SPRINGFIELD (MA)
Republical
Saturday, October 15, 2005
By BILL ZAJAC
wzajac@repub.com
SPRINGFIELD - A Springfield priest is leaving the priesthood at least temporarily after struggling for years to deal with alleged sexual assaults occurring when he was a college student by a priest who was supposed to help him cope with his father's death.
The Rev. Paul E. Manship, 45-year-old director of Latino ministry in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield, will begin a year's leave of absence at the end of this month.
"I can't say I won't return to the priesthood. My intention is to look at the new possibilities in my life. I remain open to all possibilities," Manship said.
He said he has no specific plans. He will be living in Holyoke.
Manship will be replaced by Andres Lopez, a layman from Holyoke who has been associated with the Latino ministry for 30 years in the diocese, the diocese announced yesterday. Lopez is certified in pastoral ministry by the Northeast Hispanic Catholic Center in collaboration with Catholic University of America.