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  Parishioners Stand behind Accused ABQ Priest

By Jason Gil Bear
KRQE News 13 [Albuquerque NM]
March 21, 2005

ALBUQUERQUE -- An Albuquerque priest is under investigation for sexual abuse but parishioners say the allegations aren’t true.

The accuser claims he went to Father Ronald Bruckner for help as a boy in Los Alamos and that's where the abuse started.

The accuser is the seventh person to come forward alleging abuse by the priest. He recently came forward with the allegations.

Bruckner is now a priest at Our Lady of Annunciation in Albuquerque.

Many of his parishioners are standing behind Bruckner and believe an investigation into the abuse will be proven false.

"I'm outraged about these allegations," says Jeff Romero, a parishioner. "I don't believe it," he adds.

A letter from the archdiocese was read at every morning service Sunday.

"The procedures have been put in motion…an investigation will take place and Father Bruckner will remain on paid administrative leave until the situation is resolved," the statement said.

Romero says the priest's name should never have entered the equation until Bruckner is actually proven guilty.

The Survivor’s Network of those Abused by Priests disagrees.

"How many people would it take to satisfy them that the claims being brought against this priest are probably very credible?" asks Steven Rabi of the network.

He thinks even one claim is too many.

Bruckner's six other accusers allege the abuse happened in Albuquerque during the late seventies and early eighties. The Archdiocese of Santa Fe did investigate but it found the claims to be unfounded.

The survivor’s network of those abused by priests tells KRQE News 13 Bruckner is due for retirement this summer.