Monday headlines: Former S.C. priest charged with federal sex crimes

News broke Sunday that the Rev. Jaime Adolfo Gonzales-Farias, also known as “Father Gonzales,” was arrested Nov. 29 in Miami on federal sex crime allegations that he abused an 11-year-old child in 2020. The Chilean native served in the Charleston area in the past.

According to the Associated Press, “a recently unsealed indictment shows Gonzalez-Farias, 68, was charged with aggravated sexual abuse of children, coercion of a minor and transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. Between Nov. 8 and Nov. 12, 2020, Gonzalez-Farias is accused of taking an 11-year-old child to Florida and engaging in the ‘intentional touching, not through the clothing, of (the victim’s) genitalia,’ according to the indictment.”

According to the story, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston first became aware of the allegation in December 2020 after he had left the country and then it notified parishioners the following month.

CP OPINION, Brack: Fallout on abortion ban ruling will create political headaches

“What’s kind of amazing, if you read through the long court opinion delivered Thursday, is that overturning the abortion ban from 2021 was a pretty conservative decision by the high court. Why? Because the majority interpreted the state constitution based on what it says — that there is an explicit right to privacy that protects people from government intrusion in their personal affairs. South Carolina’s constitution includes this explicit right written into its constitution, unlike the U.S. Constitution, which only implies it.”

In other headlines:

GERRYMANDERED: S.C. district drawn illegally, judges rule. A federal three-judge panel on Friday ruled that S.C.’s First Congressional District was illegally gerrymandered because it removed 62% of Black voters in Charleston County. They said it must be redrawn by March for the 2024 election.

McMaster’s proposed budget seeks pay bumps in education, law enforcement. Gov. Henry McMaster has proposed a new state budget that increases investments for capital investment and in workforce development for teachers and police. The state has a $3.8 billion surplus.

What is Cunningham’s future? Charleston Democratic politician Joe Cunningham lost S.C.’s race for governor by double digits. This story contemplates his future.

S.C. vocalist to perform in Carnegie Hall. Star vocalist Quiana Parler of Charleston’s Grammy-winning Gullah ensemble Ranky Tanky will perform Jan. 9-14 at Carnegie Hall as part of an educational performance series. Ranky Tanky’s acclaimed trumpeter Charlton Singleton and bassist Kevin Hamilton will join Parler along with Lowcountry keyboardist Demetrius Doctor and multi-instrumentalist Calvin Baxter.

Harbor pilot chief wrapping up his career. Whit Smith, the longest-serving president of a U.S. harbor pilots association, retired Dec. 31. Crayton Walters took over.

Former Mount Pleasant council member Marshall passes away. Former Mount Pleasant town council member Thomasena Stokes Marshall passed away Saturday. She was the first Black member of town council.

JACKPOT: Mega Millions reaches $1.1 billion. Nobody won the jackpot in Friday’s drawing, sending the Tuesday drawing to $1.1 billion.