St. Raphael’s parishioners talk about accusations against priest from alleged incident in New Jersey
ABC-7 went to Mass at St. Raphael’s parish on Sunday to see what parishioners had to say about one of its priests, Rev. Philip Briganti, being charged with engaging in unwanted sexual contact with a man in New Jersey.
The incident allegedly occurred after Briganti officiated a wedding in Prospect Park on Nov. 9 in New Jersey.
Click on the video to watch the St. Raphael’s parishioners comments on the accusation.
Prosecutors say the alleged sexual contact occurred while the 67-year-old priest was on a bus trip to a hotel after the wedding reception.
They say they were notified of the allegation of by the Paterson Diocese, where Briganti had served before retiring. The diocese has suspended his right to perform ministerial duties.
According to a report on NJ.com, the Diocese of Paterson also informed the Diocese of El Paso, which also revoked his priestly faculties, and the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, according to its statement.
Prosecutors say Briganti is still in Texas and not in custody. They did not know if he had hired an attorney yet.
He’s charged with one count of criminal sexual contact.
Briganti was listed as parochial vicar at St. Raphael parish, according to the Catholic Diocese of El Paso’s website, up until Friday afternoon.
He previously worked as at chaplain at Fort Bliss where he was head of its religious operations and was featured on CNN’s Heroes of War in 2003.
The El Paso diocese released this statement on Briganti:
Fr. Phil Briganti, a priest of the Diocese of Peterson, N.J., has been living in El Paso and working as an extern. When the Diocese of El Paso learned of the alleged incident involving Fr. Phil Briganti, the Bishop of the Diocese of Patterson was immediately notified. The Diocese of Paterson immediately reported the alleged incident to local authorities. Fr. Briganti’s own bishop placed him immediately on administrative leave and suspended his priestly faculties. Fr. Briganti is forbidden from exercising any priestly duties in the Diocese of El Paso. Because a criminal investigation involving Fr. Briganti is ongoing, all further inquiries about the case should be directed to the Morris County prosecutor’s Office.
It is a priority of Bishop (Mark) Seitz to insure that any instances of sexual abuse by priests or religious in the Diocese are promptly reported in accordance with Texas law or the given civil jurisdiction and thoroughly investigated. Priests or religious, or for that matter, any employee of this Diocese who is determined to have engaged in sexual abuse will be removed from his or her ministry.
Rev. Anthony C. Celino, J.C.L.
Vicar General / Moderator of the Curia
