Two more priests can’t be priests anymore.
Philadelphia’s Roman Catholic archdiocese that Monsignor George Mazzotta and Monsignor Hugh Campbell have been found unsuitable for ministry because of reports they had sexually abused minors.
Neither one may have a public ministry, wear clerical garb or present himself as a priest, the archdiocese announced in a news release Sunday afternoon. Neither man, according to information in that release, has ties to Northeast Philadelphia.
The archdiocese in May 2010 received an allegation about Mazzotta, 73, and reported it to law enforcement. Archbishop Charles Chaput determined Mazzotta was unsuitable for ministry, and the priest has agreed to accept a supervised life of prayer and penance.
Earlier this month, the archbishop announced his decision regarding eight of 26 priests who had been put on leave in February 2011 after a Philadelphia grand jury reported several priests against whom there were credible sexual abuse allegations were still in ministry. In its release Sunday, the archdiocese said the Mazzotta and Campbell cases were not related to those other cases.
Mazzotta was ordained in 1988 and spent much of his career in the suburbs. He was working in Stella Maris parish in Philadelphia in 2010.
Campbell, 77, a retired priest, was found not suitable for ministry following self-reported sexual abuse of a minor in December 2011. Campbell, too, has agreed to accept a supervised life of prayer and penance.
Campbell was ordained in 1961. His last active assignment was St. Maximilian Kolbe in West Chester. ••
