ST. PETERSBURG (FL)
WFLA-TV (Channel 8)
By Victoria Price
November 21, 2018
A former priest at St. Stephen Chuch in Riverview is under investigation by the Catholic Church for accusations he sexually abused minors.
The allegations against Father Michael Juran come from Buffalo, New York. Juran is a priest with the Diocese of Buffalo, but according to the Diocese of St. Petersburg, still lives here locally.
The Diocese of Buffalo announced October 31st that Juran was on administrative leave after receiving an abuse complaint. Parishioners at St. Stephen got a letter about a week and a half later, explaining Juran was accused twice of sexually abusing minors. It did not specify when. According to the letter, Juran is not allowed to publicly present himself as a priest while on leave.
The Diocese of St. Petersburg tells News Channel 8 Juran served as St, Stephen’s Parochial Vicar from 2006 to 2011, adding he still resides in the diocese but has not served as a priest since 2011. A spokesperson for the Diocese of St. Petersburg did not explain why Juran stayed in Florida while remaining under the purview of the Diocese of Buffalo once his assignment at St. Stephen was through.
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