COLOMBIA/NEW YORK
BishopAccountability.org
Summary of Case: Jaime H. aka James Duenas was ordained in his native Colombia in 1950. In the late 1960s he began work in the Archdiocese of New York, assisting in parishes in Manhattan, Staten Island, Tuxedo, the Bronx and North Tarrytown. Beginning in 1991 and for nearly 25 years, he was the sole priest at Nativity of Our Blessed Lady in the Bronx. Of note are several unexplained gaps in his assignment history – the Official Catholic Directory does not index him 1974-1978 or 1981-1984.
In August 2011 a 16-year-old girl reported to police that Duenas, age 87, had sexually abused her in the rectory of Nativity of Our Blessed Lady over a three-day period during the previous week. She had recently been hired to work at the parish. Duenas was arrested and charged with sexual abuse, forcible touching and endangering the welfare of a child. He pleaded guilty to the charges, but told police, “The girl was wearing short skirts” and “she didn’t mind the massage.” He was suspended from ministry.
Duenas died June 6, 2014. Later the same month his victim filed a civil lawsuit.
Ordained: 1950
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