Diocese of Orlando

Bishop John Noonan and the Diocese of Orlando have announced the following round of appointments:

Effective August 1, 2011:

• Rev. Longin Buhake is appointed as Parochial Vicar of St. Timothy

Effective August 9, 2011:

• Father Jesus Arroyave is appointed Parochial Vicar of St. Ann Catholic Church in Haines City
• Father Juan Daniel Petrino is appointed Parochial Vicar of St. John Vianney Catholic Church in Orlando

Effective August 20, 2011:

• Father Eugeiusz Grytner, SDS is appointed Pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in Bartow

Effective September 1, 2011:

• Father Jean Aland, CICM is appointed Parochial Vicar of St. Teresa Catholic Church in Titusville
• Father Augusto Cadavid is appointed Parochial Vicar of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Clermont and will tend to the Spanish community of Santo Toribio Romo Mission
• Father Ralph Duwell is appointed parochial administrator of Nativity Catholic Church in Longwood
• Father John Kudiyiruppil, M.S.T. is appointed Parochial Vicar of Nativity Catholic Church in Longwood

Diocese of Orlando Chancery

Late this afternoon, the Diocese of Orlando released an email statement to Central Florida Catholics informing us that Robert Schaefer, director of music at St. James Cathedral, had been fired because of allegations of sexual abuse.

Reported to the diocese in a letter earlier today, the abuse occurred in Milwaukee during the early 1980s. According to the diocesan statement, the allegations were reported to local authorities at the time but no charges were ever filed against Mr. Schaefer, who has admitted to having an inappropriate relationship.

In accordance with diocesan policy, Bishop John Noonan immediately met with Mr. Schaefer to discuss the situation.

Robert Schaefer has been employed by the Diocese of Orlando since 1985 and has repeatedly passed numerous FBI and Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) background checks. The Archdiocese of Milwaukee has been notified.

The official statement released by Carol Brinati, Chancellor for Administration, quoted Bishop John Noonan: “That this allegation of abuse occurred in another Diocese almost 30 years ago does not lessen the harm caused to the victim. We pray for all those involved in this situation.”

The diocese is asking anyone aware of sexual misconduct by any employee to report the offenses to the local authorities and to the Diocese of Orlando Victim Assistance Coordinator.

UPDATE: Below is the release by The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP):

SNAP has recently learned that a former choir director from Milwaukee, WI who is accused of sexually abusing an eleven year old boy is now working at St. James Cathedral in Orlando. Music Director Bob Schafer recently wrote a letter of apology to the victim who still lives in Milwaukee where the abuse occurred over 20 years ago.

Schafer worked as the choir director at St. Catherine’s Catholic Church in Milwaukee when he asked the victim…then 11 yrs old…to babysit. Schafer molested him that evening, and continued to do so for the next two years…The abuse occurred at least 25 times in Schafer’s home, his car and at the church.

Note: I am withholding the victim’s name.

For now, let’s continue to keep all those who have been affected by sexual abuse in our prayers.

SOURCE: Archdiocese of Miami

At this morning’s press conference in Miami (as mentioned in the previous post), Archbishop-designate Wenski gave the following remarks. Most of the remarks were also made in a video presentation that was posted on the website for the Diocese of Orlando earlier this morning.

This morning, upon the acceptance of Archbishop Favalora’s request to retire, Pope Benedict XVI appointed me as the fourth Archbishop of the Metropolitan See of Miami.

Jesus once bid Peter “Duc in altum” (Put out into the deep). Now Peter’s successor has asked me to do the same in entrusting to me this new responsibility. I am being called back to this local Church where I was ordained a priest and where I served as a parish priest and auxiliary bishop. Humbled by the Holy Father’s confidence in me and aware of my own limitations and shortcomings, I once again ask the intercession of Mary, Mother of the Church, that I may worthily fulfill my new duties as the fourth Archbishop of Miami upon my installation on June 1, 2010.

Shortly after it was made public that he would become the next Archbishop of Miami, Archbishop-designate Wenski and the Diocese of Orlando released a video message on the diocesan website that began with the following message:

“Jesus once bid Peter to put out into the deep. Now, Peter’s successor has asked me to do the same, entrusting to me this new responsibility. I am being called back to that local church where I was ordained a priest and where I served as a parish priest and Auxiliary Bishop. Humbled by the Holy Father’s confidence in me and aware of my own limitations shortcomings, I once again ask the intercession of Mary, Mother of the Church that I may worthily fulfill my duties as the fourth Archbishop of Miami.”

For the full video, please go to the Diocese of Orlando website.

The official announcement from the Vatican Information Service: