UPDATE: Archbishop Jerome Listecki has issued a statement on Fr. James E. Connell. In his statement, Abp. Listecki removed Fr. Connell’s canonical faculties to hear confessions and ordered him to “cease all such erroneous communications that distort the teachings of the Church about the confessional seal.” Please read Abp. Listecki's full statement, offer a Rosary on his behalf, and send him a note to thank him for his swift, bold and strong defense of the Seal of Confession.The original … [Read more...]
Second Witness Testifies that Catholic Priest’s Accuser Admitted to Lying
Since May of 2019, the Lepanto Institute has been spotlighting the Diocese of Arlington’s handling of possible false allegations leveled against one of its priests. In November of 2018, Fr. Ronald Escalante, pastor of St. Francis De Sales Catholic Church in Purcellville, VA, was removed from his parish due to an alleged “boundary violation.” This past May, the Lepanto Institute published an article with interviews of parishioners who made multiple attempts to give important information to the … [Read more...]
