BishopAccountability.org
	Exiled Priest Still Claims Innocence By Dianne Williamson Telegram & Gazette [Worcester MA] January 11, 2007 http://www.telegram.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070111/COLUMN01/701110695/1008/NEWSLETTERS02 It's hard to miss the Rev. James J. Aquino when he won't go away. The former pastor of Our Lady of Loreto Church, removed from active ministry and soaking up the sun in Florida, recently penned a rather poignant letter to parishioners, just as they're due to hear the results of a diocesan audit that may make them wonder whether they, too, have been soaked. "I am retired from active ministry and live the life of leisure at the Cape and in Florida," the Rev. Aquino wrote from his condo in Naples in a holiday form letter to selected parishioners. "I do miss ministry, but am learning to like the life of leisure more and more each day." I'll bet. Meanwhile, the Diocese of Worcester is putting the finishing touch on an audit of the church that will be made public to parishioners this weekend, and let's just say it raises the possibility Rev. Aquino rolled the dice with church finances as cavalierly as he jetted off to his beloved Las Vegas. "As a parishioner, I'm not pleased," said Michael Sacco, an accountant and chairman of the finance committee of Our Lady of Loreto. "I don't think anyone is going to be happy." While no one was willing to disclose many specifics about the audit, it will reportedly reflect a church saddled with debt due partly to unpaid bills and delinquent diocesan obligations that weren't addressed by the Rev. Aquino when he served as pastor of the parish on Massasoit Road until he was removed in November 2005 because of a Las Vegas indiscretion. He reportedly left the church with a debt to the diocese of more than $100,000, partly because he failed to pay obligations such as a priest retirement fee and medical insurance, and he was also lax in paying church vendors and city water and sewer bills. He also reportedly was slow in paying the $400,000 mortgage on a parish building that was erected several years ago on church property. As a result, surprised church leaders are now scrambling to repair parish finances. "We're just trying to pick up the pieces," said Mr. Sacco. "We don't really know where the funds went. Now that the diocese has done the audit, and they tell us we owe this, this and this, you start to scratch your head … If things are delinquent, why haven't they been paid? If we owed that money, why didn't anybody know about it?" Said another parishioner, "Everyone thought he was paying the bills, but apparently he wasn't." While no one is accusing Rev. Aquino of financial impropriety, many in the church also note he was secretive and vague in disclosing the profits from the Italian Festival, a popular annual event that draws big crowds, and he would offer only an oral report rather than an expected written account. The finance committee was created after a defiant Rev. Aquino left the church amid a sex scandal, when news broke he had been charged in Las Vegas with performing a public sex act in a pornographic movie theater in October 2004. A spokesman for the Las Vegas police said the priest "essentially got caught up in a raid" after he paid $8 to enter an adult store and was spotted by vice squad detectives masturbating another man. He was cited for lewd conduct but pleaded guilty to a lesser charge and was ordered to perform community service. His case was dismissed in September 2005. Bishop Robert J. McManus removed Rev. Aquino when the incident became public in fall 2005, after Rev. Aquino took to the pulpit and told a packed congregation that he was innocent of the charges and was only targeted because he was a priest. Now retired, he apparently still maintains his innocence — sort of. "To those who have refused to forgive or acknowledge the tragic mistake I made in a moment of weakness, I fully understand and once again, ask for forgiveness and reconciliation," he wrote. Then he seems to reconsider, and continued: "As you know, charges were dismissed against me and I passed a polygraph test four times attesting to the fact that I was telling the truth in proclaiming my innocence." Which is it? While he offers a typical bifurcated defense — I didn't do it, but if I did, it was a mistake — he also takes a shot at Bishop McManus: "I think he was more concerned with protecting his own image with the media and the 'kooks' of the Voice of the Faithful than he was in supporting me!" the priest wrote. This week, diocesan spokesman Raymond Delisle said Bishop McManus is in Washington and "had no desire" to respond to Rev. Aquino's remarks, but I'm betting the bishop has smoke coming out of his ears, especially considering the embarrassment Rev. Aquino has already caused the local diocese. Of the priest's letter, Mr. Delisle said, "He's obviously voicing his opinion, but I can't stand behind what he says. I don't agree with his opinion." Rev. Aquino owns a condo in Naples that he bought in 1995 for $130,000 with Monsignor Louis P. Piermarini. Its appraised value is $224,696, according to records. Rev. Aquino was initially placed on administrative leave by the bishop, but is now officially retired with no facilities for public ministry, according to Mr. Delisle. He receives $375 a week from the diocese, plus $83 a week because he lives independently. Mr. Sacco said the finance committee would deliver the bad news to parishioners over the weekend, perhaps in the church hall after each Mass. He also said he was glad the priest was recovering from a bout with cancer, but indicated the timing of his letter was rather poor. "If there is a past debt, and he's out there having a good time, good for him," he said. "Of course it bothers me, but it's time for the church to move on. We need a fresh start and a new beginning." Contact Dianne Williamson by e-mail at dwilliamson@telegram.com.
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