{"id":1178,"date":"2012-09-27T16:50:00","date_gmt":"2012-09-27T16:50:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.catholicnewsagency.com\/news\/ivory-smuggling-charge-against-priest-reveals-abuse-investigation\/"},"modified":"2012-09-27T16:50:00","modified_gmt":"2012-09-27T16:50:00","slug":"ivory-smuggling-charge-against-priest-reveals-abuse-investigation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/2012\/09\/ivory-smuggling-charge-against-priest-reveals-abuse-investigation\/","title":{"rendered":"Ivory smuggling charge against priest reveals abuse investigation"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

Cebu, Philippines, Sep 27, 2012 \/ 10:50 am (CNA<\/a>).- A National Geographic story on ivory smuggling has renewed focus on a prominent Philippines priest accused of sexual abuse in Los Angeles in the 1980s.<\/p>\n

\tMonsignor Cristobal Garcia, an ivory collector, told a National Geographic correspondent he could smuggle ivory into the U.S. by wrapping it in \u201cold, stinky underwear\u201d and pouring ketchup on it.<\/p>\n

\tThe smuggling remarks, published in the October 2012 issue of National Geographic, caused a controversy which revealed that Archbishop Jose Palma of Cebu suspended the priest in June because of the Vatican\u2019s ongoing investigation of the child abuse case against him.<\/p>\n

\tIn a Sept. 26 statement from the Cebu archdiocese, Archbishop Palma explained that the abuse investigation began \u201clong before the (ivory trade) controversy erupted.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tPrior to his recent suspension, Msgr. Garcia served as chair of the Archdiocese of Cebu\u2019s Commission on Worship and as the business manager for the archdiocese\u2019s main publication.<\/p>\n

\tThe priest was removed from ministry in Los Angeles and expelled from the Dominican order in 1985 after a nun told police that an altar boy had been found in his rectory bed, the Dallas Morning News said in 2005.<\/p>\n

\tAfter the priest returned to the Philippines, the Archdiocese of Cebu under then-Archbishop Julio Cardinal Rosales may have ignored warnings from the Dominicans. It placed him in ministry and allowed him to work with children.<\/p>\n

\tMsgr. Garcia acknowledged having sexual relations with two young teen altar boys in Los Angeles. He contended that one of them \u201cnot only seduced me, he also raped me.\u201d The priest said his alleged victims obtained sex, drugs and money from him by threatening to accuse him of abuse.<\/p>\n

\tThe priest\u2019s accusers rejected his claims.<\/p>\n

\tArchdiocese of Los Angeles spokesman Tod Tamberg told CNA Sep. 26 that the archdiocese has \u201ccontinually expressed concern\u201d about Msgr. Garcia\u2019s remaining in ministry to both the Cebu archdiocese and the Vatican.<\/p>\n

\tThe Los Angeles archdiocese \u201cencouraged the Vatican to proceed with the investigation, in which we have fully cooperated,\u201d Tamberg said.
\n\t\u00a0
\n\tDue to Msgr. Garcia\u2019s suspension, he cannot say Mass in public or hear confessions. He has also been stripped of his positions in the archdiocese. The priest is now in Manila and reported to appear very sick.<\/p>\n

\tArchbishop Palma said that he has followed the Holy See\u2019s instructions about submitting documents and performing actions related to the case.<\/p>\n

\tHe said the Catholic Church has stated regret for the failure to address sex abuse \u201cin a more decisive and effective way.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tThe archbishop added that the Catholic Church supports the ban on the ivory trade.<\/p>\n

\n<\/a>\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Cebu, Philippines, Sep 27, 2012 \/ 10:50 am (CNA).- A National Geographic story on ivory smuggling has renewed focus on a prominent Philippines priest accused of sexual abuse in Los Angeles in the 1980s.<\/p>\n

\tMonsignor Cristobal Garcia, an ivory collector,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1031,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1178","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-asia-pacific"],"yoast_head":"\nIvory smuggling charge against priest reveals abuse investigation<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Cebu, Philippines, Sep 27, 2012 \/ 10:50 am (CNA).- A National Geographic story on ivory smuggling has renewed focus on a prominent Philippines priest accused of sexual abuse in Los Angeles in the 1980s. 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