Bishop: Nw Pa. Priest Convicted of Felony in Teen Relationship Won't Return to Ministry

The Republic
January 20, 2012

http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/6180bc21ea8f492e9da17c5773ee21de/PA--Priest-Teen-Relationship/

A bishop says a suspended Catholic priest convicted of a felony for his inappropriate relationship with a 15-year-old boy will not return to active ministry.

Trie Bishop Donald Trautman tells the Bradford Era (http://bit.ly/A7ATW3 ) that the Rev. Samuel Slocum's conviction on Wednesday in McKean County is a "tragedy for everyone concerned.

Erie Bishop Donald Trautman tells the Bradford Era that the Rev.

Jurors convicted the 60-year-old priest of concealment of the whereabouts of a child. Prosecutors say Slocum continued to contact the boy and urge him to lie about their relationship to his mother even after she told the priest to stop contacting her son. Slocum was not charged with sex crimes, though prosecutors contend some of the priest's messages to the boy were flirtatious.

Slocum's attorney argued the priest exercised bad judgment, but didn't commit any crime and has declined comment on the verdict or a possible appeal.