Priest Removed from the Ministry for Child Sex Abuse Allegation

SAN ANTONIO, TX -- The Archdiocese of San Antonio has removed a priest accused of child sexual abuse.  

According to a news release Friday, the Archdiocese of San Antonio Office for Victim Assistance and Safe Environment was informed on August 29, 2018 of child sexual abuse allegedly perpetrated by Rev. Edward Pavlicek between 1994 and 1996. The allegation was made by the abuse survivor.

The Archdiocese informed the Bexar County District Attorney’s Special Crimes Division of the allegation on August 30.

Upon the recommendation of the Archdiocesan Review Board, which assessed the allegation, Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller, MSpS, opened a preliminary canonical investigation into the allegation and removed Rev. Pavlicek from ministry during the investigation.

The canonical investigation, conducted with the assistance of an independent private investigator, was completed on Oct. 25.

Following review of the outcome of the investigation, the Archdiocesan Review Board advised the archbishop earlier today that there is sufficient evidence that the abuse occurred to refer the matter to the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith at the Vatican for possible laicization.

Because of this, Archbishop Gustavo removed Rev. Pavlicek’s faculties today and prohibited him from exercising any priestly ministry.

Rev. Pavlicek most recently served as pastor of St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Canyon Lake, beginning on July 1. Previous assignments included as pastor of the Church of the Good Shepherd in Schertz and its mission of Immaculate Conception in Marion; pastor of St. Mary Parish in Somerset; pastor of St. Benedict Church in San Antonio; parochial vicar of Sacred Heart Church in Floresville; parochial vicar of St. Leo the Great Church in San Antonio; and parochial vicar and temporary administrator of St. Ann’s Church in San Antonio.

This was the first allegation of child sexual abuse involving Rev. Pavlicek that the Archdiocese has received. Archbishop Gustavo would like to publicly express his gratitude to the survivor for bravely coming forward and helping the Archdiocese by sharing these deeply personal and painful experiences. He hopes that this will also assist the healing process, and provide inspiration to other survivors of sexual abuse to report to the authorities these tragic incidents.

The Archdiocese will reach out specifically to the members of St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in Canyon Lake and other parishes where Rev. Pavlicek worked. The Archdiocese’s statement is available on the Archdiocese of San Antonio website at www.archsa.org as well as its social media outlets.

The Archdiocese of San Antonio takes seriously any allegation of child sexual abuse. The safety and wellbeing of all people are very important to the Archdiocese, and the church’s safe environment policies seek to protect all of God’s children. The Archdiocese encourages anyone who is a victim of sexual abuse to contact the police. The Archdiocese also asks that victims within the Archdiocese contact the Office for Victim Assistance and Safe Environment at (210) 734-7786.