Diocesan News

Official Advisories from The Chancery

The United States Catholic Conference of Bishops (USCCB) has been advised of concerns regarding three priests:

The Province of Santa Barbara of the Order of Friars Minor has advised the Conference that Father Edgar Magana, O.F.M., is not a priest in good standing and does not possess faculties to function as a priest. Father Magana has been dismissed from that Order and is awaiting a decision from the Holy See on his appeal. It is advised against offering Father Magana faculties to serve in any priestly capacity.

Father Malaver-Parada is a priest of the Diocese of Great Falls-Billings, Montana, but was removed from ministry following allegations of misconduct. The Diocese is initiating further canonical procedures against Father Malaver-Parada and relates that it has information that Father Malaver-Parada has contacted other dioceses seeking ministry positions. Since Father Malaver-Parada has apparently been in contact with several dioceses in this country, they are advised that he is not in good standing.

An individual presenting himself as “Father Jose Chamorro” is claiming to be a Catholic priest who was recently assigned to a parish in Queens from Connecticut, and is in need of funds to help him move from Connecticut.

He has collected $300 so far, from one victim alone. The Brooklyn Diocesan Chancery Office has been informed that he has been visiting funeral homes offering pastoral services. “Father Chamorro” has no permission to function in any way as a priest in the Diocese of Brooklyn, and it is highly doubtful that he is a Catholic priest at all.