At its October meeting, the Archdiocese of Louisville Sexual Review Board completed action on eight priests who have been accused of sexually abusing minors. This is one of the steps of the canonical process required by the Holy See. Removal from the clerical state of those priests who have a substantiated accusation of sexual abuse of a minor requires action by the Holy See.
The Review Board was asked to determine if, based upon the available evidence, each priest is likely to have committed one or more acts of abuse of a minor.
Seven of the cases were substantiated, and this finding will be included in reports to the Holy See. (These cases involved Fathers Clark, Creagh, Dollinger, Herp, Miller, Scherzer, and Stoltz.)
The Sexual Review Board determined that it could not substantiate the accusations involving Father Donald Ryan, pastor of St. Denis Parish, and recommended that he be returned to active ministry. Father Ryan was removed from ministry, pending investigation, when two civil lawsuits were filed in April, 2003.
The Review Board took the following steps to come to this conclusion:
- The Review Board interviewed Father Ryan and reviewed his work history. Father Ryan has spent much of his ministry working with youth, and there has never been any complaint filed against him. In addition, Father Ryan has emphatically denied ever abusing anyone.
- The Review Board required two psychological assessments of Father Ryan, including one from an expert who evaluates sex offenders within Kentucky’s prison system.
- Inquiries were directed to the police and the Commonwealth Attorney’s Office about possible police investigations. Since the plaintiffs have never reported these incidents to the police, an investigation is not forthcoming.
- The Review Board requested interviews with the two plaintiffs who filed lawsuits:
- One of the plaintiffs never completed the basic discovery forms that are filed directly after a lawsuit.
- The second plaintiff provided basic information on the discovery forms; however he declined to meet with the Board or assist the Board in its efforts to investigate the accusations against Father Ryan.
Numerous individuals were interviewed who have known Fr. Ryan over the years, including some who were children in the parishes he served. Each of these witnesses offered very positive assessments of Fr. Ryan and his ministry.
Based upon the review of work history, psychological assessments, Father Ryan’s interview, and the lack of cooperation from the plaintiffs, the Archdiocese of Louisville Sexual Abuse Review Board determined that it was prudent and just to recommend that Father Ryan return to active ministry.
Representatives of the Archdiocese met with the St. Denis parish council on Monday evening to update them on this decision and the process that led to it. The parish council was unanimously supportive of the decision to return Father Ryan to St. Denis. After hearing the recommendation of the Review Board and the support of the parish council, Archbishop Kelly informed Father Ryan that he could return to St. Denis this coming weekend.
The Review Board did not take action on other cases involving living priests because of pending criminal proceedings, because investigations are ongoing, or because individual priests are too ill to participate in investigations.
Archdiocese of Louisville Sexual Abuse Review Board
October 22, 2003
