Victims Group Wants Local Priest Removed From Parish

Father Jose Alexis Davila has been a parish priest at St. Jude's in Southcrest for two years. Earlier this year, a 19-year-old woman accused him of fondling her in his home across the street from the church.

"He has pleaded guilty to sexual assaulting a young woman," said Joelle Casteix, a spokeswoman for group Survivors Network for those Abused by Priests, or SNAP. "I believe the charge was unlawfully touching her intimate parts."

SNAP sent a letter to Diocese of San Diego Bishop Robert Brom after learning Davila is still saying masses at St. Jude's.

"They are implicitly saying that it's okay to hurt people and you can get your job back," said Casteix.

Casteix said Davila should not be allowed near women or the children who attend mass and the day care center connected to the church. She said allo...


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Showing 4 comments

  • Jeannie Guzman
    commented 2012-06-12 12:33:33 -0500
    Thanks Walter: I was just on the USCCB’s website and was reading that the USCCB Conference is going to be “live.” I thought that the other stories on the website were new as well. Sorry for the confusion!
  • Jeannie Guzman
    commented 2012-06-12 12:31:04 -0500
    If the local bishop takes Fr. Davila out of his local ministry, I’d bet the Nazi Gold in the Vatican Bank that he’ll be transferred to Mexico or South America, where he can continue to abuse young women. In another post, which I saw about this story, an “innocent” Fr. Davila is pictured in front of a Big painting of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The message is clear: This good, faithful Hispanic priest is being oppressed by his accuser and the media, but his protector, La Senora de Guadalupe, will protect him and keep him out of jail! I know that I’m reading a lot into the picture, but the visual metaphors were there, plain as day! I guess his prayers and those of faithful Catholics at St. Jude were answered, because he won’t need to spend a day in prison! Even though he admitted to the abuse, because he wasn’t made to do jail time, in a little orange jumpsuit, this priest in good standing with the RCC is allowed to come back with all of the functions of his priesthood!
  • Walter Garrets
    commented 2012-06-12 12:29:38 -0500
    Hi Jeannie. Bishop McCormack resigned months ago. Bishop Libasci has been bishop of the Diocese of Manchester for some time.
  • Jeannie Guzman
    commented 2012-06-12 12:24:12 -0500
    There is another very important story, but I’ve been unable to find a place to post it on SNAP’s website. Here’s the News Flash! Directly from the USCCB’s Website: “Pope Names New Bishop Of Manchester, New Hampshire; Accepts Resignation Of Bishop McCormack” Bishop McCormack is RESIGNING! Hopefully, now he’ll have time to appear on the witness stand in the event that a trial, similar to that of Monsignor Lynn’s up in Philly, is evr held in Boston or New Hampshire!

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