NEW YORK
Rome Sentinel
Published Dec 23, 2016
BY STEVE JONES
Staff writer
A Rome clergyman is back from a leave of absence after an allegation against him was deemed not credible by the Review Board of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse.
Most Rev. Robert J. Cunningham, bishop of Syracuse, announced that the Rev. Paul Angelicchio has returned to his post as pastor of St. John the Baptist and Transfiguration parish.
Rev. Angelicchio was placed on temporarily administrative leave on Nov. 21, due to an allegation of abuse of a minor. The alleged incident would have taken place 27 years ago, the diocese noted. The allegation was first made to the Onondaga County District Attorney’s Office which later forwarded it to the diocese after its review. Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick, in a recent interview, stated that his office found no proof or evidence of wrongdoing by Rev. Angelicchio, the diocese noted. “He added that he found nothing to back up the claim — no physical evidence, no crime, and no corroborating witness. Fitzpatrick said his office determined Angelicchio ‘was not a clear and present danger to any minors,’” the diocese stated.
The Review Board is made up of six — four lay professionals, a member of the clergy and a religious — who have extensive backgrounds in areas related to child sexual abuse. Bishop Cunningham has accepted the Board’s recommendation and has returned Rev. Angelicchio to active ministry, effective today.
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