After a concerted effort to conduct a thorough investigation, the Diocese Independent Ombudsman has discovered no additional information to corroborate the August 1, 2024, accusation against the Deacon, and the complainant has withdrawn the lawsuit in which the accusation was made. Therefore, the Independent Review Board has recommended to the Bishop that the diocese follow existing protocols and close the preliminary investigation. The Bishop has lifted the precautionary suspension from exercising diaconal ministry and restored the Deacon to active ministry.

From a period of cover-up and concealment, we moved into a phase of suspicion towards the clergy. Allegations of abuse became more frequent and the ecclesiastical institutions reacted by removing the accused from their ecclesiastical functions. In the face of a widespread suspicion of clerical guilt clerics can be disqualified as perpetrators of abuse on the basis of mere accusations. The cleric becomes the target of a storm of discrediting, i.e. in a very short time numerous negative comments spread through social networks that have far-reaching existential consequences for the religious in question. The cleric in question is unable to defend himself against such agitation and the accused is publicly branded as an aggressor and considered guilty, without further investigation or evidence. An accusation becomes a proven fact for the public opinion and the outrage against this cleric spreads like an avalanche. The author asks “in a situation like this, where is the question of truth and justice? Who will guarantee that the accused can exercise their rights?

Diocesan priests, both locally and nationwide, continue to struggle with the fallout of the clergy abuse crisis, which has created an environment where priests are “trying to minister in a climate of suspicion.” Just like the secular population, priests also have had an increase in struggles with mental health and physical well-being. The Bishops said a key part of the initiative will be looking at priests’ workload, and being “very assertive in the number of churches that we’re going to keep,” while determining “the number of parishes, the number of churches that one priest can manage because they feel it’s getting too much for them.”

Jesuit Father Hans Zollner joined several safeguarding experts in releasing a joint proposal in Rome Nov. 18 advocating a global extension of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ protocol of permanently removing from ministry credibly accused priests or deacons. That norm, established in 2002 alongside the USCCB’s “Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People” with the Vatican’s permission, at present only applies to the Catholic Church in the U.S. ". . . when it comes to largely open questions like what can be done for those who are dismissed — when there is no church oversight at all — and for those who are removed from ministry? Who is supervising, sanctioning, accompanying the latter ones?"

Victims may be manipulated into harmful behaviours, subjected to psychological torment through threats of divine punishment, or coerced into actions that serve the abuser’s interests. Unlike physical or sexual abuse, spiritual abuse leaves no visible scars, making it difficult to define, investigate, and address. The decision to explore this issue is not without controversy. There are concerns about false accusations or the potential for misinterpreting genuine acts of spiritual leadership as abuse. Balancing the need to protect victims while ensuring fair treatment for clergy will be a significant challenge for the Vatican.