2 More Priests Found Unsuitable for Ministry

NBC 10
May 20, 2012

http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/2-Priests-Removed-From-Ministry-152212625.html

[with video]

The Philadelphia Archdiocese has found two new priests to be unsuitable for ministry due to sexual abuse.

In statements released Sunday afternoon, Archbishop Charles J. Chaput acknowledged that Monsignor George J. Mazzotta and retired Monsignor Hugh P. Campbell had "been found unsuitable for ministry."

Mazzotta, 73, had not been permitted to wear clerical garb, perform his ministry, or present himself as a priest since May 2010, when the Archdiocese first received an allegation of sexual abuse of a minor. According to the Archdiocesan statement, the allegation has since been "substantiated," and cited as the reason for the Church's action.

Mazzotta, who was ordained in 1966, had served at the following parishes and schools, according to the Archdiocese: Saint Joseph, Downingtown (1966-1971); Epiphany of Our Lord, Philadelphia and Saint Maria Goretti High School (1971-1976); Saint Gabriel, Philadelphia (1976-1978); Saint Clement, Philadelphia (1978-1980); Saint Eugene, Primos (1980-1985); Saint Paul, Norristown (1985-1988); Saints Cosmas and Damian, Conshohocken (June 1988 - November 1988); Saint Robert Bellarmine, Warrington (1988-1990); Mother of Divine Grace, Philadelphia (1990-1997); Saint Madeline, Ridley Park (1997-2008); Stella Maris, Philadelphia (2008-2010).

Campbell, 77, was ordained in 1961 and retired in 2007. He reportedly confessed to the sexual abuse in December 2011, in response to which, the Archdiocese placed him on administrative leave. Like Mazzotta, Campbell was not permitted to practice his ministry, wear clerical garb, or present himself as a priest.

Campbell had served at the following parishes and schools, according to the Archdiocese: Nativity B.V.M., Media (1961-1966); Saint Agnes, West Chester (1966-1968); Newman Chaplain at West Chester University (1968-1986); Newman Chaplain at Chester County Hospital School of Nursing (1968-1986); Newman Chaplain at Cheyney University (1971-1986); Saint Maximilian Kolbe, West Chester (1986-2007).

The statements specified that neither Mazzotta nor Campbell were one of the eight suspended priests whose case resolutions were announced by Archbishop Chaput earlier this month.

The statements added that both men had accepted "supervised life of prayer and penance."