TX - Austin priest masturbates on plane & gets arrested

September 11, 2012

An Austin priest has been arrested in Denver for masturbating to porn on an airplane. He is Fr. Daniel Drinan who was removed from his post in Austin in 2002 after an allegation of sexual contact with a minor was brought forward.

Drinan is apparently not functioning as a priest right now. But he's still on the church payroll, and we strongly doubt if he's being supervised in any meaningful way.

This case shows - once again - that pedophile priests often re-offend or commit other sex crimes in part because their bishops do the bare minimum. Bishops should house and monitor these dangerous men, and work hard to find others who saw, suspected or suffered their crimes, so they might be prosecuted and kept away from kids.

Given his pattern of inappropriate and illegal behavior, we urge Austin Bishop Joe Vasquez to seek out others in his diocese who may have been hurt by Drinan, but scared to come forward. Due to Drinan’s bizarre and unhealthy sexual impropriety, we strongly suspect that similar situations have occurred before.

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John M Shuster commented 2015-11-24 19:44:36 -0600
The secret lives of priests continue to emerge.
Patrick Mills commented 2015-11-24 19:26:05 -0600
I was in Fr. Drinan’s parish in the 1980’s. He was an amazing priest who taught thousands of people that God is a God of love. He made the Catholic service a warm, thought provoking experience. He was awesome. It’s heartbreaking to read this news. He changed so many people’s lives for the better, it makes this story that much sadder. This story describes one day, but it doesn’t come close to defining who he is.
Frank lostaunau commented 2012-09-12 17:26:53 -0500
Some males are plain ole nasty! Others predatory. Still others are dissociated and their sexuality is split off waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay out in left field. From time to time, they take leave of their bodies and venture out into the ozone and don’t come back until the dirty deed is done. A few even report that have no recollection what they done did? yup…people are a bit different from one another!

I would love to spend a month with il papa to find out what he’s about in the sexuality department. Most likely he’s out to lunch!
Gloria Sullivan commented 2012-09-12 14:37:22 -0500
In public,like Pee Wee Herman? Oh, as long as you don’t get caught , it’s OK? I’m sure this has been going on since the boys found their wee wee’s….Have they no Shame in a public place.? Emily Post’s grandaughter needs to write a new book on the Etiquit of sexual berings in public.
Gloria Sullivan commented 2012-09-12 14:36:15 -0500
In public,like Pee Wee Herman? Oh, as long as you don’t get caught , it’s OK? I’m sure this has been going on since the boys found their wee wee’s….Have they no Shame in a public place.? Emily Post’s grandaughter needs to write a new book on the Etiquit of sexual berings in public.
Kay Goodnow commented 2012-09-12 14:00:02 -0500
Frank, thanks for this (I think). At 76 I was totally unaware of this. However, Il Papa and others of his ilk certain dress for all occasions.
Frank lostaunau commented 2012-09-12 13:43:05 -0500
Actually, masturbating in public places is quite common all over the world. Years ago I worked as a sex therapist at UCSF and dozens of men presented who were not sexual predators who reported masturbating in public settings…at the opera, symphony, church, sports events, etc. etc. etc.

I wouldn’t be surprised if the il papa itself has done the same thing.
Kay Goodnow commented 2012-09-11 10:49:33 -0500
This “church” is a mess. Glad I am gone.
Judy Jones commented 2012-09-11 10:35:00 -0500
Daniel Drinan is a priest who was removed because of an allegation of sexual contact with a minor in 2002. Even though he was removed, Fr Drinan is still on the church payroll in Austin, but apparently not being well supervised.
If any others have witnessed or may have been harmed by Drinan, please contact the police.

Judy Jones, SNAP Midwest Associate Director, USA, 636-433-2511. snapjudy@gmail.com,
(SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests)
John M Shuster commented 2012-09-11 09:46:36 -0500
This kind of mindless narcissism is common among priests and sexual predators.

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