Catholic Priest Suspended after Dcf Substantiates Abuse Allegations, Danbury Police Investigating

By Zach Murdock
Courant
December 9, 2019

https://www.courant.com/breaking-news/hc-br-priest-suspended-dcf-danbury-police-abuse-20191210-tor2hwu4avb2xizmjzw43cmkmq-story.html

Another Catholic priest in Connecticut has been removed from his parish and prohibited from ministering publicly amid two investigations into allegations he abused a minor.

Reverend Jaime Marin-Cardona was placed on administrative leave from the Diocese of Bridgeport over the weekend after the state Department of Children and Families substantiated allegations of abuse after a months-long investigation, Bishop Frank Caggiano wrote in a letter to parishioners dated Saturday.

The Danbury Police Department also is investigating the reported abuse. The diocese did not specify the exact nature of the allegations but has “fully cooperated” with both agencies, Caggiano said.

Marin-Cardona has been a priest in Connecticut since 2010 and has spent time at Saint Joseph Parish in Norwalk, Saint Charles Borromeo Parish in Bridgeport, Our Lady of Guadalupe in Danbury and most recently at Saint Mary Parish in Bridgeport.

The investigations began when the diocese contacted DCF and Danbury police in September after receiving a letter "indicating that parents were concerned by Father Marin-Cardona’s contact with a family member who is a minor," Caggiano said.

“At that time, I immediately removed Father Marin-Cardona from ministry, ordered him to move out of the parish to an adult facility and restricted contact with any minor during the investigation,” Caggiano wrote.

DCF did not immediately pursue the claims after the parents and the victim said in initial interviews that no abuse occurred, according to the diocese. But police continued to investigate and found information that prompted both police and DCF to accept the report for further investigation.

Caggiano called the report “deeply disturbing news for all involved.”

It follows the scathing report released in October that found diocesan leadership was aware of and actively tried to cover up hundreds of accusations of sexual abuse by dozens of priests. Prepared by former state Superior Court Judge Robert Holzberg, the report uncovered 281 victims allegedly abused by 71 priests since 1953 and that the diocese has paid more than $56 million to victims in legal settlements.

The report outlined a series of reforms to hold accused priests accountable and protect children going forward and Caggiano pledged to continue to improve the diocese’s child protection programs. The church also plans to strengthen its procedures for immediate, transparent responses to allegations and their reporting to DCF and police departments, Caggiano said.

“We are grateful that the parents came forward with their concerns, and we pledge to work with them in any way possible to bring about healing during this difficult time,” Caggiano wrote. “Likewise, the vigilance of the parents and the pastor underline the importance of being aware of the warning signs of possible abuse and of diocesan Safe Environments Policies that are designed to protect children and lead to early intervention.”

Zach Murdock can be reached at zmurdock@courant.com