Former Santa Fe Archbishop Robert Sanchez,77, Dies

KOB
January 20, 2012

http://www.kob.com/article/stories/S2461595.shtml?cat=516

Robert Sanchez

The Archdiocese of Santa Fe is confirming the death of former Archbishop of Santa Fe Robert Sanchez, who served the diocese for 19 years until resigning in 1993.

He was 77.

In a statement, the archdiocese did not mention a cause of death, but said Sanchez had been ill.

Sanchez grew up in Socorro and studied for the priesthood in Santa Fe and Rome before being ordained in 1959.

He was assistant pastor at Our Lady of the Annunciation Parish in Albuquerque and held many positions at St. Pius X High School.

In 1968, he was appointed Pastor of San Felipe de Neri Parish in Albuquerque.

In 1974, Pope John Paul VI appointed him the 10th Archbishop of Santa Fe.

Sanchez was credited with increasing outreach to Native Americans, including establishing the first-ever Office for Native American Ministry.

Popular and well-spoken, he was widely beloved by New Mexico Catholics.

However, in 1993, it was revealed that Sanchez covered up significant child sexual abuse by priests in New Mexico. It was also revealed that Sanchez had taken sexual advantage of at least three women when they were teenagers.

In a deposed statement taken in 1994, Sanchez admitted that he had sexual contact with girls for at least 18 years.

He also said in a deposition that he "did not understand" the sexual molestation of a child to be a crime and admitted that he did not report allegations against priests to the authorities.

After resigning in 1993, Sanchez left New Mexico and lived in elsewhere, including in Minnesota.

In a statement from the Archdiocese, current Archibishop Michael Sheehan said of Sanchez's death:

"Archbishop Sanchez was much loved as a native son by the people of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe. He was respected by his brother Bishops and looked up to by his priests. We continue to acknowledge the good he did during his Episcopacy, are well aware of his human failings, and mourn his death today."