Two Archdiocesan Priests Have Faculties Revoked

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Two archdiocesan priests, Father Lawrence Paolicelli and Father Joseph Nahas, have each had their priestly faculties revoked for repeated violations of “priestly continence” with other adults over the course of their priesthood.

The Canonical Precept, issued April 25 by Cardinal Dolan and Msgr. Joseph LaMorte, vicar general and chancellor of the archdiocese, cites the priests’ repeated “acts of sexual misconduct and allegations of sexual harassment involving adults…”

Both priests were stripped of their respective assignments. Father Paolicelli had served as pastoral care coordinator for retired priests, and Father Nahas was chaplain to the Sisters of Bethlehem in Livingston Manor. They will live at Our Lady of Consolation Residence in the Bronx.

Neither priest will be permitted to celebrate Mass publicly nor hear confessions or preach. They may not invite people to attend their privately celebrated Masses and are not to concelebrate Mass publicly.

The precept, which stated that it was “not implying” that the priests were presently in violation of their obligation to priestly continence, set up a list of commands to which the priests were to adhere. They include avoiding any contact with the persons and family members of such persons who have lodged allegations against them, and to avoid their physical presence in the parishes in which the offenses occurred or were alleged to have occurred.