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Pinoy priest in US sex scandal says final Mass
By CRISTINA DC PASTOR, Philippine News
WOODBRIDGE, NJ â A popular parish priest accused of sexual misconduct wonât be returning to his parish, but would be given a chance to say his final mass before departing for the Philippines. Reverend Edgardo Abano, 52, of St. Frances Cabrini Church in Piscataway is leaving the church, but would celebrate mass for the last time on June 8. The website www.saveourpastor.org states that Abanoâs 12 noon farewell mass will be held at the St. Frances Cabrini school gym followed by a farewell reception in the cafeteria. The website was created by his supporters in a bid to clear the pastorâs name. Abano, well loved in his parish, was arrested in October of 2007 on charges of sexual misconduct. A Filipino employee of the Metuchen diocese Glenn Obrero filed a complaint with his superiors in 2005 that Abano had repeatedly touched his chest and buttocks in the church rectory. Obrero, 26, was then a seminarian at the Immaculate Conception Seminary in New Jersey. Abano has denied the allegations. In October 2007, Abano was picked up by agents of the Middlesex County Prosecutorâs Office Sex Crimes/ Child Abuse Unit and the Piscataway Police Departmentâs Special Victimâs Unit. Since his arrest, Abano â who was ordained in 1985 in the U.S. -- has taken a leave of absence. He is free on $1,500 bail. St. Frances Cabrini is the fifth New Jersey parish he has served; he has been a priest there since 1992. A jury that heard the testimonies of both Abano and Obrero in February this year returned a âno bill" verdict, which means they found no sufficient evidence for the prosecutor to file a case. This was based largely on revelations that the translation of a phone conversation between Abano and Obrero had some inconsistencies. On the strength of this decision, Abanoâs supporters within the parish as well as the Filipino American community have asked the diocese for his reinstatement. They have written letters to Bishop Paul Gregory Bootkoski of the Metuchen diocese expressing the hope that with the jury decision, Abano would be resuming his obligations as a parish priest. Instead, they were surprised to learn that Abano wonât be returning to the parish and would be leaving the US shortly after the June 8 mass. âHe has done nothing to warrant these allegations. We must all remember to keep ourselves focused on the fact that these are just allegations and must be proven false. He has been unjustly removed and our Bishop should stand behind him and give Fr. Ed his support and reinstate him back to his parish," says one of the messages of support in the website. - GMANews.TV
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