Priest resigns rather than undergo treatment after violating policy on children - Sensationalist Headlines

https://www.newstimes.com/news/article/Priest-resigns-rather-than-undergo-treatment-13180178.php BRIDGEPORT — The Rev. Frank Gomez, removed as pastor of the city’s largest parish for violating the diocese’s policies on contact with children, has resigned from the priesthood rather than undergo unspecified treatment at a Canadian facility, diocese officials said on Friday. “Unfortunately, Father Gomez informed me that he would not admit himself to Southdown and furthermore informed me that after discernment and consultation, he has decided to leave priestly ministry permanently,” Bishop Frank J. Caggiano said in a statement. The resignation comes four days after Pope Francis, reacting to a grand jury report about the church in Pennsylvania covering up years of child abuse by priests said in an unprecedented letter to the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics that the church has not dealt properly with ‘crimes’ against children and must prevent sexual abuses from being “covered up and perpetuated.” The bishop said Gomez violated the diocese safe environment policy by texting children “over a significant period of time” without the consent or knowledge of their parents, giving children gifts without parental consent and “some physical interaction that, while not sexual in nature, made the minors and adults present uncomfortable.” Diocese spokesman Brian Wallace said the texts were not sexual, suggestive or inappropriate in themselves and the diocese was more concerned about the frequency of the texts to minors. He said the gifts were sports items and electronics. “The parish leadership was notified early this morning. Representatives of the diocese are meeting with groups at the parish and a letter will be distributed this weekend,” Wallace said of Gomez’s resignation. A female parishioner of St. Charles, who asked that her name not be used, said Gomez worked closely with the church’s catechism classes and would take students on trips. But she said she never heard that he was inappropriate with children. “Having heard the concerns of some members of Saint Charles Parish regarding the behavior of Father Francisco Gomez-Franco that, although neither illegal nor immoral in nature, involved serious boundary violations with minors and violated the diocesan code of conduct, I asked Father Gomez to step away from active ministry and take up residency at an appropriate health care facility in order to address these issues,” the bishop stated. “He admitted himself to Saint John Vianney in Downington, Pennsylvania, on Tuesday, July 19, 2018.” The bishop continued that on Aug. 17, a team of professionals caring for Gomez recommended Gomez continue treatment at Southdown Institute in Canada. The bishop stated that he asked Gomez to go directly to Southdown but Gomez refused. Southdown is a Toronto area facility that treats clergy with addictions and mental health issues. A Pennsylvania grand jury report states that several priests accused of abusing children in that state were sent there.

Should be put on trial instead

Why would you ever refuse treatment here? That is a much better path to go down than the people in the streets calling for your blood to be spilled

From what the article says he never did anything actually illegal, but his behavior was creepy and not really called for.

I was just at that church today. This article is a little too close to home and i only realized it took place near me half way through reading

If he is honestly just creepy then I can kind of see where he's coming from. Got back from the park with 3 kiddos who all wanted to play tag. Other kids spotted us playing and joined in, getting me some bad looks from their parents. He could be a child at heart like me or something, who knows? I'm willing to cast a shade of doubt.