Arlington Pastor Removed From Post After Arrest

Diocese Found Out About June Incident Last Week

ARLINGTON, Va. -- Authorities said some obscene acts on federal land along the GW Parkway in Arlington landed a priest in jail. The alleged incident took place in June, but the Catholic Diocese of Arlington is just finding out about it. Franciscan friar the Rev. John J. Marino, 52, has spent time in jail, lost his post as pastor at St. Francis of Assisi and is barred from several parks, News4's Pat Collins reported.

According to court documents, Marino was arrested on June 30 and charged with disorderly conduct, obscene acts. Marino was arrested in Turkey Run Park, not far from a U.S. Park Police substation. Church officials said no minors were involved in the incident. In federal court, Marino pleaded guilty and was sentenced to three days in jail, a $300 fine and one year of probation. He also was ordered to stay away from federal parklands in the area. The Catholic Diocese of Arlington didn't find out about it until a week ago, when the bishop removed Marino from his post. "The priest did not make the diocese aware of this," said Soren Johnson of the Catholic Diocese of Arlington.

http://www.nbc4.com/news/9852565/detail.html

The Rev. Marino removed from Triangle Parish

By ALEXANDER J. GRANADOS agranados@potomacnews.com
Tuesday, September 12, 2006

The Rev. John J. Marino, 52, has been removed as the pastor of the Triangle St. Francis of Assisi parish.

Marino was arrested June 30 on a charge of disorderly conduct and pleaded guilty, according to a statement from the Catholic Diocese of Arlington.

The diocese learned of the incident in early September, and promptly removed Marino from service, according to the statement.

Marino had served as pastor for the parish since 2003.

St. Francis has more than 6,700 parishioners who were told of Marino's arrest and removal by the Rev. Dominic V. Monti, vicar provincial of the Holy Name Province of the Franciscan Friars, at Masses over the weekend.

"While we are still trying to gather all the pertinent facts, we have learned that Father Jack, your pastor, was arrested for improper conduct, " Monti said in his announcement this weekend. "We do know that this incident had nothing to do with minors, nor did it occur in this parish."

Monti went on to say in the announcement that Marino regrets the "hurt and embarrassment" he has caused.

He also said that the diocese will do what it can to get Marino the help he needs.

The Rev. Bob Menard, parochial vicar at St. Francis since 1995, will act as administrator of the parish until a new pastor is chosen.

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