GREGORY ARFLACKGulity of sex charges

U.S. Army Chaplain Gregory Arflack, who once served as associate priest at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Bowling Green, was convicted today on multiple counts of forcible sodomy and two counts each of indecent acts and fraternization with enlisted service members at a court-martial in Bamberg, Germany.

&#8220He also was convicted on one count each of disobeying orders and conduct unbecoming an officer,” according to The Associated Press.

Arflack’s guilty plea was part of a pretrial agreement, according to the AP.

Under a pretrial agreement, a charge of indecent assault and two other counts of disobeying orders were dropped, the AP reported.

Arflack, a 44-year-old Marion native, said his actions were &#8220inappropriate and immoral,” the AP reported.

He was a priest with the 279th Base Support Battalion.

According to an article in the Aug. 17 edition of Stars and Stripes newspaper, Arflack was charged that month &#8220in connection with incidents that took place March 21, 2004, in Doha, Qatar, and July 29, 30, 2005, in Bamberg, said Maj. Bill Coppernoll.”

&#8220Coppernoll said Arflack is accused of fraternizing and other rules violations with three male enlisted Marines last spring in Qatar, the article said. The Bamberg incidents in July involved alleged acts of forcible sodomy with three male enlisted soldiers, one of whom reported them to his chain of command … Coppernoll said none of the accusations involves underage victims.”

Jerry Riney, pastor of Holy Spirit, said he was surprised to learn about the allegations against Arflack in the latter part of August.

&#8220I was very surprised and very saddened by it,” he said. &#8220He was my associate here from 1998 to 2000 and he’s been in our diocese only four years, and after that he requested he go into the Army as a military chaplain.”

Riney said he was also surprised to learn that Arflack had pleaded guilty to the charges of forcible sodomy.

&#8220It surprises me very much,” he said. &#8220He’s a very small person. Physically, he’s very small.”

According to Riney, Arflack came to Holy Spirit &#8220fresh from the seminary.”

At the church, &#8220he worked with the elderly and was assigned to Masses and funerals and all the rest,” Riney said.

Now, the church will pray for the victims and Arflack, Riney said. The congregation has known about the allegations against Arflack since September, when Riney included the information in the church bulletin.

&#8220I think we have been praying for victims, first of all, and for the perpetrators who also need prayer and also for the church,” Riney said. &#8220I really feel like it’s going to be certainly a great time of purification for the church.”

John Deeb, president of Holy Spirit’s Pastoral Council, said praying for the victims and Arflack is &#8220the Christian way to be.”

&#8220Everybody merits prayer, perpetrators and victims alike,” Deeb said.

Riney said &#8220it’s important to point out that there was not a child involved in this” case against Arflack.

&#8220I do think whether it’s with adults, regardless, it’s sad,” he said.

Today, Arflack told the court he regretted his actions, according to the AP.

&#8220I failed as an officer, I failed as a chaplain, I failed as a leader,” he said.

Riney said he has received a letter from the Archdiocese of Owensboro saying the situation with Arflack was out of its hands, and is being taken care of by the Archdiocese for the Military Services.

According to the AP, &#8220Arflack works under the jurisdiction of the Owensboro diocese” but has been suspended by it. He has also been suspended by the Archdiocese for the Military Services.

&#8220The Kentucky dioceses has said it would not look into Arflack’s behavior until after the military completed its investigation,” the AP reported. &#8220Bishop John McRaith, who has headed the dioceses since 1982, recommended Arflack for his military chaplaincy.”

Arflack is expected to be sentenced today by Army Col. R. Peter Masterton, according to the AP.

&#8220He faces a maximum sentence of dismissal from the Army and life in prison with no possibility of parole,” the AP reported.

&#8220Prosecutors sought eight to 10 years of confinement and dismissal, while defense lawyers asked for an unspecified lesser sentence on the grounds that he suffered from a psychological disorder which impaired his judgment,” the AP said.