Palm Beach Diocese says investigation showed priest committed sexual misconduct, abuse of power

The Diocese of Palm Beach, Florida, said an internal inquiry substantiated allegations that one of its priests committed sexual misconduct and abuse of power, among other accusations leveled against him.

Diocesan officials learned in June that Father Alex Vargas was the subject of several “serious allegations,” Bishop Manuel de Jesús Rodríguez said in a Sept. 5 letter to the diocese.

The diocese reported the allegations to law enforcement, Rodríguez said, after which it launched its own independent investigation headed by an investigating agency.

That investigation was ultimately presented to the diocese’s adult allegation board; Rodríguez noted that there were no credible allegations leveled against Vargas regarding the abuse of minors.

The diocesan board determined it credible that Vargas had committed sexual misconduct, “financial malfeasance,” abuse of power, and several violations of the diocesan code of conduct.

Vargas has been deemed unsuitable for ministry “for the time being,” the bishop said; his ministerial faculties “shall continue to be withdrawn,” he noted.

The priest “remains innocent until proven guilty,” the prelate continued, adding that Vargas…