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Maui priest The superiors of a local Catholic priest, who was removed last week as pastor in response to an accusation of sexual misconduct with a minor, said he will be evaluated at a behavioral science facility for clergy on the mainland.
removed from duty
The Catholic diocese orders
Parishioners voice support
an evaluation for a pastor accused
of sexual misconductBy Mary Adamski and Gary T. Kubota
madamski@starbulletin.com gkubota@starbulletin.comMembers of Maria Lanakila parish in Lahaina expressed support for the Rev. Joseph Bukoski III, 49, after being told of his removal in a statement read at all Sunday Masses.
Bukoski denied the allegation, according to the diocesan announcement that was released yesterday to the news media. He did not respond to requests for comment.
The alleged misconduct occurred more than 20 years ago when the Kauai-born priest was associate pastor of St. Patrick's Church in Kaimuki.
Since that time, Bukoski has held prominent positions in the church locally. He headed the diocesan canon law office and, as elected provincial head of his religious order, led an island delegation to the 1995 beatification ceremonies in Belgium for Father Damien DeVeuster.
The accuser was not named in the statement, and church spokesman Patrick Downes also refused to say whether the complainant is a man or woman. "It is up to that person to reveal identity and any details of the allegation. All we are saying is, it was a minor."
"There are no known witnesses" to the alleged incident, and it is up to the complainant to pursue the case with civil authorities, said the announcement.
Hawaii Catholic Bishop Francis DiLorenzo removed Bukoski from public ministry last week based on the unanimous recommendation of the Diocesan Standing Committee for Sexual Misconduct. The committee of psychiatrists, psychologists and priests, who reviewed the complaint made in April, also recommended that Bukoski receive professional evaluation and treatment.
It is the first such action taken here since the nationwide Catholic Church turmoil began earlier this year with allegations of pedophile priests and church cover-up in Boston.
Soon after he arrived in 1993, DiLorenzo removed four priests from public ministry based on past accusations of sexual misconduct.
Bukoski is in residence at the Kaneohe headquarters of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts.
"He will not function publicly as a priest until we do an evaluation," said the Very Rev. Clyde Guerrero, provincial, or superior officer, of the local branch of the international Sacred Hearts religious order. Guerrero said he has arranged for Bukoski to be evaluated at the St. Luke Institute in Silver Spring, Md., a professional psychiatric facility for clergy.
Guerrero, who returned yesterday from a visit to the Maui parish, said he told Bukoski that "the parish of Lahaina and the Mission of the Sacred Hearts are solidly behind him.
"The policy of the Sacred Hearts order is to follow the policy of the diocese," he said, adding, "We will support him as a brother."
Bukoski was ordained in 1979 after earning a Master of Divinity degree in pastoral work and a master's degree in canon law from Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. He got a license to practice canon law from St. Paul-Ottawa University in Canada.
He served as provincial of the Sacred Hearts order and chairman of the Hawaiian Commission for Damien of Molokai in the early 1990s, taking a delegation to meet with Pope John Paul II at the beatification and bringing back a relic of the famous priest who died of leprosy at Kalaupapa in 1889.
He was named pastor of the Lahaina parish four years ago.
The diocesan spokesman said three other people have come forward since the Boston scandal, which has extended to several other cities. One being actively investigated involves a mainland complainant. Two other cases have reached "roadblocks," Downes said.
The investigations do not include the matter of a suit filed Friday in which Darick Agasiva and Fa'amoana Purcell accused the Rev. Roberto DeOtero of sexual molestation when they were altar boys at a Kalihi parish in the mid-1980s.
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LAHAINA >> West Maui Catholics reacted yesterday to the removal of their pastor with statements of support and dismay. Parishioners voice support
for ‘Father Joe’By Gary T. Kubota and Mary Adamski
gkubota@starbulletin.com madamski@starbulletin.comThe Rev. Joseph Bukoski III "is a man for all seasons, as he brought together young and old, haole and kamaaina, Filipino, Spanish, Tongan into a loving and caring church community," said Joe Gallagher, chairman of the Sacred Hearts School Advisory Council.
"Our hearts go out to Father Joe, his mother and family, who, like his entire church community, are devastated by this unsubstantiated attack on Father Joe's reputation and good name," said Gallagher yesterday in a written statement.
Bukoski was pastor of Maria Lanakila parish for the past four years. There are about 1,000 members of the Lahaina church and Sacred Hearts Mission Church at Kapalua. He also had oversight of the private school with 250 students from preschool to eighth grade.
Hawaii Catholic Bishop Francis DiLorenzo removed Bukoski from public ministry last week in response to an accusation of sexual misconduct with a minor more than 20 years ago.
"I believe they're just allegations," said Mathew Dauenhauer, president of the Parents Teachers Guild of Sacred Hearts School.
"He's wonderful with the kids. He's just a great man," Dauenhauer told the Star-Bulletin.
Robert Derks, a member of a parish advisory committee, said Bukoski has been instrumental in making various groups feel at home at Maria Lanakila, including newly arrived Filipino and Tongan immigrants and vacationing visitors.
A parish meeting on the issue has been set for 7 p.m. Thursday.
Maria Lanakila Church has been a major Christian force on the Valley Isle, serving as a center for outreach in the community. The oldest Catholic church on Maui, it was established in 1846.