New York City, N.Y., Jul 5, 2019 / 21:52 pm
A New York priest who told a prospective seminarian to lie to Church officials about his sexuality has been indefinitely suspended from ministry after a canonical penal process found him guilty of serial sexual misconduct.
"I write to share some unpleasant and somber news concerning Father John Duffell, your just retired parish administrator," Cardinal Timothy Dolan wrote in a July 1 letter to parishioners of New York's Blessed Sacrament Parish.
"Father Duffell has been directed not to publicly exercise his priestly ministry due to an allegation from the past that he abused his position of authority in a violation of his promise of celibacy."
"The allegation was made first to the District Attorney, and then brought to our attention. This allegation involves an adult; it does not involve a minor. It is important that the archdiocese take such allegations seriously," Dolan wrote.