UNITED STATES
Roman Catholic Diocese of Cleveland
WARNINGS:
USCCB- RE: FR. ANTHONY NACHEF
The Eparchy of Newton of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church has advised the Conference of its concerns regarding Fr. Anthony Nachef. Fr. Nachef was previously a priest of the Basilian Salvatorian Order who was removed from the several ministry positions and subsequently was expelled from that Order and incurred excommunication. He was later permitted to return to the priesthood while at the same time operating a private travel agency in Massachusetts, and in 2010 the previous Eparchial Bishop of Newton had agreed that Fr. Nachef was a priest in good standing for certain limited purposes.
However, the current Eparchial Bishop of Newton advises us that he has now revoked all faculties that Fr. Nachef may have had in that Eparchy, following subsequent reports of misconduct, and that the Patriarchal Exarch of the Melkite Eparchy in Mexico has also withdrawn Fr. Nachef’s faculties. The previous Eparchial Bishop of Newton, Archbishop Cyril Bustros, now the Metropolitan of Beirut and Jbeil (Lebanon) has declared that Fr. Nachef is not a member of the clergy of that Archdiocese, either.
As a result, the Eparchial Bishop of Newton advises that Fr. Nachef is not in good standing with the Church and cannot celebrate the liturgy in public, but rather is attempting to promote the business of his “Catholic” travel agency through use of his priesthood. Those needing further information should contact the Office of the Bishop of the Eparchy of Newton at (617) 323-9921.
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WARNINGS:
USCCB- RE: FR. MANUEL GALLO-ESPINOZA
The Archdiocese of Newark has advised the Conference of its concerns regarding Fr. Manuel Gallo-Espinoza, a priest of the Diocese of Loja (Ecuador) who had previously ministered in the Archdiocese in 2003, but whose faculties were removed following accusations of sexual misconduct with a minor. The Archdiocese relates that it understood that Fr. Gallo-Espinoza had then returned to Ecuador. However, the Archdiocese advises that it now believes Fr. Gallo-Espinoza to be living in Maryland, and that he does not have the permission of his diocesan bishop to be in the United States and does not have faculties from the Diocese of Loja. Those needing further information should contact the Office of the Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Newark at (973) 497-4002.
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