SACRAMENTO (CA)
Sacramento Bee
By Jennifer Garza -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 8:10 pm PDT Monday, May 8, 2006
The Catholic Diocese of Sacramento has suspended the pastor of St. Philomene's Parish, citing allegations of sexual misconduct with a minor more than 20 years ago.
The Rev. Rodolfo Delgado, 54, who has served at the church for two years, was placed on administrative leave effective Saturday.
"Preliminary indications are that there is a sufficient semblance of truth to warrant further investigation," said a statement by the Rev. David Deibel, the diocese's vicar episcopal for canonical affairs. The announcement was read to parishioners at Mass last weekend.
Delgado is the third priest in the Sacramento diocese to be suspended while serving in active ministry.
Delgado's alleged victim is a 38-year-old professional male now living in Oregon who does not want to be publicly identified, said his attorney Joseph George of Sacramento.
The alleged victim claims he met Delgado as a 15-year-old boy in 1983 soon after the priest befriended his family. The alleged sexual misconduct occurred at St. Joseph's Parish in Rio Vista and at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament in Sacramento, said George. It lasted two years.