Reno man accused of masturbating on DIA flight is ex-Catholic priest

DENVER (CO)
The Denver Post

By Joey Bunch and Kristen Leigh Painter
The Denver Postd
enverpost.com

A Reno, Nev., man arrested at Denver International Airport on Saturday for allegedly masturbating while viewing Internet pornography during a flight from Baltimore is a former Roman Catholic priest.

According to a news account 10 years ago, Daniel Michael Drinan was the first priest suspended in an incident involving a minor after the Roman Catholic priest sex- abuse scandal.

A spokesman for the Claretians order in Chicago confirmed Drinan, 63, is a former priest whose last assignment was at the Ridge House, a substance-abuse treatment center for parolees. Records indicate Drinan left the program in April, but the church spokesman would not elaborate.

Records indicate Drinan had previously worked as a priest at Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Martindale, Texas, a suburb of Austin. A 2002 article in the Austin American-Statesman said Drinan was removed in April of that year after alleged inappropriate contact with a minor, though an investigation found no evidence of violence or sexual abuse

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