Maui parishioners LAHAINA >> Hundreds of Maui parishioners are calling on the Roman Catholic Church to reinstate the Rev. Joseph Bukoski III, who was removed following an allegation he sexually abused a minor more than 20 years ago.
petition to reinstate
their ousted priest
The Rev. Joseph Bukoski III was
removed after he was accused
of sexually abusing a minorBy Gary T. Kubota
gkubota@starbulletin.com"Many have signed their names to a petition requesting that Father Joe be returned as pastor to Maria Lanakila Church as soon as possible," said the Rev. William Petrie, the acting church administrator.
Petrie said the petition will be sent to Hawaii Bishop Francis DiLorenzo.
Meanwhile, Bukoski, who has denied the allegation, has flown to Seattle for a professional evaluation. He left Tuesday along with his provincial superior, the Very Rev. Clyde Guerreiro of the congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, said Petrie.
Many Catholics on Maui rallied to support Bukoski after the allegation was made public. At least one parishioner said he would be willing to give Bukoski a second chance and have him return to the church even if the allegation is true.
Bukoski has been praised for his work among minorities of his congregation, and hundreds of parishioners have held candlelight and prayer vigils on his behalf, many saying they believe he is innocent.
The evaluation in Seattle comes at a time when the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops is meeting in Dallas to approve a new policy for preventing and reporting on sexual abuse of minors and the removal of abusive priests.
"They're going to come up with a policy to recommend to every diocese," Petrie said.
DiLorenzo, who is attending the conference, has publicly supported the removal of a priest from public ministry if an allegation of sexual abuse of a minor is substantiated.
Shortly after becoming bishop in Hawaii in 1993, DiLorenzo removed four priests from public ministry in sexual misconduct cases that occurred before he took office.
The Catholic Diocese announced on May 20 that it had removed Bukoski from his position the previous week following the allegation he sexually abused a minor while at St. Patrick's Church in Kaimuki. The diocese has not said whether the person who made the allegation is male or female.
Born on Kauai, Bukoski, 49, has served for four years as pastor of Maria Lanakila and its mission at Kapalua and has been in charge of the operation of Sacred Hearts School in Lahaina, with about 250 students.