CLEVELAND (OH)
Fox 8
[with video]
October 13, 2013, by Maria Scali
CLEVELAND — Parishioners at one Cleveland Catholic church were left with much disbelief and concern for their pastor after he was arrested on serious sex charges.
James McGonegal usually celebrates mass at St. Ignatius of Antioch Church, but he didn’t Sunday.
Rev. McGonegal, 68, was arrested Friday afternoon at Edgewater Park. He is accused of soliciting sex from a man he didn’t know was a park ranger.
“I didn’t believe it. I really didn’t believe it. It was very hard to believe,” said Sal Valentino, a parishioner.
According to the police report, the plain-clothed ranger and Rev. McGonegal spoke. When asked what he was doing in the park, the priest reportedly responding “cruising,” meaning he was looking for sex.
The ranger stated that Rev. McGonegal offered to pay him $50 for the sex act.
“He’s human. I don’t agree with it. I think it’s very embarrassing to us, but he is a human person. I guess he has weaknesses like everyone else,” Valentino added.
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