ROCHESTER (NY)
Democrat & Chronicle
Gary Craig
Staff writer
(March 12, 2005) — The Catholic Diocese of Rochester did not know that the Rev. Michael Volino, accused this week of possession of child pornography, was undergoing counseling to treat a possible fixation with sexual images of youngsters, according to a diocesan spokesman.
"We had no knowledge that Father Volino was, as the FBI complaint alleges, having conversations with a private counselor about a 'desire to view sexually explicit pictures,'" said diocesan spokesman Doug Mandelaro.
Volino, 41, has been a priest at St. John the Evangelist Church of Greece, 2400 W. Ridge Road, since 2002.
Federal authorities Thursday charged Volino with receiving and possessing child pornography. In an affidavit, FBI special agent Michael Preisser said Volino admitted that "he had sexual issues for which he was seeking professional help."
Volino had been undergoing counseling for three years and said he "had told his counselor about his desire to view sexually explicit pictures of boys younger than 18 years old," the FBI affidavit alleges.
Posted by kshaw at March 14, 2005 06:12 PM