SEATTLE (WA)
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Seattle
(SEATTLE) The Archdiocese of Seattle released a statement Friday, May 2 regarding Harold Quigg and announced that it would review its policies for monitoring priests removed from ministry. An archdiocesan review board concluded in 2004 that Quigg, a former pastor and parish priest at several parishes in western Washington, had engaged in sexual misconduct in 1980.
Quigg, who agreed to participate in the archdiocesan Relapse Prevention Program, has been under the supervision of a monitor, but in recent years has not complied with the terms of his ministry restrictions.
The archdiocese’s statement was sent to several parishes notifying them over the weekend of the 2004 Archdiocesan Case Review Board determination regarding Quigg. No further allegations have been brought against Quigg either prior to the finding or since he was removed from ministry.
The information was not made public at the time because of the determination that the sexual contact did not involve a minor.
Quigg, who retired in 2000, was instructed by then-Archbishop Alex J. Brunett at the time of the review board’s recommendation not to present himself publicly as a priest. The archdiocese recently became aware that he had violated his restrictions related to celebration of the sacraments.
“I regret that these violations did not come to my attention earlier,” Archbishop J. Peter Sartain said. “We recognize that the steps taken were insufficient and we are reviewing our current policies to minimize the possibility of such occurrences in the future.”
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