CALIFORNIA
The Press-Enterprise
12:15 AM PST on Sunday, February 6, 2005
By MICHAEL FISHER and MELISSA EISELEIN / The Press-Enterprise
Just days after prosecutors filed a record 58 sexual-abuse charges against a defrocked Inland priest, the diocese's leader urged any molestation victims to come forward at four area churches where Jesús Armando Dominguez once worked.
A letter issued by Bishop Gerald R. Barnes was read Saturday evening at English- and Spanish-language Masses at Our Lady of Soledad Church in Coachella, St. James Church in Perris, St. Edward Church in Corona and Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Chino -- all parishes where Dominguez worked during his 15 years in the diocese.
The letter, which will be read again today at all Masses celebrated at the four churches, states that the San Bernardino Diocese is being sued over sexual-abuse accusations against Dominguez, also known as Father Jesse.
But the letter made no mention of the criminal charges filed last week against Dominguez, accused of molesting two teenage boys in 1988 and 1989 at Our Lady of Soledad and at St. James.
"Bishop Gerald Barnes asked us to encourage anyone who may have been victimized or knows anyone who claims to be a victim of Jesse Dominguez or any other church personnel to please come forward by contacting civil authorities, the diocesan hotline or by using the reporting form available in the back of the church," said Father Arturo-Guadalupe Chávez as he read the letter at St. James Church.
Posted by kshaw at February 6, 2005 05:14 AM