By Jim Cross
KTAR
April 2, 2008
http://ktar.com/?nid=6&sid=794117
Former Catholic priest Donald McGuire pictured at left.
PHOENIX - A former Jesuit priest already convicted in Wisconsin of molesting two boys and facing additional charges in Chicago has been indicted in Arizona for child molestation.
The Maricopa County Attorney's Office in Phoenix announced the indictments against the Rev. Donald McGuire Wednesday. He was charged with three counts of child molestation, one count of providing obscene material to minors and one count of indecent exposure.
 |
McGuire lives in the Chicago suburb of Oak Lawn. Arizona authorities working with federal officials took him into custody Tuesday at his home, but he complained of chest pains and is currently hospitalized pending an extradition hearing.
The 77-year-old suffers from congestive heart failure.
McGuire's Chicago attorney, Stephen Komie, said authorities normally would have contacted a defendant's lawyer and arranged a surrender. He criticized Arizona authorities for actions he said may have led to McGuire's hospitalization.
"It seems like they were looking for a media event and instead got mud in their face," Komie said.
McGuire is accused of molesting two brothers in Arizona between 1998 and 2002. Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas said at a press briefing that the boys were 9- and 12 years old when the abuse began.
The boys' father, who does not want to be identified, said it's the ultimate betrayal. "Beyond anything, I've experienced death in my family and as hard as that is to take, this is worse than the feeling of death, the grief that goes with it," he said.
He said he met the former priest 25 years ago on a spiritual pilgrimage to Europe.
"He stayed in our home. We've had meals with him. He was a part of the family. You'd never suspect it with him because he seemed so orthodox and so family-oriented and was such a spiritual help as we perceived at the time," he said.
He said his now-grown boys will never be the same.
"They are jaded in a sense, I think looking at the Roman collar has a sickening feeling that they go through," he said.
The brothers filed a civil lawsuit in Chicago in October alleging McGuire molested them during confession in Arizona and in Chicago. A spokesman for Thomas said the boys' family brought the allegations to their attention at about the same time and a criminal investigation was launched.
McGuire was convicted in 2006 in Wisconsin of molesting two boys in the 1960s. He was sentenced to seven years in prison and 20 years of probation, but a judge has allowed him to remain free and on probation as he appeals his conviction, according to his lawyer in Milwaukee, Robert Henek.
He faces federal charges in Chicago of traveling outside the U.S. and across state lines to engage in sex with a teenage boy between 2000 and 2003.
"Even though some time has passed since these acts allegedly took place, our office can and must seek justice for the victims here in Arizona," Thomas said.
Komie said his client, a sickly man already facing state prison and a federal charge, will be a huge financial burden on Arizona taxpayers if prosecutors proceed.
"You'll have to account for him flying back and forth for federal and state cases, plus you'll have to pay for his medical care, where as now it's being paid for as a part of his employment," Komie said.
A statement issued by the group Survivors Network of those Abused By Priests praised Thomas for bringing charges.
"We are grateful to the Maricopa County Prosecutor for pursuing this dangerous predator," the statement said. "Only two percent of the credibly accused predator priests have ever served any jail sentence. We are grateful for his courage and professionalism in pursuing Father Donald McGuire."
McGuire was relieved of active priestly duties in June 2003, and was formally dismissed as a priest by Pope Benedict XVI earlier this year, according to the Chicago Province Jesuits.
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.