Special to the Herald
(From the issue of 7/15/04)

The Vatican has notified the Diocese of Arlington that Andrew J. Krafcik, 76, a diocesan priest who retired from limited ministry in 1996, has been "dismissed from the clerical state." This determination can be made only by the Vatican.

"Andrew Krafcik was formally notified on July 10 that he has been dismissed from the clerical state by a decision of the Holy Father," said Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde.

Krafcik is not permitted to serve in any ministry, celebrate Mass, administer the sacraments, wear clerical garb, or present himself as a priest. Bishop Loverde initiated the dismissal process with the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in September 2002 in accord with the norms issued by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith on April 30, 2001 (Sacramentorum Sanctitatis Tutela).

Krafcik was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Richmond in 1959. In 1984, Krafcik sought and gained incardination – or formal affiliation – in the Diocese of Arlington. Later that year, Krafcik was arrested for child abuse and was ordered, in lieu of a sentence of incarceration, to seek counseling.

From 1984 until his retirement in 1996, Krafcik served in limited ministry. While still a priest of the Diocese of Richmond, Krafcik served as associate pastor at St. Ann Parish in Arlington from 1982-1984. After his incardination to the Diocese of Arlington, Krafcik served for several months in 1984 as administrator of St. Francis de Sales Parish in Kilmarnock; associate pastor of St. Leo Parish in Fairfax from 1984-1991; and associate pastor at Sacred Heart Parish in Manassas from 1991-1996. He lived in retirement at Holy Family Parish in Dale City from 1996-2002. Since 1984, no further allegations of abuse by Krafcik have been brought to the attention of the diocese.

The Diocese of Arlington has had a sexual abuse/misconduct policy in place since 1991. Updated in 2003, the policy is available online at www.arlingtondiocese.org. The diocese’s Victim Assistance Coordinator is Patricia Mudd.