|
Our Lady of Belen associate pastor relieved of duties
By Clara Garcia
BELEN – The Rev. Jonas Romea has been terminated from his position as associate pastor at Our Lady of Belen Catholic Church apparently in connection with inappropriate conduct with an 18-year-old female high school student, according to diocese officials and local police. “Effective Tuesday, April 25, 2017, Reverend Jonas Romea no longer has priestly faculties with the Archdiocese of Santa Fe and thus cannot administer the sacraments within the archdiocese, including the celebration of Mass,” wrote Celine Baca Radigan, director of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe Office of Communications/Media when contacted by the News-Bulletin. “Reverend Jonas Romea is (a) … priest of the Diocese of Tagbilaran (in the Philippines) and serves under the jurisdiction of the bishop thereof.” The diocese confirmed an investigation to police but declined to disclose why he had been relieved of his duties in Belen except to say, “His residence is no longer the Our Lady of Belen rectory. We pray for Rev. Romea and wish him well.” Belen police, acting on a tip about Romea’s behavior and termination, began an investigation and contacted the diocese. The department released an informational report on the probe Wednesday. A Belen detective spoke Monday with the Rev. John Daniel of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe, who said that “in an investigation conducted by the church … Father Romea had stated that after services he had talked to a juvenile female, and had kissed her forehead and then he told her that he liked her pictures on Facebook. The juvenile, not yet listed, was reported as saying that Father Romea had kissed her on the cheek, and then told her that he had seen her pictures on Facebook and that he wanted to see more pictures of her in shorts,” according to the report. Belen Police Chief Scott Conner said he instructed his detectives to make contact with the church and archdiocese, and they were cooperative. “They did a little digging around and it looks like it’s going to be more an inappropriate conduct by a member of the clergy than a criminal act,” Conner said in a phone interview. Conner said the alleged victim is an 18-year-old girl who is a Belen High School student and detectives found no need for further investigation because they believe no criminal act occurred. “As with any case, that could change depending on any new information we receive,” the chief said. The report noted that no other comments were made and that no other juveniles had reported any misconduct from Romea. This isn’t the first time Romea has been at the center of alleged inappropriate conduct while at Our Lady of Belen. In March, Romea made controversial comments during a children’s Mass about Muslims wanting to behead everyone. Father Jonas Romea terminated from Our Lady of Belen, archdiocese, amid allegations of inappropriate conduct
|
.
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.