Indian priest involved in sex case has left job in Italy

An Indian priest who pleaded no contest to assaulting a 15-year-old girl in Florida and was found by an AP investigation to be working at a parish in Italy has given up his job at the Italian church.

An Indian priest who pleaded no contest to assaulting a 15-year-old girl in Florida and was found by an AP investigation to be working at a parish in Italy has given up his job at the Italian church.

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The Rev Vijay Vhaskr Godugunuru was serving as deputy parish priest in Sarteano, a small town in Tuscany's winemaking region.

The pastor, Rev Fabrizio Ilari, told rhe AP today that Godugunuru had left his post. Ilari said Godugunuru was no longer on duty as of Thursday, citing "his own tranquillity and our tranquillity."

He did not say whether Godugunuru was still in town.

The bishops supervising Godugunuru, now 40, said they were aware of the sexual assault case but believed he was innocent. They maintained he had not admitted guilt.