Italian court confirms priest's extradition to U.S. for abuse charges

Published: 2006-07-28

ROME (CNS) -- Italy's high court confirmed an order authorizing the extradition of Salvatorian Father Joseph J. Henn to Arizona to face child molestation charges. The Supreme Court issued its ruling July 27, confirming a January decision by the Italian Court of Appeals. The extradition papers were forwarded to the Italian Ministry of Justice, which should order the priest's transfer to the United States within 45 days. Father Henn was arrested in Rome in July 2005 after a request by the U.S. Justice Department that he be extradited to face charges in Maricopa County, Arizona. He was placed under house arrest while his lawyer, Michele Gentiloni, tried to fight the extradition order. Gentiloni told Catholic News Service in a 2005 interview that his client was accused of molesting at least three boys, ages 14 and 15, between 1979 and 1981 when Father Henn was living and working in Phoenix. In 2003, Arizona's Maricopa County indicted him on 13 counts related to child molestation.

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