Ontario priest accused of sexually abusing two boys

A Catholic priest from Ontario has been removed from active ministry after being accused of sexually abusing two adolescent boys, according to the Diocese of San Bernardino.

Rev. Alex Castillo, 57, pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Ontario, was removed on June 25, a day after the diocese received “credible allegations of sexual abuse of minors” from family members, diocese spokesman John Andrews said.

The allegations were made public in a letter read during weekend Mass at the four churches where he served.

Andrews said the abuse was reported within a day to Ontario police.

Ontario Police Sgt. David McBride said the department was not contacted until early July, when it began an investigation into the allegations. The investigation is ongoing, and no arrests have been made, he said.

Castillo could not be reached for comment, but Andrews said the priest maintains that he is innocent.

“We are obviously very saddened and dismayed by this allegation because we believe that the sexual abuse of children is unacceptable, it's criminal and it's a sin,” Andrews said.

Castillo, who has worked at Our Lady of Guadalupe since 2003 and was named pastor in 2006, has been the subject of a previous complaint involving an adult, but the diocese deemed it “not credible,” Andrews said.

The removal means Castillo may not celebrate Mass or have any interactions with parishioners and that he has been relocated from his home near the church grounds, Andrews said.

A member of the diocese since 1988, Castillo has also worked at St. Anthony in San Bernardino (1988-1989); St. Catherine of Siena in Rialto (2000-2003); and St. George in Ontario (2006-2008). Before that, he worked for several years at the California Catholic Conference, which represents the state’s Catholics on legislative and social issues.

Diocese officials asked anyone aware of abuse by Castillo to report it to police or the diocese abuse hotline at 888-206-9090.

-- Tony Barboza

Photo: Rev. Alex Castillo. Credit: Diocese of San Bernardino

Comments

[david clohessy@aol.com]

How on earth do San Bernadino Catholic officials justify keeping silent about recent child sex abuse allegations against a priest for months?
Such irresponsible secrecy can enable a criminal to destroy evidence, intimidate victims, threaten whistleblowers, discredit witnesses, fabricate alibis, offend again and even flee the country. And let’s remember that only takes seconds for a child molester to shove his or her hands down a child’s pants, so the chances that a child predator will victimize another innocent boy or girl are quite high.

Whatever became of the repeated pledges of Catholic bishops to be “open and transparent” about child sex crimes by clergy?

David Clohessy
National Director, SNAP
Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests
7234 Arsenal Street
St. Louis MO 63143
314 566 9790

[antarez7]

This is how it should be handled,brought to public attention quickly.

[Judy Jones]

Often, when one or two victims of a predator discloses, others sit back and feel like the obligation to report is somehow lessened. But it's important for everyone with information about clergy sex crimes to come forward.

We urge anyone who was injured by this priest to call police officials, not church officials. Child sex crimes, however old, should be investigated by the independent professionals in law enforcement. This is the only way to protect kids.

Hopefully since these brave victims had the courage to speak up, others who have been harmed will do the same.

Judy Jones, SNAP Midwest Associate Director, 636-433-2511, snapjudy@gmail.com
"Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests".
http://www.snapnetwork.org/

[freddy please]

Are there any priests left that don't molest young boys?

[All Hallows Eve]

His protection seems first priority, since it took the church more than 3 months AFTER he is removed to publicly announce it.

I can't help but wonder - due to all of their exposure within the Diocese of recent years - if these pedophiles initially join the priesthood BECAUSE of their ill desires? Maybe some join initially in hopes to fight off their sick attraction to children, thinking God will help them? Or maybe it's the complete opposite of that, and they join the priesthood to prey on children? Or still, maybe it's a combination of both?

It's a sad, disgusting and shameful situation - no matter how it originates.
My heart goes out to those children AND their families.

[blackone]

So no jail time yet? What if he had stolen a slice of pizza?

[GEAH]

Muslims and Catholics are in competition to make God look bad.

[dogrob1]

WHATS UP WITH THE CATHOLIC PRIEST ABUSING YOUNG MEN SEXUALLY IN THEIR CHURCH...GOD SAID THAT THE EVIL ONE AND HIS DEMONS WILL DISGUISE THEMSELVES AS PRIEST AND BE IN THE CHURCH AND YOU WILL KNOW THE REAL PRIEST BY THEIR FRUIT...THATS NOT FRUIT...BUT NOW YOU HAD EARS TO HEAR...

[Luis]

@ David, if you read the article, the police were notified "a day after the diocese received “credible allegations of sexual abuse of minors"

That shows that it wasn't the "catholic officials" who have decided to keep this quiet for months. Since the allegations, the police department hasn't found anything to prove that he has done it (Or he'd be in jail right now). For that reason, should we destroy his life before the truth is 100%? I'm not saying he's innocent, but should it truly be that easy for someone to just say that a priest molested them and immediately believe the allegations? Or should we investigate (Which is what is going on now) and see what they find?

