Runaway Priests
Hiding in Plain Sight

Rev. Horacio Macal
Salesian Case Study #2

Dallas Morning News
June 20, 2004

[See a list of articles in the series.]

Father Macal is awaiting trial in Costa Rica on charges of favoritism and dereliction of duty. He is accused of concealing suspected child molestation by a fellow Salesian priest, whom the order hid in Mexico.

Currently

Father Macal is director of a Salesian school in San José, Costa Rica, where he supervised the alleged abuser, the Rev. Leonardo Andrade. Father Andrade died in Mexico.

History

In 2000, a girl in her early teens told officials at the school that Father Andrade had molested her. Father Macal didn't tell her parents or police. After the girl confided in her parents the following year, they pressed charges.

The Priest Says

Father Macal declined to comment beyond saying: "There have been some people in the clergy involved in immoral situations, but I feel that my case is completely different."

The Salesians Say

Central American order officials did not respond to requests for comment.