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BRENT CHAMPACO; The News Tribune
June 2nd, 2005
A Gig Harbor Catholic priest whose monthlong absence puzzled his parish was asked to leave for misusing the Internet.
But the Archdiocese of Seattle stressed that Rev. Reynaldo Bocateja, priest at St. Nicholas Catholic Church since July 2004, hasn’t been accused of sexual abuse or misconduct with minors or anything else illegal.
“However, a recent assessment of his use of the Internet calls into question his ability to minister in the Archdiocese with trust and authority,” according to a letter written by Seattle Archbishop Alex Brunett.
A visiting priest read the letter to parishioners Sunday, and it was mailed to them.
The archdiocese’s decision was based on Bocateja’s inappropriate use of a church computer, Seattle Archdiocese spokesman Greg Magnoni said Wednesday.
Details about Bocateja’s actions won’t be disclosed because it’s a personnel matter and no law was broken, Magnoni said.
Bocateja, a member of the priesthood some 20 years, has returned to his home diocese in the Philippines, Brunett wrote.
St. Nicholas, established in 1931, has been without a permanent priest since late April. Since then, visiting priests have celebrated Mass for the parish’s 1,200 families.
“We have had a number of priests from the archdiocese coming down to say Mass on the weekends,” said John Ricciardi, a church deacon. He will take Bocateja’s place this weekend during Gig Harbor’s annual Blessing of the Fleet ceremony…
Full article
June 2nd, 2005
A Gig Harbor Catholic priest whose monthlong absence puzzled his parish was asked to leave for misusing the Internet.
But the Archdiocese of Seattle stressed that Rev. Reynaldo Bocateja, priest at St. Nicholas Catholic Church since July 2004, hasn’t been accused of sexual abuse or misconduct with minors or anything else illegal.
“However, a recent assessment of his use of the Internet calls into question his ability to minister in the Archdiocese with trust and authority,” according to a letter written by Seattle Archbishop Alex Brunett.
A visiting priest read the letter to parishioners Sunday, and it was mailed to them.
The archdiocese’s decision was based on Bocateja’s inappropriate use of a church computer, Seattle Archdiocese spokesman Greg Magnoni said Wednesday.
Details about Bocateja’s actions won’t be disclosed because it’s a personnel matter and no law was broken, Magnoni said.
Bocateja, a member of the priesthood some 20 years, has returned to his home diocese in the Philippines, Brunett wrote.
St. Nicholas, established in 1931, has been without a permanent priest since late April. Since then, visiting priests have celebrated Mass for the parish’s 1,200 families.
“We have had a number of priests from the archdiocese coming down to say Mass on the weekends,” said John Ricciardi, a church deacon. He will take Bocateja’s place this weekend during Gig Harbor’s annual Blessing of the Fleet ceremony…
Full article