BUFFALO (NY)
Buffalo News
Updated: January 16, 2012
By Jay Tokasz
News Staff Reporter
The longtime pastor of a downtown Catholic church was hastily removed from his post over the weekend with little explanation from Diocese of Buffalo officials.
The Rev. Secondo Casarotto, a fixture at St. Anthony of Padua Parish for more than 25 years, was absent from Masses this weekend.
Priests serving in his place at the Masses read a statement from the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo indicating that Casarotto had been removed. No definitive reason was provided for the removal, which shocked parishioners of the small church.
The statement read: “In consultation with Bishop Kmiec and Father Matthew Didone, Provincial Superior of the Scalabrinian Fathers, Father Secondo has been placed on administrative leave of absence. Father Secondo has been called back to the Scalabrinian Provincial House for his leave. He requests your prayers and assures you of his prayers as well.”
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