ARTelevision

Monsignor is arrested at resort

from the cleveland morning journal:

HURON TOWNSHIP -- A Byzantine monsignor was arrested yesterday morning on charges of sexual imposition and public indecency at a Huron Township resort, according to the Erie County Sheriff's Office.
Monsignor Robert V. Yarnovitz, 74, of St. John Byzantine Catholic Cathedral in Parma, allegedly was half naked when he grabbed a woman's breast, touched the crotch of a man and attempted to touch the crotch of an Erie County sheriff's deputy, according to the sheriff's office.

At 1:15 a.m., deputies were called to the Lodge at Sawmill Creek for a report of an intoxicated male causing a disturbance. A female front desk clerk told police a man pulled a fire alarm in one of the hallways and she went to investigate.

''In the hallway, she found Father Yarnovitz naked from the waist down next to the fire alarm,'' said Capt. Paul Sigsworth.

Yarnovitz had been attending a church conference at the lodge, Sigsworth said.

Yarnovitz then allegedly grabbed one of the woman's breasts as she was talking to him, Sigsworth said.

''He was highly intoxicated,'' Sigsworth said. ''She jerked away from him and two male employees showed up.''

Yarnovitz allegedly was yelling ''vile vulgarities'' and sexual demands at the lodge workers, and kept repeating the name ''Michael,'' Sigsworth said. One of the two male workers told police Yarnovitz touched his genitals, according to reports.

When deputies arrived, they found Yarnovitz sitting in a chair, wearing only a button-down shirt and one sock, Sigsworth said.

''He tried to grab one of the deputies in the genital area,'' Sigsworth said, adding that Yarnovitz was extremely uncooperative with police.

He was arrested for two counts of sexual imposition, one count of attempted sexual imposition, one count of public indecency and one count of persistent disorderly conduct, Sigsworth said.

Yarnovitz was detained at the Erie County Jail until he posted bond, Sigsworth said. He is scheduled to appear at Huron Municipal Court today at 9 a.m.

Father Nick Rachford, a representative from the Eparchy of Parma, said the alleged incident was ''out of character'' for Yarnovitz, and blamed his reported behavior on medication he recently started taking.

''It appears to be an unexpected reaction between medication and drinks at the hotel,'' Rachford said. ''Nothing like this has occurred with him before.''

Yarnovitz is not known as a volatile person, Rachford said.

''He says Masses prayerfully, and he preaches marvelously,'' he said. ''I hate to see someone castigated in the media for something that wasn't his fault. It was the medication.''

There is nothing in Canon law that would require ''external punishment'' for Yarnovitz's actions, but that will be in the hands of the bishop, Rachford said.

''If some action is not delivered consciously, it is not a sin,'' he said.

Management at the Lodge at Sawmill Creek said they had no comment on the incident.
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The zinger at the end of the story is what gets to me.
Like Father What's-is-name feels like the most important thing to do is make sure we cut the offensive Byzantine monsignor a break....since in his opinion "god" does...

don't get me started.

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