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  Advocates Decry Ruling That Priest's Still Unfit to Be Tried

By Dave Wedge
Boston Herald
May 10, 2008

http://news.bostonherald.com/news/regional/general/view.bg?articleid=1092970&srvc=home&position=also

Victims advocates are fuming that accused pedophile priest John Szantyr has again been deemed mentally unfit to stand trial on charges he molested two Worcester altar boys 20 years ago.

"The victims are just crushed," said Mary T. Jean of Worcester VOICE, a support group for clergy sex abuse victims. "I am extremely disappointed in the failure of the judicial system."

Spokesman Tim Connolly said Worcester District Attorney Joseph Early Jr. was "disappointed" and intended "to review any and all avenues of appeal."

Szantyr's attorney, Ed Ryan, said his client suffers from Parkinson's disease and dementia and called Worcester District Court Judge David Ricciardone's ruling "the correct decision."

The judge's finding was based on a hearing that included testimony from Szantyr's brother, who said the 76-year-old retired priest has trouble conversing and needs to be dressed and fed.

A judge found Szantyr incompetent in 2006, but the victims challenged the ruling, citing evidence that he had a valid driver's license and continued to oversee religious services in violation of church law.

Szantyr is charged with molesting the boys while assigned to Our Lady of Czestochowa Parish in Worcester. Ricciardone is slated to review the case again in July.

 
 

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