Former Orangevale Priest Targeted in Sexual-abuse Investigation

By Robert D. Davila
Sacramento Bee
April 19, 2013

http://www.sacbee.com/2013/04/15/5341730/former-orangevale-priest-targeted.html

A former pastor at Divine Savior Catholic Church in Orangevale is under investigation following allegations that he sexually abused two children who were parishioners in the 1980s and 1990s.

Officials at Divine Savior read a statement at Sunday Masses informing parishioners about the allegations against the Rev. Robert "Bob" Marsicek, who was pastor from 1987 to 2001. The statement said Marsicek is under investigation for a similar complaint in Wisconsin, where he is a pastor in the Milwaukee Archdiocese.

The statement read by the Rev. Roman Mueller, current pastor at Divine Savior, said the allegations against Marsicek involve two children who belonged to the church in the 1980s and 1990s.

Kevin Eckery, a Sacramento Diocese spokesman, said diocese officials learned about the complaint "several months ago" and turned the case over to the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department.

Mueller encouraged anyone with information about possible cases of sexual abuse of minors at Divine Savior to contact the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department child abuse unit at (916) 874-5191.

Eckery said Mueller's statement was prompted by recent news reports about Marsicek in Wisconsin.

According to the Journal-Sentinel newspaper in Milwaukee, Marsicek, 71, has been pastor at Pius X Catholic parish in Wauwatosa, Wis., since 2001. Last month, he was suspended by church officials following an allegation of having inappropriate conduct with a student at a parish school, the paper said.

Milwaukee County prosecutors announced Friday that Marsicek would not face charges because a crime could not be proved based on evidence uncovered in the investigation, the paper said. The case remains under review by leaders of the priest's religious order, the Salvatorians, who removed him from his posts at two parishes and elementary schools in the Milwaukee Archdiocese, the Journal-Sentinel said.

Marsicek was ordained in 1968. He served as a parish priest in Wisconsin, Arizona and Alabama before moving to Orangevale.

Call The Bee's Robert D. Davila, (916) 321-1077. Follow him on Twitter @bob_davila.

Call The Bee's Robert D. Davila, (916) 321-1077. Follow him on Twitter @Bob_Davila.

Editor's Note: This story was changed from the print version to correct the year of Marsicek's ordination. Corrected on April 15, 2013.