LAS CRUCES (NM)
Las Cruces Sun-News
February 10, 2018
[Note from BishopAccountability.org: This editorial references a statement by Bishop Oscar Cantú. That statement is available here.]
The allegations against a former priest in the Catholic Diocese of Las Cruces that are contained in a recent lawsuit are disturbing. The alleged cover-up by church officials, if true, would be beyond disturbing.
The lawsuit involves Father Ricardo Bauza, who had previously served as pastor of St. Genevieve Catholic Church in Las Cruces. The allegations in the lawsuit involve complaints made by several people after Bauza had been moved to St. Helena Catholic Church in Hobbs.
The adult man who filed the lawsuit claims that on two different occasions when he was using the shower at the parish rectory, Bauza entered the shower naked and began to wash the other man’s body, including his genitals.
The complaint also accused Bauza of showing photos of his penis and other sexually explicit images to church workers.
One worker also alleged that Bauza had engaged in sexual activities with other men in the church rectory. And, a cleaning lady told investigators that when she was cleaning the rectory one day, she saw Bauza standing naked in the hallway with his backside exposed to her.
Court records show that Bauza was charged in October with one misdemeanor count of criminal sexual contact. There is an active court warrant for his arrest.
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