Rev. Phillip Altavilla - Diocese of Scranton

Rev. Philip Altavilla shows his childhood bunny during a homily.

(EDIT: Some folks seem to lack basic reading comprehension skills, so in an attempt to make this piece more readily understandable to those with limited skills, I have made some edits in red, with the EDIT before it. In parenthesis. Thanks.)

Well, at least it isn't a little boy for a change. (Sarcasm) However, unlike our Bishop, who only sees the opportunity to show how "caring" he is towards the victim in an attempt to ensure that no one sues the diocese and takes his house, I am calling on the faithful to also pray for the priest involved, who has fallen to one of Satan's attacks.

However, who has not?

Right Bishop B?

Scranton police arrested a priest Thursday for plying (notice here the priest is "plying" her with alcohol. whatever does that mean? How does one ply? How much alcohol was given?) a 13-year-old girl with alcohol and touching her feet and thighs inappropriately after a midnight Christmas mass in 1998. 

Officers charged the Rev. Philip Altavilla, 48, who was a pastor at St. Patrick's Parish in Scranton at the time of the alleged crime, with indecent assault, criminal attempt to indecent assault and corruption of minors.

The victim, who was a member of the St. Patrick's Parish, told police that the Rev. Altavilla gave (now he merely "gave" her alcohol. Again, I ask how much?) her alcohol in the rectory after the midnight service, then offered to drive her home at about 3 a.m. Once in the car, he pulled her legs on his lap and began touching her feet and moving his hands up her legs until the victim attempted to escape, according to the criminal complaint. The priest then apologized and drove the girl home. (Thank God he was able to restrain himself and it ended there.)

The woman met with police Wednesday to report the assault. (Nearly 16 years later. A fact. Sorry for bringing out facts in this case. Silly me.) One day later, she called the priest while police listened. He admitted to providing alcohol and to touching her, saying it was "inappropriate" and sexual to him, according to the complaint.

The Citizens' Voice does not name victims of sexual assault.

 Upon being notified of the charges, the diocese removed the Rev. Altavilla from his assignment and his faculties to exercise priestly ministry were suspended, according to a statement released by Diocese of Scranton Chancellor Teresa Osborne. The statement indicated the diocese was cooperating with police in their investigation.

 "I am both angry and demoralized to think that, yet again, a priest has been involved in such inappropriate, immoral and illegal behavior," Bishop Joseph C. Bambera said in the statement. "It is particularly distressing that the pastor of our Cathedral Parish, who is known to countless numbers of the faithful and has served in so many positions of trust and responsibility in the Diocese of Scranton has betrayed that trust in such a manner."

 The Rev. Altavilla was arraigned Thursday and released on $75,000 unsecured bail. It was unclear late Thursday how long the priest has been with the Diocese of Scranton.

 pcameron@timesshamrock.com

As a side note, above is an example of the Citizen's Voice/Times actually reporting the news versus the lazy 'ole Times Leader who apparently can only manage to reprint the diocesan statement. And here that is, by the way:

On April 3, 2014, the Diocese of Scranton was notified of the arrest of the Reverend Philip Altavilla, a priest of the Diocese of Scranton and pastor of the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter, who was charged with corruption of a minor and indecent assault.  Upon being notified of these charges, the cleric was removed from his assignment and his faculties to exercise priestly ministry were suspended.  The Diocese immediately began its cooperation with law enforcement and asks that anyone who may have information about or may have been abused by this cleric contact the Scranton Police Department Detective Bureau at (570) 348-4139.
In response to this crime, the Most Reverend Joseph C. Bambera, D.D., J.C.L. Bishop of Scranton, expressed his remorse and personal sorrow for the victim and all affected by the situation.  In acknowledging his concern for the Cathedral community as well as the faithful and clergy of the Diocese of Scranton, the Bishop said, “I am both angry and demoralized to think that, yet again, a priest has been involved in such inappropriate, immoral and illegal behavior.  It is particularly distressing that the pastor of our Cathedral Parish, who is known to countless numbers of the faithful and has served in so many positions of trust and responsibility in the Diocese of Scranton has betrayed that trust in such a manner.”  The Bishop requests that the faithful of the Diocese join him in praying for this victim and all who are impacted by sexual abuse.
Teresa Osborne
Chancellor

So, let's look at this carefully. A priest is accused and by his supposed acknowledgement he did in fact give a 13 year old girl alcohol, rubbed her feet and legs inappropriately.

16 years ago.

He didn't rape her. (EDIT: Thank God since we now know he enjoys this sort of thing.)

