BishopAccountability.org
	Retired Priest's Conduct Remains under Scrutiny Deacon: Mutsko Was Good Preacher By Joe Vanhoose Star-Banner November 10, 2007 http://www.ocala.com/article/20071110/NEWS/211100346/1001/NEWS01 OCALA - The Rev. Frank Mutsko didn't give much warning when he retired from the priesthood last month. Parishoners at St. Timothy Catholic Community in The Villages, where he was based, were caught by surprise. "I want to thank all of you who have been so kind, courteous and generous with me over the last three years," Mutsko wrote in the Oct. 28 church bulletin. "It is with sadness in my heart to say 'goodbye' to all of you." Mutsko said heart problems forced him to retire. But an Orlando family still maintains that he is running from the pulpit. Mutsko received cash, a car and two homes from Delores Raucina, an elderly woman who attended the Orlando church where Mutsko was based before coming to St. Timothy's. The combined value of the gifts exceeded $500,000. Raucina died earlier this year in Racine, Wis. She was 90. Her sister and niece say Mutsko took advantage of her. Since the story came to light, Mutsko's conduct has been a subject of discussion on Internet sites and elsewhere. But Mary Jo Iozzio, a professor of moral theology at Barry University, a Catholic school in Miami Shores, said it's not uncommon or wrong for diocesan priests to accept gifts - even larger ones. "The general rule is that diocesan priests don't earn a large stipend. They have to take care of their own retirement," Iozzio said. "It's not outside the bounds for him to do this, as long as there's no wrongdoing." No criminal charges have been filed and the Diocese of Orlando's primary action was to ask Mutsko to "prayerfully consider" returning the money. But Raucina's family still maintains that there was wrongdoing. The woman's niece, Pat Perfito of Orlando, said that Mutsko preyed on Raucina, who she said was often disoriented and confused. Perfito was Raucina's caretaker when she moved from Wisconsin to Orlando in 1999. Perfito said Mutsko immediately took a liking to the elderly woman. "The first time they met, he put his arm around her and asked for her Lexus," Perfito said. "He just turned into Mr. Hyde." Perfito blames Mutsko for alienating Raucina from her family. When Raucina moved back to Racine, she made Mutsko the benefactor of her will. When she died in May, Mutsko got her house and $100,000. "He basically manipulated her," Perfito said. "He turned her against me and her family, got her out of Florida, and now he's laughing all the way to the bank." Mutsko has hired an Orlando lawyer, Robert Buonauro. Neither Mutsko nor Buonauro could be reached for comment. At St. Timothy, Deacon Nick Deutsch said parishioners had tears in their eyes when Mutsko announced that a Mass he was saying would be his last. He said Mutsko always had a warm but secretive way about himself. "He would never talk about himself or his past," Deutsch said. "But I could listen to him and his homilies for hours. "He was one of the finest preachers we've had here." Joe VanHoose may be reached at joe.vanhoose@starbanner.com or 352-732-0742.
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.