning of sex. A Priest should know what this means,in the context of the teachings of the Catholic Church. A non Catholic won't understand this,nor can any lifestyle type person.
I am very afraid of how God will judge anyone guilty of sexually abusing a child who is a Catholic and especially a Priest. I know that God is merciful and that His Mercy is greater than all the sins of the whole world. I think it putting God to an extreme test when sexually abusing a child. It is the greatest sin,to put God to the test and thus challenge His Holy Will and His Mercy.
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Published by: Sister Maureen Paul Turlish
New Castle, Delaware USA 08/02/2009 09:31 AM EST
Does anyone else think that there should be an investigation of the hierarchs on both sides of the border and especially of Cardinal Roger Mahony, concerning Aguilar Rivera?

All church officials who knowingly transferred Rivera from place to place, country to country in gross violation of Canon Law as well as Civil Law should be held accountable and of course removed from any church offices. Their actions lead directly to unknown numbers of children being sexuall abused by Rivera.

Sister Maureen Paul Turlish
Victims' Advocate
New Castle, Delaware USA
maureenpaulturlish@yahoo.com
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Published by: C. M. Henry
Havertown, PA., Philly Archdiocese 07/31/2009 09:09 PM EST
And why, pray tell, are not individual members of the church hierarchy who aided and abetted Rivera in his crimes not being held accountable?

It is usually called conspiracy (a la Mafia), collusion and covering up for sexual predators.

RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT AND DEPRAVED INDIFFERENCE ARE CRIMES THAT COME TO MIND.

Mahony and some of his co-conspirators belong in jail.

Why isn't the Holy See initiating an investigation of the actions of bishops, past and present, in the United States, Mexico, Canada, Australia, Ireland, Kenya, Nigeria etc., etc. for all the sexual abuse going on instead of blowing smoke with their INQUISITION of the hard working women religious in the U.S.
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