McAllen priest responds to accusations of sexual misconduct

BROWNSVILLE, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A former McAllen priest, who is accused of sexual misconduct, is denying the allegations against him, according to his legal team.

According to a previous ValleyCentral report, On March 15, the Diocese of Brownsville received a report against Monsignor Gustavo Barrera of sexual misconduct.

“It is with a heavy heart that I inform you that the Diocese of Brownsville received an allegation of sexual misconduct with a minor against Msgr. Gustavo Barrera that is alleged to have occurred about 35 years ago,” Brownsville Bishop Daniel E. Flores said in a statement.

According to Msgr. Barrera's legal team, he was stripped of his priestly duties before he was able to learn of the allegations against him.

Additionally, they claim he was confronted with an interrogation before the Diocese had detailed what he was being accused of.

"He did not get a chance to discover the claimed facts against him," Barrera's attorneys said in a release.

The Diocese of Brownsville has stated it takes any allegation of sexual misconduct seriously, and the safety of its public is of utmost importance.

Msgr. Barrera submitted his resignation and retirement as a pastor of Our Lady of Sorrows Parish in McAllen. The resignation was accepted by Flores on March 23.