An Indian priest on sabbatical in California has been sent home while his bishop investigates allegations that he sexually harassed a Catholic sister in England. The situation came to light last month, when the nun, who allegedly received inappropriate e-mails from the accused priest, called Monsignor David Sork, pastor at St John Fisher parish in Rancho Palos Verdes, asking if the accused presently was at the church, the Palos Verdes News reports.
On April 27, the sister e-mailed associate pastor Monsignor Steven Zak and copied several other staff members, detailing the allegations.
The Archdiocese of Los Angeles received the e-mail the following day.
As the accusations heightened, the priest left St John Fisher on May 5 and was sent back to India to complete an investigation into the situation.
“They’re serious enough allegations that I can’t have somebody who’s under that type of a cloud serving as a priest here … Because the allegations took place [outside] of this country, we can’t do anything in this country about it,” Sork said.
Upon having a discussion with the Pastoral Council, an announcement was made during Sunday service that the priest was recalled to India.
Sork sent out a letter dated May 10 to all 3,000 parishioners.
“All people are presumed innocent until proven guilty, so we must not prejudge him,” Sork wrote in the correspondence.
“When I talked with Fr John about this matter, he denied all these allegations.”
SIC: CTHAS