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	Corona Cleric on Leave after Sexual Incident By Jenny Cardenas Press Enterprise January 6, 1994 Father Anthony Garduno, an associate pastor at St. Edwards Catholic Church in Corona for the last year, agreed over the weekend to go on administrative leave after acknowledging that he had had sexual contact with an adult, according to a spokesman for the Catholic Diocese of San Bernardino. Catholic priests are forbidden by church doctrine from having sexual contact of any kind. Garduno, 35, is the fifth area Catholic priest to be placed on administrative leave in the last 16 months after allegations of sexual misconduct. The four others were accused of having sexual contact with minors. Diocese spokesman the Rev. Howard Lincoln said that Garduno acknowledged being involved in sexual activity while he was performing his duties as a priest in Corona in the past year. Lincoln declined to identify the adult involved. He said the diocese has offered assistance to the person. St. Edwards', the diocese's largest parish, was left with two priests, two fewer than usual, Lincoln said. Pastor Bob Buchanan left the parish last week on sabbatical. Buchanan had announced in the fall that he was leaving the parish. The diocese will send priests from other parts of the region to say Masses at St. Edwards, Lincoln said. The parish has 11 masses on Sunday. Garduno's departure was a sad event for parishioners, said Virginia Coriddi, a long-time St. Edwards parishioner and a volunteer at the downtown Corona church. "He was a real caring priest and a lot of people wanted to see him be the pastor," she said. Coriddi said she is among a growing number of Catholics who want the Vatican to allow priests to marry. When Buchanan announced that he was leaving the church, he said he was frustrated because the church will not open discussions on the issue. Coriddi said a pastor is to be named in July. Until then, Sister Marie O'Connor is in charge of the parish, Lincoln said. Another parishioner, Rosa Martinez of Home Gardens, said Garduno was well liked in her community as well. "He is very loved and respected as a priest and a teacher," she said. Garduno's fate is not clear yet, Lincoln said. The diocese has taken away Garduno's duties as a priest, but continues to pay him his approximately $ 540 monthly salary and is giving him room and board, the spokesman said. Diocese officials will determine what help Garduno needs and whether he can ever go back to his duties as a priest, Lincoln said. Lincoln said there is no explanation for the rash of priest resignations following allegations of sexual activity in the last 16 months. He said the diocese has promised parishioners that it will notify them whenever such an allegation is made. The diocese is doing that, he said. Bishop Phillip F. Straling, who has served as bishop for the Diocese of San Bernardino for 15 years, could not be reached for comment yesterday. He was at a retreat, Lincoln said. Troubled diocese Five priests have either resigned or left the church in the Catholic Diocese of San Bernardino under allegations of sexual misconduct over the last 16 months. Here is a chronology of those incidents: o September 1992: The Rev. Edward Ball of Our Lady of Fatima Church in San Bernardino left the church after he was charged with lewd acts involving children. He pleaded guilty to two felony counts of lewd conduct with altar boys and no contest to a third lewd conduct charge. He was sentenced to 270 days in jail and five years' probation. o February 1993: The Rev. James Stauber resigned from his post at St. John's Catholic Church in Rubidoux after he was put on administrative leave. Stauber resigned without admitting any wrongdoing after he was accused of having had sex with a minor when he was a priest in another state. He joined the local diocese about 12 years ago. o February 1993: The Rev. Paul Nguyen left his post as pastor of St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church in Riverside after he was accused of sexual misconduct with a minor. He is believed to be in Oslo, Norway o April 1993: The Rev. Rudi Gil resigned from St. Frances of Rome Catholic Church in Lake Elsinore and was placed on administrative leave by the diocese after an allegation was made that he was involved in sexual misconduct with a minor six years before. o Jan. 2, 1994: Corona's St. Edward's Catholic Church parishioners were told during Sunday Masses that Father Anthony Garduno had agreed to be put on administrative leave and that he had admitted having sexual contact with an adult.
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