A California priest suspected of having inappropriate contact with multiple women and a girl in his parish has been removed from his duties by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles as law enforcement officials investigate the claims against him.
The news of Father Juan Cano’s removal from Our Lady of Grace parish in Encino, where he has been since 2015, sent shockwaves among his congregants when church officials announced that he was placed on administrative leave due to the reports against him.
“Last week, Father Juan Cano was removed from ministry and placed on administrative leave as a result of reports of inappropriate contact by Cano involving several females in the parish, including one who is a minor. The matters have been reported to the authorities, and the parish and the Archdiocese of Los Angeles are collaborating fully in the investigation,” the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles announced in a statement.
Cano 34, who was born in Chihuahua, Mexico, started at Our Lady of Grace in July 2015 with an announcement from the archdiocese about his miraculous life.
“When I was born, I had a tumor in my head which had no cure. … My parents and grandparents prayed to God for a miracle. … As I grew in the faith at the parish via my family’s involvement in the charismatic renewal, Bible study and religious education, I felt very drawn to the Eucharist, both in and outside of mass. In addition, I had daily contact with the parish priests. … It was such things that I know fed my priestly vocation,” Cano said at the time.
Since the announcement, Cano’s information has been scrubbed from the church’s website as parishioners were left to grapple with the news.
“It was surprising because the father was a really good man and he treated us like anybody else. I was surprised,” parishioner Giovanni Rios told ABC 7.
The Archdiocese told ABC 7 that it has a zero-tolerance policy for any misconduct involving a child.
Clergy abuse survivors advocate Joelle Casteix questioned why it took the archdiocese more than a week to inform members of the parish about why Cano was placed on administrative leave on Jan. 19.
Full story at The Christian Post.
Fr. Cano should have a fair opportunity to clear his name. If the allegations are proven true, even regarding adult women, the Archdiocese should make his removal permanent. The Archdiocese should also inform Mexican church officials, to prevent his working there.
This guy was newly-ordained in 2015, so it only took about two years for him to lapse.
Is the archdiocese so desperate for vocations that it’s not screening seminarians diligently? All you have to do is show you can use a fork and a knife correctly and you’re accepted?
“It only took about two years for him to lapse”.
Lapse from WHAT, exactly?
“Inappropriate contact.” So, what does that mean? In California just expressing a politically incorrect thought can lead to that accusation.
gravey…we all know what inappropriate contact means. Well, except maybe those who engage in it.
Officer Drake Madison tells the Daily News that police are investigating a child annoyance allegation against Father Juan Cano,
i don’t know what that means.