WORCESTER (MA)
Telegram & Gazette
By Kathleen A. Shaw TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF
kshaw@telegram.com
WORCESTER— The Rev. James J. Aquino, who was arrested by Las Vegas vice squad officers a year ago while allegedly performing a lewd act in an adult store, has been removed from his position as pastor of Our Lady of Loreto parish and as director of the Office of the Diaconate.
Bishop Robert J. McManus said information brought to his attention in the past week about the alleged lewd conduct by Rev. Aquino led to his action, which includes barring the reverend from publicly functioning as a priest.
“From early February until a few days ago, I believed I was in possession of the truth. A few days ago, I realized with deep regret and disappointment that I did not possess the whole truth,” the bishop said in a prepared statement announcing that the priest has been placed on administrative leave. He added that the situation has caused “grave scandal” for the church.
Eight other priests in the Diocese of Worcester have been relieved of their duties after allegations of sexual misconduct since 2002. His actions involving Rev. Aquino mark the first time Bishop McManus, who assumed the bishop’s post in 2004, has had to deal with such an issue.
“I cannot tell you how many good lay people, priests and deacons have been hurt by these events. That’s the nature of scandal in the church. From the calls and communications I have received this week, I know that many are disappointed. They’ve been taught to expect better,” the bishop said.
The recent string of events has shocked parishioners and those who know Rev. Aquino.
John Cosenza of Worcester, a 40-year parishioner of Our Lady of Loreto, said he is saddened by the situation.
“It’s unfortunate, because Father Aquino has been there for so long and has done such a great job,” he said. “He’s so well respected.”
Since the incident in Las Vegas that led to the actions against the priest, he said, the future of the parish has been unclear. He said he would just like to see the whole “mess” straightened out.
“I’ve never been through something like this,” he said. “Our prayers are with the father.”
Frank Myska of Worcester, who’s training to be a deacon, echoed Mr. Cosenza.
“My thoughts and my prayers are going out to him,” he said as he stood outside Our Lady of Loreto last night before the start of a deaconate class. “Part of our religion is that we have to learn about forgiveness.”
He said he has known Rev. Aquino for about three years. He added that his dealings with the priest have been “very professional” and that he’s learned a lot about liturgy from him.
“I wish the best for him,” Deacon Myska said. “I had a lot of respect for him.”
He paused and then added, “I still do.”
Bishop McManus said that he has known of an incident involving Rev. Aquino since last winter, when he received a call from the district attorney in Las Vegas. The bishop said indications at the time were that the charges would be reduced and possibly dismissed.
The bishop said he does not believe law enforcement officers attempt to “lure priests into traps or apply the law unequally to them.”
Rev. Aquino told parishioners last week that he had only been in the Adult Super Store — which sells sexually explicit books, magazines and videos — for a few minutes when Las Vegas police swooped in on him.
“I want you to know that I never, never engaged in any sexual activity of any kind,” the priest told parishioners on Oct. 24.
Monsignor Thomas J. Sullivan celebrated Masses at Our Lady of Loreto Oct. 22 and 23 at the bishop’s request, and advised parishioners of the allegations involving their pastor and told them of the meeting scheduled for Oct. 24 with Rev. Aquino.
By then, copies of the arrest report and court actions from the Justice Court of Las Vegas were posted on the Worcester Voice Web site.
Rev. Aquino and a Las Vegas man were detained by Las Vegas police on Oct. 21, 2004. Bishop McManus said he learned of the situation from civil and church authorities in Las Vegas. The bishop initially said he would leave Rev. Aquino in his position because the priest’s lawyer told him the charges were false and the case had been dismissed.
Daniel E. Dick, victim support coordinator for Worcester Voice of the Faithful, wrote to the bishop after he received copies of the court records and he was given a similar explanation by the bishop.
“I applaud the bishop for the action he has taken,” Mr. Dick said yesterday.
Then the arrest report and court records, which had come from Roman Catholic Faithful and Worcester Voice of the Faithful, went up on the Worcester Voice Web site last week. Worcester Voice is an independent Web site that addresses sexual abuse issues in the Worcester Diocese and is not connected to the diocese or other organizations. Mary T. Jean of Leominster, who operates the Web site, said yesterday she also was pleased with the bishop’s action.
The case was dismissed in the Justice Court in Las Vegas on Sept. 6, after Rev. Aquino pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct at the adult store, did 50 hours of community service, underwent counseling and agreed to stay out of trouble for a year.
He initially was issued a criminal citation for lewd conduct and giving false information to police. According to the arrest report, Rev. Aquino said he did not have an ID on him and gave a Social Security number that proved to be incorrect. Under further questioning by police, he pulled out a Massachusetts driver’s license from his shoe. The photograph showed him wearing clerical garb. He told police that he did not give correct information because he is a priest.
Police officers said they saw Rev. Aquino in the Adult Super Store in full public view masturbating another man for about 30 minutes, police said. That man was also detained and cited.
No Saturday Masses were held throughout the diocese over the weekend because of the Eucharistic Congress at the DCU Center, but the bishop said yesterday that he attended all Sunday Masses at Our Lady of Loreto as celebrant and homilist to explain that he was placing Rev. Aquino on leave. He remained at the church to talk to people and answer questions, according to Raymond L. Delisle, diocesan spokesman.
The bishop yesterday detailed the events of the past year, noting that the Las Vegas incident happened five months before it was brought to his attention. The legal process was under way when he learned of the charges, the bishop said. He was told it involved a reduction of charges and a possibility the charges would be dismissed.
“These facts gave rise to questions about whether misunderstanding had been involved in the initial detainment,” he said.
Bishop McManus said that until recently, he thought his decision to leave Rev. Aquino in his parish was appropriate, based on the legal facts of the case as they were presented to him at that time. “But that has now changed,” the bishop told parishioners on Sunday.
While the canonical process is ongoing, the bishop told parishioners that Rev. Aquino could no longer serve as pastor of the parish. He said Rev. Aquino was aware of the bishop’s action, and knows that he is unable to function publicly as a priest.
The bishop said a “canonical investigation” will be held on this issue. The Roman Catholic Church is internally governed by a body of law called canon law and the church has its own judicial system. The workings of the judicial system are not public.
The Rev. Rocco Piccolomini, Vicar for Priests and secretary to the bishop, is temporary administrator of the parish. Bishop McManus has not yet named a new director for the diaconate program. The training center for education of new deacons is at Our Lady of Loreto, 37 Massasoit Road.
Rev. Aquino, a Worcester native, graduated from Sacred Heart Academy in 1956 and from St. Michael’s College, Winooski, Vt., in 1960. He prepared for the priesthood at St. Bernard’s Seminary, Rochester, N.Y.
He earned a doctoral degree in education from Boston College in 1979. He formerly taught at Marian High School, Sacred Heart Academy, St. Stephen’s High School in Worcester and at St. Mary’s Central Catholic High School, Milford.
He also served at St. Anne’s parish, Shrewsbury, St. Mary of the Assumption, Milford. He served as diocesan school superintendent from 1980 to 1986 when he resigned to serve as full-time pastor at Our Lady of Loreto. Rev. Aquino, 66, was ordained here in 1965.
Taryn Plumb of the Telegram & Gazette staff contributed to this report.