Priest booted for Net misuse

Gig Harbor, Washington --

A Gig Harbor Catholic priest whose monthlong absence puzzled his parish was asked to leave for misusing the Internet.

But the Archdiocese of Seattle stressed that Rev. Reynaldo Bocateja, priest at St. Nicholas Catholic Church since July 2004, hasn’t been accused of sexual abuse or misconduct with minors or anything else illegal.

“However, a recent assessment of his use of the Internet calls into question his ability to minister in the Archdiocese with trust and authority,” according to a letter written by Seattle Archbishop Alex Brunett.

A visiting priest read the letter to parishioners Sunday, and it was mailed to them.

The archdiocese’s decision was based on Bocateja’s inappropriate use of a church computer, Seattle Archdiocese spokesman Greg Magnoni said Wednesday.

Details about Bocateja’s actions won’t be disclosed because it’s a personnel matter and no law was broken, Magnoni said.

Read the article at TheNewsTribune.com Dated June 02, 2005

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