Yakima bishop apologizes for hiring man under investigation
YAKIMA – The bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Yakima has apologized to parishioners for knowingly hiring a man under investigation for viewing child pornography in Oregon.
Priests in 40 Catholic parishes across central Washington were asked to read the letter of apology from Bishop Carlos Sevilla last weekend. Sevilla personally delivered an apology to parishioners Sunday at St. Juan Diego Catholic Church in Cowiche, where he had hired ex-seminarian Juan Jose Gonzalez Rios to work in the parish five years ago.
Gonzalez, 37, faces four charges of encouraging child sex abuse, a felony, according to Yakima County Superior Court records. The allegations stem from when Gonzalez was a student at Mount Angel Seminary in Mount Angel, Ore. He was dismissed from the seminary in 2003, but Oregon authorities did not issue an arrest warrant until 2005.
Sevilla hired Gonzalez in 2003 to work part time at the St. Peter Retreat Center in Cowiche, but has said he viewed the incident as an “isolated episode.”
Sevilla told Cowiche parishioners he was sorry for how he had handled the case.
“I respectfully ask your forgiveness for my errors and for the embarrassment this may cause you, and your forgiveness for any damage this may cause to the work of the church in our Diocese,” the letter said.
“Please pray for me, for the former seminarian who has now been arrested to face these charges, and for continued healing and forgiveness for all those who suffer from childhood sexual abuse,” the letter concluded.
At least one parishioner in Cowiche said she appreciated that Sevilla traveled to the church to apologize personally. Patricia Williams, who has been attending the Cowiche church since its founding more than 40 years ago, told the Yakima Herald-Republic that the bishop seemed sincere.
Kathy Scott, a longtime parishioner in Yakima, listened to the letter when it was read during Mass on Saturday evening at Holy Redeemer Church. She said she had been surprised when she heard about Gonzalez’s hiring, especially since the bishop knew about allegations of viewing child pornography.
But, she said, “I still stand behind the bishop.”
Outside the Cowiche church on Sunday, relatives of Gonzalez handed out a letter of their own, alleging that he had been sexually abused by a priest who once served there.
The Gonzalez family said the sexual misconduct occurred before he went into the seminary about nine years ago, and that he was also exposed to inappropriate sexual conduct while studying at the seminary.
The family also contended that Gonzalez told Sevilla about the misconduct, both by the priest and at the seminary.
Gonzalez was arrested March 19 following a traffic stop in Tieton, west of Yakima. He is being held at the Yakima County jail on $80,000 bond.
An extradition hearing has been set for April 22.