March 21, 2005

Priest on Leave Pending Sexual Abuse Allegations

ALBUQUERQUE (NM)
Albuquerque Journal

The Associated Press
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Santa Fe is investigating a sexual abuse allegation against an Albuquerque priest, and has placed him on paid leave.
The Rev. Ronald Bruckner, pastor of Our Lady of the Annunciation in Albuquerque, will remain on leave "until the situation is resolved'' and will not exercise any public ministry in the meantime, the archdiocese said in a news release.
The Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests, or SNAP, asked the archdiocese earlier this month to suspend the priest pending an investigation.
"This decision definitely makes kids safer but is long, long overdue,'' SNAP's national director, David Clohessy of St. Louis, said in a telephone call Monday.
The archdiocese, which covers the central part of the state, said Monday it was following its policy on sexual abuse in placing Bruckner on leave.

Posted by kshaw at March 21, 2005 08:07 PM