Syracuse Catholic Diocese Puts Priest on Leave As It Reviews 27-year-old Abuse Allegation

By Elizabeth Doran
NewYorkUpstate
December 8, 2016

http://www.newyorkupstate.com/utica/2016/12/syracuse_diocese_puts_priest_on_leave_while_27-year-old_abuse_allegation_is_inve.html

Rev. Paul Angelicchio (right), of Pompei School and Church, talks with Al Stirpe, a candidate for the 121st Assembly District and his wife, Chele, at an annual Election Day lunch in Syracuse in November 2008. (Dick Blume | Syracuse.com, file photo, 2008)

A priest in Rome has been placed on leave while the Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse looks into an allegation of the abuse of a minor 27 years ago, diocese officials said Thursday.

The Rev. Paul F. Angelicchio, pastor of St. John the Baptist and Transfiguration parish in Rome, has been placed on administrative leave while the allegation is being investigated, said Danielle Cummings, a spokeswoman for the diocese.

"The allegation was first made to the Onondaga County District Attorney's Office who forwarded it to the diocese after their review," the diocese said in a statement. "Please note that the allegation has not been substantiated."

The diocese said its practice is to prohibit Angelicchio from functioning publicly as a priest until the matter is resolved.

The allegation will be reviewed by professionals and the Diocesan Review Board, the statement said.

Angelicchio told parishioners on Nov. 19-20 that he would be taking a leave of absence.

Cummings said it's not known how long the review will take.

Before coming to Rome in 2011, Angelicchio was pastor of Our Lady of Pompei/St. Peter Church in Syracuse for eight years and also served as pastor of Holy Family Church in Syracuse.

He also was a parish priest at Our Lady of Lourdes Church on Valley Drive in Syracuse during the '80s.

From 1977 to 1999, he served as police chaplain for the city of Syracuse.

Contact: edoran@syracuse.com