PoughkeepsieJournal.com
Sep. 30, 2013 6:11 AM |
Written by Associated Press
CROTON-ON-HUDSON, Westchester County — The state’s Archbishop has permanently removed from ministry the deacon of a suburban New York parish following sexual abuse allegations.
Cardinal Timothy Dolan said in a letter read Sunday in the Holy Name of Mary Parish in Croton-on-Hudson, that Deacon Albert Mazza was removed after law enforcement referred allegations he’d abused minors years ago. Mazza has served as permanent deacon since 1996.
Dolan described the allegations as substantiated and credible.
He said the Westchester County district attorney’s office referred the claims to the archdiocese several months ago but criminal charges were precluded by state law. A spokesman for the district attorney’s office said the statute of limitations had run out.
Mazza was on administrative duty since the allegations surfaced.
A number registered to Mazza was disconnected Sunday.
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Deacon At Westchester Church Removed Amid Sex Abuse Claims
2 Priests At Parish Already Have Been Defrocked For Sex Abuse Allegations
CBS New York
September 29, 2013 5:11 PM
CROTON-ON-HUDSON, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) — The deacon of the Holy Name of Mary Parish in Westchester County has been removed from ministry amid allegations of sexual abuse several years ago.
Timothy Cardinal Dolan announced Sunday that he has issued a letter to parishioners of the church, in Croton-on-Hudson, informing them of the dismissal of Deacon Albert Mazza. The Rev. Edward Weber, direct of priest personnel for the New York Archdiocese, read the letter at Sunday masses.
Mazza’s dismissal comes after two other pastors at Holy Name of Mary Parish were also dismissed from the priesthood for sexual abuse allegations.
In the letter, Dolan noted that the Westchester County District Attorney’s office had notified the Archdiocese of the allegations against Mazza, and the deacon was immediately put on leave for an investigation. Last week, the archdiocesan review board recommended that Mazza be removed from the ministry permanently.
“As you know, the Church learned a painful lesson in not communicating the abuse of minors to the faithful as soon as it became aware of it,” Dolan wrote. “Now, the Church leads the way with action and transparency, with this sad situation here at this parish serving as an example.”
The letter did not specify exactly what Mazza was accused of doing, exactly when the alleged abuse happened “beyond many years ago,” or any information about the victims other than “minors.”
Mazza has served as a permanent deacon at Holy Name of Mary Parish since 1996.
Previously, the Rev. Kenneth Jesselli was removed from the parish and priesthood in 2002 amid child sex abuse allegations in 2002, according to the Hudson Valley Reporter. His immediate predecessor, the Rev. Gennaro “Father Jerry” Gentile, was removed for the same reason, the newspaper reported.
The letter advised anyone who has anything to report about Mazza and his conduct contact a victims’ assistance coordinator – Sister Eileen Clifford O.P. at (212) 371-1000 ext. 2949, or Deacon George J. Coppola at (917) 861-1762.
This one the church might not of known of. What about the ones they do. It’s about time they cleaned house and end this dance. All this secrecy isn’t working and is having a plague like effect at least in North America the UK and Australia. Some of the other Spanish speaking country victims are just starting to come forward. If what Cardinal Dolan says is really true and that the church wants to lead the way, then do it. All they have to do is ask for Pope Benedict, he has the file. This is the age of global communication. We may not know the names, of the pedophile priests, bishops, cardinals, but we know you know. Buy an island, build a monastery and send them there after their sentence is finished. there they can live in prayer for their remaining days, and there they’ll be safe and so will the children.