A veteran San Antonio priest was removed from the ministry today following what the Archdiocese called 'credible' allegations of child sexual abuse back in the 1990s, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
The Rev. Edward Pavlicek was stripped of his priestly duties today by Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller, and he will recommend to the Vatican that Pavlicek be defrocked, a power which is reserved for the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith. Pavlicek is prohibited from performing the duties of a priest.
Pavlicek has been pastor of numerous churches in the San Antonio area over the past three decades. He most recently served as pastor of St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Canyon Lake, beginning on July 1. Previous assignments included as pastor of the Church of the Good Shepherd in Schertz and its mission of Immaculate Conception in Marion; pastor of St. Mary Parish in Somerset; pastor of St. Benedict Church in San Antonio; parochial vicar of Sacred Heart Church in Floresville; parochial vicar of St. Leo the Great Church in San Antonio; and parochial vicar and temporary administrator of St. Ann’s Church in San Antonio.
The Archbishop recently announced a zero tolerance policy toward child sex predators, and Pavlicek is the first priest to be removed of his faculties under the policy.
The Archdiocese will reach out specifically to the members of St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in Canyon Lake and other parishes where Rev. Pavlicek worked.
One credible allegation of abuse has been raised against the former priest, and the Archdiocese has turned over its information about him to the Bexar County District Attorney's office for an investigation.
"The Archdiocese will reach out specifically to the members of St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in Canyon Lake and other parishes where Rev. Pavlicek worked," the Archdiocese said in a statement.