BishopAccountability.org

Parishioners React to Priest's Involvement in Abortion

By Dwayne Parker
WFMZ
March 14, 2012

www.wfmz.com/news/Parishioners-react-to-Priest-s-involvement-in-abortion/-/121458/9290632/-/da40jpz/-/

[with video]

SPRING TWP., Pa. -

Just after evening mass, Tuesday evening, at St. Ignatius Loyola Church in Spring Township, members were still getting over the piercing allegations facing their priest, Father Cletus Onyegbule.

"I just wanted to cry. I was at five-thirty mass with our bishop and I just wanted to cry," said Judy Avella-Keller.

Police allege that Onyegbule, 44,admitted to having consensual sex with an 18-year-old woman, several years ago, in the rectory of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Bethlehem Township, Northampton County.

After the young woman became pregnant, officials said Onyegbule paid for an abortion.

"She claims that she got pregnant right away and in March was taken for an abortion by this priest. And he was with her and paid for it. And again that's not a crime either," said John Morganelli, Northampton County D.A.

Official announced Monday they are looking further into the relationship between Onyegbule and the woman before she turned 18 to determine if charges of corruption of minors should be filed.

"Whether it was talking with her, encouraging her to have sex when she was 18, while she was a minor, did that tend to corrupt her morals of a minor," said Morganelli.

For the past couple of years Onyegbule has been a priest at St. Ignatius Loyola Church, and for some parishioners who have gotten to know him in Berks County, they said the topic was just too much.

"That's sad. That is really sad. Yeah. That's going against everything that he stands for as a priest," said Lucy Renninger from Robesonia.

Officials at St. Ignatius Loyola declined to comment.

More interviews will be conducted with they will be conducting interviews with the young woman over the next few days.

Onyegbule has been removed from his assignment at St. Ignatius Loyola Church in Spring Twp., Berks Co. He is now at a treatment facility outside of the diocese and not permitted to function publicly as a priest.

Contact: dwayne.parker@wfmz.com




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