June 11, 2005

New era for troubled church

ALBUQUERQUE (NM)
Albuquerque Tribune

By Joline Gutierrez Krueger
Tribune Reporter
June 11, 2005

Our Lady of Annunciation Church was to welcome a new pastor Saturday, but it likely won't put to rest the scandal that still smolders with the removal of its last one.

The Rev. Bennett Voorhies, a former chancellor of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe, will be installed as pastor this evening during a Mass celebrated by Archbishop Michael Sheehan.

The Roman Catholic church and school at 2621 Vermont St. N.E. has been without a leader since late March when Sheehan placed its longtime pastor on paid administrative leave pending an investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct that occurred 30 years ago.

The Tribune is not naming the priest, because he has not been charged with a crime.

The priest, who turns 72 Sunday, is accused of making a male teen rape victim disrobe in front of a mirror to re-enact the rape and then engaged the teen in sexual contact.

Posted by kshaw at June 11, 2005 12:28 PM