Father Domenico Silvestro, the parish priest of Afragola, was "immediately" suspended from his ministry after being arrested along with another parish priest, Brother Nicola Gildi, on charges of sexual abuse. This was announced by the Archbishop of Naples, Monsignor Domenico Battaglia.
”It is with great sorrow that I received news this morning of the arrest of two minor friars of the Neapolitan Province, one of whom worked in the diocesan territory.
The disappointment and sadness are not only caused by learning of the unfortunate events in which the two friars are implicated, but by the bewilderment and disturbance that this news will provoke in the hearts of the faithful of the parish-sanctuary of S. Antonio in Afragola where one of the two carried out the ministry of parish priest and of the entire diocesan community wounded by what happened" , writes Battaglia.
"In communicating to everyone that I have immediately proceeded to suspend the parish priest from his ministry - continues the prelate -, I want to express my personal closeness to the faithful of Afragola and to all those who are linked by affection and devotion to the sanctuary of St. Anthony, welcoming their disorientation and sharing with them the trust in the Lord, the Good Shepherd, whose reliable, just and merciful Word is the only foundation on which to build our life.
I invite everyone to have faith in the work of the judiciary and to remember in prayer those who in various capacities are involved in this sad affair."
