Category:Utah Dioceses

From Eurêka

Diocese of Salt Lake City In a state where Catholics make up just 8% of the population, it was reported that only one priest accused of sex abuse up to January 2003. In the national audit the diocese reported there were 18 credible allegations made against 13 priests, 1950-2003.

• See also Colosimo brothers’ accusation

(alphabetical listing)

[13 offenders identified, one listed]

Olarte affair Rev. Mario Arbelaez Olarte, an assistant pastor at Ogden's St. Joseph's Catholic Church, posed as a 20-year-old man when he entered a chat room at Gay.com and met a female sheriff's officer, Janice Van Orden of the Northern Utah Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC) who was posing as a boy. She and the priest exchanged fictitious ages, then chatted about their sexual preferences. Within minutes, the two agreed to rendezvous several blocks from the church, where Olarte has private living quarters and was operating his computer. Olarte was arrested when he arrived for the meeting at the corner of 25th Street and Adams Avenue. He was booked into the Weber County Jail, then released on his own recognizance, 17 May 2003. The priest claimed he was conducting research.