LAREDO (TX)
Laredo Morning Times [Laredo TX]
October 17, 2024
By Maria Ruiz
The Office of the Bishop Diocese of Laredo announced the official dismissal of Rev. Michael (Juan Antonio) De Leon, pastor of Divine Mercy Catholic Church, after the Vatican rejected his appeal in June.
On June 30, 2023, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith dismissed De Leon from the clerical state for reasons unstated, with him unable to perform mass in public.
The Vatican rejected De Leon’s recourse a year later, stripping his title as a priest. Bishop James A. Tamayo received news of this on Oct. 6, 2024.
“He can no longer present himself as a priest or celebrate the sacraments,” Tamayo said in an official statement.
During the process of his appeal undergoing review with the Vatican, the Diocese provided his full salary, health insurance and housing, benefits he now loses after leaving the priesthood. De Leon will continue to acquire benefits for the next six months to ensure assistance in his transitional period.
The Diocese said De Leon’s cause for dismissal “cannot be discussed publicly out of respect for Michael De Leon’s right to privacy and good reputation.”
The Bishop asks that the community keep De Leon in their prayers.