Fr. Aquino placed on administrative leave

This report is taken from Worcester Voice:

Monday October 31, 2005


Fr. James Aquino placed on administrative leave by Worcester Bishop Robert McManus.

Fr. James Aquino pastor of Our Lady of Loreto Parish and Director of the Permanent Diaconate Program has been placed on administrative leave effective this past weekend by Worcester Bishop Robert McManus.

Bishop McManus told parishioners of Our Lady of Loreto, due to information that was released last week Fr Aquino has been removed as pastor as well as Director of the Permanent Diaconate Program

Fr. James Aquino had been the subject of Lewd conduct and obstruction charges in Las Vegas.

October 21, 2004, two undercover Las Vegas police officers, who paid an 8 dollar admission fee, while in an Adult book store and theater, observed Fr. James Aquino engaging in lewd conduct in a place open to the public.

Worcester Bishop McManus had replied earlier in an October 17, 2005 letter to VOTF Victim support coordinator Mr. Daniel Dick, 'It is in light of the above information that I have made my pastoral judgment concerning Fr Aquino being suitability for ministry in the Worcester Dioceses'. Within the Letter was a copy of a letter from Fr Aquino's lawyer which claimed the charges against Fr Aquino were false and subsequently dismissed by the Justice Court of Las Vegas.

When reviewed, actual documentation in Fr Aquino's case such as the police citation, police arrest report and Las Vegas court docket, show there is no evidence that Father Aquino was falsely charged.


John Ansley