SCRANTON, Pa. (AP) - A priest from the Diocese of Scranton has been arrested for allegedly plying a 13-year-old girl with alcohol and touching her inappropriately after a midnight Christmas Mass in 1998.
The Rev. Philip Altavilla, pastor of St. Patrick’s Parish in Scranton at the time of the alleged incident, was charged Thursday with indecent assault and corruption of minors.
The diocese said the 48-year-old priest was suspended as pastor of the Cathedral Church of St. Peter, Scranton’s main church.
Court documents say police listened to a call the woman made to Altavilla, who allegedly admitted inappropriately touching her because he has a foot fetish.
Scranton Bishop Joseph Bambera said he was “angry and demoralized” to learn of the alleged “inappropriate, immoral and illegal behavior.”
Altavilla couldn’t immediately be reached for comment.
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