SACRAMENTO (CA)
News 10
The discovery that two Catholic priests accused of child molestation in Sacramento are now serving in churches in Mexico has one of the victims outraged and calling for justice.
Salvador Perez is publicly coming forward for the first time. As an eight-year-old in St. Joseph's Church he was molested by Father Jose Luis Urbina, his parish priest (shown at center in the above photo from the Dallas Morning News). Urbina was convicted in Yuba County in 1989, but fled to Mexico. This month, a Dallas newspaper found him serving a parish in Novajoa, Mexico.
Perez wants more done to prevent priests involved in child molestation from fleeing prosecution. "It's infuriating to know he's still getting employment," he said. "He's still a priest."
The Sacramento Diocese said it sent letters to the bishop in Mexico about Urbina but received no response. Former Sacramento Bishop John Quinn even went to Mexico seeking Urbina, but was unable to find him.
Now there is word another priest from St. Joseph's, Father Gerardo Beltran, is also serving in Mexico after being accused of molestation. Beltran left town when an arrest warrant was issued for him on charges he allegedly molested two girls in the Sacramento parish.
Posted by kshaw at March 26, 2005 03:42 AM