Tuesday, March 17, 2020

 

Catholic Diocese of Arlington Responds to Announcement That Former Capuchin Priest Is Charged With Abuse

 

The Virginia Attorney General's office has announced that Mr. Scott Asalone, a former Capuchin priest who was assigned to St. Francis de Sales Parish in Purcellville from 1984-1993, has been arrested on charges involving sexual abuse of a minor in 1985.
 
Mr. Asalone was removed from the parish by the Capuchin order in January 1993, and the Diocese of Arlington subsequently was advised that the Capuchins had received an allegation against him.  He was dismissed from the Capuchin order in 2007, and was living in New Jersey at the time of his arrest.
 
The Diocese of Arlington has cooperated fully with all law enforcement agencies and will continue to do so in an effort to help ensure anyone guilty of abuse is brought to justice. Our concern and prayers are for the victims of abuse at any place and time. The Diocese has a zero-tolerance policy for abuse of a minor, and no one with a credible accusation of abuse is serving in the Diocese. Mr. Asalone was included on the Diocese's list, published in February 2019, of priests who were credibly accused of sexual abuse of a minor.
 
The Diocese of Arlington encourages anyone who knows of any misconduct or abuse on the part of any cleric or employee of the Diocese to report it to the Virginia Attorney General's hotline (VirginiaClergyHotline.com), and also to contact the diocesan Victim Assistance Coordinator at (703) 841-2530.  The diocesan child protection policy is online at arlingtondiocese.org.