Ex-priest accused of molestation hired by Ft. Lauderdale Catholic school

Ex-priest at Ft. Lauderdale school
By JAY WEAVER
jweaver@MiamiHerald.com

A former priest who retired from a Fort Lauderdale Catholic high school in December amid questions about his alleged involvement in past sex-abuse incidents has been retained by the school as a consultant through the end of the academic year.

A group of St. Thomas Aquinas High School parents expressed ''tremendous concern'' about Ernest Durante, 68, of Hollywood in a letter sent Wednesday to the Archdiocese of Miami. The former guidance counselor has been training another school counselor on administering SAT, Advanced Placement and other exams on the campus.

The letter, unsigned by the parents, urged Archbishop John Favalora to remove Durante from the school.

The Archdiocese of Miami, which owns St. Thomas, confirmed that the former priest has been working as a consultant, saying he is present on campus only during after-school hours and has had no regular contact with students.

''I have been periodically going back to help train a female counselor. There's no involvement with students,'' Durante told The Miami Herald.

``I don't counsel students. I don't talk to students unless a situation arises. A student could see me or ask me a question about testing.''

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