Archdiocese of Paraná strips priest Marcelino Moya of ministerial authority

The Archdiocese of Paraná has issued a statement clarifying that priest Marcelino Ricardo Moya lacks ministerial licenses and is not authorized to perform any ministry on behalf of the Church. This follows his recent public appearance at the María Grande rural exhibition.

Moya, who was ordained in 1992, was previously convicted in 2019 to 17 years in prison for the sexual abuse and corruption of minors in the 1990s. While that sentence was confirmed by the Chamber of Criminal Cassation in 2020, he was later granted dismissal from the charges in 2021 by the Criminal Chamber of the Superior Tribunal of Justice due to the statute of limitations.

Although he remains a priest, the Archdiocese noted that he does not hold any parish responsibilities and has lived in relative isolation in María Grande since the legal proceedings concluded.