LAS CRUCES – The pastor of a Catholic parish in Las Cruces has been put on leave following multiple allegations of sexual misconduct.
Rogelio Martinez, pastor of St. Genevieve Parish, is accused of sexual misconduct with adults, according to a news release from the Catholic Diocese of Las Cruces. He was put on administrative leave with pay, effective Friday.
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Allegations reported
The diocese early Monday reported that the allegations against Martinez have been sent to 3rd Judicial District Attorney Mark D’Antonio to explore whether criminal charges exist. But by mid-afternoon, D’Antonio had forwarded the diocese’s letter to the Las Cruces Police Department, which he said is the proper starting point for any investigation.
The diocese’s sexual abuse review board is also investigating the claims, according to the news release. The review board, according to the diocese, is comprised of private citizens with expertise in law, law enforcement and psychology — and includes one priest.
“Sadly, our diocese has allegations against a priest that are serious in nature, and we must proceed with a review that is comprehensive and provides a just conclusion,” Las Cruces Bishop Oscar Cantú said in the news release. “Certainly, Father Rogelio must be presumed to be innocent and will be given ample opportunity to clear his name.”
The diocese did not release further details on the accusations.
Parishioners notified
Church officials read a statement in Sunday’s church services, notifying attendees that Martinez was placed on administrative leave.
Longtime St. Genevieve’s parishioner Adelina G. Jimenez said there was a collective gasp among church-goers, who were taken aback by the news. Jimenez said Martinez has always been friendly and down-to-earth, and she hadn’t witnessed any inappropriate behavior from him.
“I was very shocked,” she said. “He was very funny, very honest. I never saw any improprieties. I got the feeling he’s very close to God.”
Jimenez said Martinez had been absent from the church for a while because of unspecified illness but had returned recently. He attended the yearly St. Genevieve Fiesta earlier this month, a major event for the parish, and she mentioned to him she’d been praying for him.
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Church officials noted their internal personnel investigation is at the beginning stages. And there’s no way to tell how long it might take, said Deacon Jim Winder, vice chancellor of the diocese. Sometimes, in instances of alleged misconduct a member of the clergy admits to the complaint. Other times they challenge it. There is a due-process type review that takes place in which the person facing allegations gets a chance to respond.
“As soon as we do know something (about an outcome), we plan on releasing it,” he said.
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Martinez has served as pastor of St. Genevieve church since July 1, 2014, according to the diocese. He was born in Veracruz, Mexico, and holds a philosophy degree from the Universidad del Valle de Atemajac in Guadalajara, Jalisco. He studied theology at Universidad Intercontinental in Mexico City, according to the diocese. After his ordination he studied canon law at St. Paul University in Ottawa, Canada
Martinez was ordained in the Las Cruces diocese, which covers all of southern New Mexico, in 2005. A parishioner said he’d also previously served in La Mesa.
Martinez was also director of the Institute San Juan Diego, which offers spiritual and theological training to lay people, according to its website.
In Martinez’s absence, a retired bishop already affiliated with the parish will be conducting Mass and other services.
More:Bishop Cantú welcomes AG investigation into priest sexual abuse
Authorities respond
D’Antonio confirmed Monday his office had received a letter from the diocese regarding the allegations, but he noted the police department is the correct starting point for an investigation into such allegations. His offices works with police agencies after they’ve initiated investigations. Because of that, he said he was forwarding the letter to LCPD Police Chief Patrick Gallagher.
Las Cruces police department spokesman Dan Trujillo confirmed the agency had received the letter from D’Antonio.
“We’ll look into that and take whatever action is deemed necessary,” he said.
D’Antonio said the situation is also unusual because typically it would be a victim, not a third party, raising the allegations directly with law enforcement.
Winder said because of the church’s efforts to be more transparent after facing so much criticism, it’s likely to be an ongoing practice of raising such allegations publicly.
“Maybe we’re erring too much on the other side,” he said.
Jimenez, the longtime parishioner, said she’s hoping Martinez will be cleared.
“People sometimes accuse people of things that are not true,” she said. “It never crossed my mind something would happen. I hope it’s not true.”
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Regardless, Jimenez said neither her faith nor her trust in the church are shaken when such allegations arise, because she sees the church’s personnel as separate from her devotion.
“I don’t go to pray to the priests; I go to pray to God,” she said. “I was taught: The church is His house. Whoever’s there helping — some will be good, some will be bad.”
Looking back
New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas’ office in a Sept. 4 letter requested documents from the Diocese of Las Cruces — and another diocese and archdiocese in New Mexico — in search of evidence of sexual abuse by clergy.
Balderas’ request comes on the heels of a revelation by Pennsylvania authorities that more than 300 priests in that state were believed to have sexually abused children over the course of decades — abuse that was covered up by church leaders.
Cantú, in an interview in early September, said he welcomed the review. He called for more transparency in that interview and reiterated it with a statement in Monday’s news release.
More:Bishop Cantú responds to reports of abuse in Catholic Church
“Our Catholic Church has entered into an era of greater transparency and accountability, and I am committed to cooperating with the diocese’s review board and law enforcement in investigating all allegations of sexual abuse and misconduct which may involve clergy or church personnel,” Cantú said.
Cantú’s last day as head of the southern New Mexico diocese is Sept. 28. He’s leaving to become coadjutor bishop of San José, California. A successor has not been named.
The Martinez allegations also come on the heels of two recent court filings against the diocese.
In July, a man, identified only as John Doe 85, filed a lawsuit against the Catholic Diocese of Las Cruces, alleging he was sexually abused by two priests — Joseph Anderson and David Bentley — in Deming in the 1990s while serving as an altar boy. Neither clergyman is still with the diocese.
Also in July, a criminal sexual-contact charge against former Hobbs priest Ricardo Bauza, who once served as pastor at St. Genevieve’s in Las Cruces, was dropped by prosecutors without explanation. Bauza was accused of getting into a shower with an adult male, and washing the victim’s body with a loofah in the church rectory in April 2016 at St. Helena in Hobbs. However, a civil lawsuit filed in connection to the same allegations against Bauza remains pending against the diocese. A state judge in Las Cruces has ordered settlement facilitation to take place in the case.
Victims of sexual abuse by clergy or church personnel should contact public authorities. They may also contact Margarita Williams — the victim’s assistance coordinator for the Las Cruces Diocese — at 575-523-7577 or [email protected].
Diana Alba Soular may be reached at 575-541-5443, [email protected] or @AlbaSoular on Twitter.
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