He didn't kill her. (EDIT: Thank God again)

He gave her alcohol, rubbed her feet and legs. (EDIT: This particular sentence is implying that this could have been much, much worse. What he did was bad enough, but remember and give thanks, especially knowing what we now know about this guy, that it wasn't much, much worse.)

Then he stopped when she resisted and took her home. (EDIT Thank God he didn't follow his recently revealed passion for restraint and assault.)

At 3 in the morning. Where were mom and dad? (EDIT: A silly question? Or a legitimate one?) No one wondered where this kid was and why she was coming home at 3am? (EDIT: Again, a question that needs to be asked. I'm a parent. I guarantee you I know where my kids are at all times.)

Why nearly 16 years later is this now 29 year old woman coming forward to report something as innocuous as this?

Am I the only one who thinks something is up?

I am calling on investigators to be sure to investigate Rev. Altavilla. Make sure he hasn't done anything like this before or since. Make certain that his behavior did not become worse, and that he has not actually harmed youngsters in any way.

Be sure to watch this carefully to see how it plays out. In the meantime, be sure to pray for both victims, the victim of Satan's attempt to pull down a priest, and the victim of that lust.

Here is a nice, traditional prayer for you. By the image above we can see that he is clearly not a traditional priest, but say it for Rev. Altavilla. Say it for ALL priests that they remain true and to ward off the attacks of the evil one on them. Say it that the Rev sees this and amends his life and ministry should he be allowed to do so. Pray he finds tradition in his heart and allows it to flourish.

But just say it.

O Jesus, Eternal Priest, keep Thy priests within the shelter of Thy Sacred Heart, where none may touch them. 

Keep unstained their anointed hands, which daily touch Thy Sacred Body. 

Keep unsullied their lips, daily purpled with Thy Precious Blood. 

Keep pure and unworldly their hearts, sealed with the sublime mark of the priesthood. 

Let Thy Holy Love surround them from the world's contagion. 

Bless their labors with abundant fruit, and may the souls to whom they minister 

be their joy and consolation here and their everlasting crown hereafter. 

Mary, Queen of the Clergy, pray for us: obtain for us numerous and holy priests. Amen. 

Bambera Statement

No mention of the abuse Rigali did nothing about until after a grand jury investigated those abuse claims, Bishop Bambera? Way to dance around the biggest scandal in the American Church in the 21st Century.

Here's the suspended priests and the years of their ordination. If I had the names of the victims, I would have posted those.

Rev. Philip Barr (1948)
Rev. John Bowe (1973)
Rev. George Cadwallader (1992)
Rev. Paul Castellani (1996)
Rev. Michael Chapman (1982)
Msgr. John Close (1969)
Msgr. Francis Feret (1962)
Rev. Mark Fernandes (2004)
Msgr. Michael Flood (1968)
Rev. Mark Gaspar (1998)
Rev. Joseph Glatts (1966)
Rev. Steven Harris (1980)
Rev. Daniel Hoy (1948)
Msgr. Joseph Logrip (1972)
Rev. Andrew McCormick (1982)
Rev. Zachary Navit (1994)
Rev. Leonard Peterson (1967)
Rev. Robert Povish (1990)
Rev. John Reardon (1973)
Rev. Thomas Rooney (1991)
Rev. Peter Talocci (1986)

Almost forgot, here's Bambera's statement:

"As required by Church Law, Cardinal Rigali submitted his resignation upon his 75th birthday in April 2010. Today's acceptance of the Cardinal's resignation by the Pope affords us the opportunity to reflect on the Cardinal's service to the Diocese of Scranton.

"While the time he spent as our Diocesan Administrator was short, it was significant as the Cardinal served us well during a period of profound transition in our Diocesan history. We are grateful for the Cardinal's leadership and his presence during his 16-plus visits to our region over a nine-month period of time in 2009-2010.

"Cardinal Rigali selflessly shared his gifts and talents with us as our Diocese began to navigate through a rather unique and challenging period of transformation and change.

"On a personal note, I am grateful to Cardinal Rigali for the advice, care and example he has provided to me during the past year and half. I wish him good health and happiness as he opens a new chapter in his life and extend a prayer of thanksgiving to God for the gift of his ministry to the Church and his life of service to His people.

"In recognition of the appointment of Archbishop Charles Chaput, I invite you to join me in offering prayers for the faithful of the Philadelphia Archdiocese and their new shepherd."

Would Bambera still be Bishop if Chaput were named administrator? What do you think?