Father Fernando L. Manzo
Ordained: 1983
Removed: 2010
Assigned as follows:
- 1983-1985 St. Rose of Lima Parish (Safford, AZ)
- 1985-1986 St. Francis of Assisi Parish (Yuma, AZ)
- 1986-1998 Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish (Somerton, AZ)
- 1998-2001 St. Monica Parish (Tucson, AZ)
- 2001-2003 San Felipe de Jesus Parish (Nogales, AZ)
Summary of Abuse Allegations against Father Fernando L. Manzo:
According to media reports, Father Fernando L. Manzo was placed on administrative leave by the Diocese of Tucson in December 2003, after being notified that authorities were investigating him regarding an allegation of sexual abuse of a minor. Father Manzo came under Tucson police investigation in 2003 for allegedly molesting his teenage nephew. After being summoned to a closed-door meeting with the Tucson bishop, Father Manzo fled to Mexico.
In January 2004, a civil suit was filed by Father Manzo's nephew alleging abuse by his uncle for 4 years, beginning when he was 8 years old. Some of the abuse is alleged to have occurred at San Felipe De Jesus Parish in Nogales.
Father Manzo was suspended from ministry in May 2004.
A Tucson police investigation determined that several youth had surfaced with allegations of molestation by Father Manzo during the 1990s, and that the archdiocese responded by moving him to new parishes after conducting internal investigations. Tucson police said Father Manzo was listed as a missing person and was not the subject of a pending warrant.
Father Manzo's whereabouts are still unknown. He is not receiving a salary or any other financial support from the Diocese of Tucson. He is not named on the list of priests with "credible accusations" of child molestation against them.
In 2010, he was "removed from priesthood". He has never been criminally convicted of the allegations against him.
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