Pope Francis abolishes pontifical

Ex-Merrillville priest accused of abuse, faking assault is defrocked, church says

Basil J. Hutsko Defrocked

Title: Ex-Merrillville priest accused of abuse, faking assault is defrocked, church says
Author: Meredith Colias-Pete
Publisher: Chicago Tribune
Date: 13OCT2020

A former Merrillville priest accused of sexually abusing a girl in the 1980s, and later faking a 2018 beating at St. Michael Byzantine Catholic Church was officially banned from the priesthood this summer, according to a church statement.

After a nearly two-year review, Basil J. Hutsko was defrocked, according to a letter dated Aug. 17, posted online from the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Parma, an Eastern Catholic sect based in Ohio.

Hutsko, 67, was placed on administrative leave in October 2018. He could not be immediately reached Tuesday.

He “has been permanently removed from engaging in public ministry and does not live on premises belonging to the Eparchy. He is not permitted to celebrate Divine Liturgy/Mass publicly or to administer the sacraments. He is forbidden to wear a clerical garb and present himself as a priest. He is bound in conscience to pray and offer acts of penance for those in need of healing due to the harmful actions of clergy,” according to the letter.

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