Hopefully they find out the truth and if he is guilty...I hope he spends the remaining days of his life in Prison!!! If he's not guilty, his life will never be the same. Let god shed some light on him if he's innocent.

[JUANITA E. QUEEN OF ANGELS]

WHY DON'T YOU CHECK THE BOYS CREDIBILITY BEFORE SLANDERING FATHER ALEX. JUST BECAUSE THE CATHOLIC PRIEST HAVE THE FAME OF CHILD MOLESTERS DOES NOT MEAN THAT ALL OF THEM ARE.
FATHER ALEX SERVED AT OUR LADY OF QUEEN OF ANGELS IN RIVERSIDE AND HE WAS ALWAYS THERE FOR THE PEOPLE. WHY DON'T YOU LOOK AND SEE IF FATHER ALEX REPREMANDED THESE BOYS AND NOW THEY ARE MAKING UP THIS AWFUL STORY. GOD KNOWS THE TRUTH AND THESE BOYS WILL BE DEALT WITH.

[esme Galan]

PEOPLE COME ON THESE ARE NOT KIDS THEY ARE TEENAGERS!! ALMOST ADULTS AND IF THEY WERE SUPPOSEDLY ABUSED "WHY DIDN'T THEY DO ANYTHING TO STOP IT UNTIL NOW THIS HAS BEEN "SUPPOSEDLY" GOING ON FOR TWO YRS SO HOW COME THEY SPEAK TIL NOW I MEAN THEY SAY TWO HEADS ARE BETTER THAN ONE SO I GUESS NONE OF THERE BRAINS WORK BECAUSE THEY LET THIS GO ON FOR SO LONG ...THE STRENGTH OF A TEENAGER IS MUCH MORE STRONGER THAN AN 57 YR OLD MANS' STRENGTH...HEAR THIS OUT WE HIS PARISHIONERS BELIEVE IN HIM 100% WE THAT KNOW HIM KNOW THAT HE WOULD NEVER DO SUCH A THING ...HE WOULD NEVER USE HIS POWER FOR SUCH EVIL...HE GIVES HOPE TO THOSE WHO FEEL THAT HAVE LOST EVERYTHING... HE HAS BEEN A HELP TO OUR COMMUNITY AND WE THANK HIM FOR THAT.WE BELIEVE IN PRIEST ALEX CASTILLO
MATHEW 7:1 DO NOT JUDGE OR YOU TOO WILL BE JUDGED
LUKE 6:37 DO NOT JUDGE AND YOU WILL NOT BE JUDGED

[susna eufracio]

I agree with esme galan...its very sad to see that the catholic church is always pointed at....if u investigate first then speak u would not sound so ignorant....yes that is what we call people that judge other without prior knowledge have u seen the news and news papers look around the world maybe in your own home? u r not free from evil so if i were u i would not judge. this happens in ALLLL RELIGIONS!!!!! CHISTIAN..BAPTIST,MAN THEY R SO MANY I DONT HAVE ALL THAT TIME, but i can say that we are each responsible for our actions so if he is or not guilty he will pay but this is until proven guilty so i suggest that people learn to pray for those in need instead of judging and if u dont have jesus in your heart then i will pray for u..and for those who attack catholics ...lets see who is free of sin!!!! it takes 2 know jesus to understand all this evil and love our neighbor and always pray.

[Josie]

Father Alex has been a very good priest I along with my children have returned to church because of him.When we first heard him speaking at mass after not attending in a along time. he inspired us to come back. He has help our community alot. They need to really check these allegations good, But now if he was innocent can he ever come back so will it really make a difference. He had the largest congragation in the I.E. only us who have been there can really say we know what he has done for our church. May God have pitty on these boy's if they LIED!!!!!!!!

[ontario best]

Its hard for me to hear this. I have return to church because of him. He has helped the community so much with information for immigration, health fairs and so many things so that us as a community could be united and inform.

Often talking about family first and to not let our children be strangers to us. To take the power back of parenting. I proud myself talking about father Alex and the efford and hard work he puts in his community. He is more than a priest he is an activist for human rights.

That been said this allegation makes him sound like if his evil. A person so far away from the person we gudalupenos know. So its hard for me to belive. He has not been arrested, that make me think there something missing, holes to the story,I dont know.

As a mother of boys I would hate for anything to happen to my kids. The alleged victims I understand are teenager, it breaks my hear to think that Father Alex would abuse his power has a prist I just dont believe it.

Either way Father Alex as a priest his image is ruin. At least in our community. Will always have a question mark did he? could he be capable? I struggle with this question. I have a friend who ask me Do you belive father alex did this? With out thinking I said of course he didnt he is innocent. Then she asked me would you trust him alone with you son? and I still can anwear that question,