WASHINGTON
Columbia Basin Herald
By Lynne Lynch,
Herald managing editor
MOSES LAKE – A visiting priest from Mexico, who died in the 1980s, is believed to have abused four boys, ages 7-13, in the Moses Lake Catholic parish in the early 1970s.
The Yakima Diocese is now asking possible victims to come forward and report the abuse by calling the diocese’s confidential abuse hotline at 1-888-276-4490, according to a statement issued Monday by the diocese.
The accused priest is the late Rev. Hilario Ramirez. He stayed with at least two families when visiting Moses Lake in the early 1970s and allegedly abused the four children. Two of those have since died.
Ramirez was originally invited to Our Lady of Fatima parish in Moses Lake by a parishioner who met him in Dilley, Texas. At the time, Ramirez was a guest priest in Texas and the parishioner believed Ramirez’ ministry could be of use in Moses Lake.
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