A well-known and respected theologian, professor and priest accused of molesting a boy over 30 years ago committed suicide on Monday.
Father Virgilio Elizondo, 80, was a Roman Catholic Priest and professor at the University of Notre Dame. He was found dead at his home in San Antonio, Texas on Monday, having suffered a single gunshot wound to his head.
Though details of the circumstances are yet to be confirmed, the Bexar County Medical Examiner released the official cause of death today as suicide by a gunshot wound shortly before 2pm yesterday.
A longtime friend and administrive assistant of the priest, Janie Dillard, told the San Antonio Express-News that the priest "died of a broken heart".
Elizondo was accused in May last year of molesting and trying to kiss an orphan, when he was trying to report abuse by another priest 30 years ago.
The priest denied the accusations: "The allegations made against me are not true and have absolutely no basis in fact. I deny the claims which have been asserted against me."
A well respected and a leader in Hispanic Christian thought and liberation theology, Elizondo was the professor of pastoral and Hispanic theology at the University of Notre Dame.
The former Archbishop of San Antonio, Archbishop Jose Gomez of Los Angeles described Elizondo as "a good friend and a brother priest".
"He was generous and kind to me from the time I was a young priest and throughout my years as a bishop," he added.
"My experience was not unique. Father Virgilio was a scholar with a pastor's heart and he served as a father figure for an entire generation of young Latinos who were trying to make their way in theology and pastoral ministry in the Church."
Elizondo founded the Mexican American Cultural Center, now the Mexican American Catholic College, which provided training and research for pastoral leaders who came from across the US and Latin America to study. He was also named one of Time magazine's spiritual innovators for the new millenium and has received six honorary doctorates.
