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	Denver Archdiocese Dismisses Priest from High-Ranking Post By Kris Newcomer Rocky Mountain News (Denver, CO) November 22, 1994 The priest in charge of Hispanic affairs for the Catholic Church has been stripped of his authority to work as a priest in much of Colorado. At a time when the Catholic Church has placed a high priority on keeping Hispanics within its folds, the Rev. Lorenzo Ruiz was dismissed earlier this month for "just cause." The Franciscan priest could not be reached for comment Monday. Officials were not discussing Monday night what that meant. Francis X. Maier, secretary to Archbishop J. Francis Stafford, said only that "there was just cause." Asked to elaborate, he said, "It is not appropriate to comment." Ruiz's position, considered one of utmost importance by church officials, was assumed by the Rev. Raymond Jones, vicor general and moderator of the curia - the highest ranking official in the archdiocese under Stafford. Maier said the search was underway for a replacement for Ruiz, whose termination was made public Monday in the Denver Catholic Register. Stripping the priest of his faculties is a harsh move that suggests he was accused of violating church law. It will prevent Ruiz from practicing as a priest within the Archdiocese of Denver, which includes Denver and northern Colorado. Ruiz came to Denver from the Holy Family Church in Albuquerque in 1987 to take charge of Hispanic affairs for the Denver archdiocese.
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