Monsignor Lawrence McGovern has been suspended pending a lawsuit by the alleged victim
From: NewNowNext
A California priest has been suspended for sending unsolicited pictures of his penis to his church’s pool maintenance person, and then firing the man when he complained.
Monsignor Lawrence McGovern, the pastor of Presentation Parish in Stockton, has been relieved of duty after the unnamed victim, a father of two who is also a parishioner, filed a lawsuit against the diocese for sexual harassment.
“It’s extremely disturbing that the person who is head of this parish would be sending photographs of his exposed genitals,” said the contractor’s attorney, Vince Finaldi. “Someone’s who’s engaging in that type of conduct has very, very serious credibility issues and issues with judgement.”
KTXL Fox 40 reports that the victim confronted McGovern over the pictures and his vow of celibacy.
“Oh, that just means that you’re not married,” the monsignor reportedly replied.
In a statement, the diocese claimed it first learned about the allegations against McGovern when the suit was filed. He’s been placed on administrative leave “pending a full and complete investigation,” but Finaldi says the monsignor should be fired.
“That person has no business being in a parish and head of a school where there are numerous young children walking around everyday.”
A Sunday school teacher at Presentation was arrested in 2013 on child-porn and molestation charges.
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