Bishop Robert Finn has removed Father Michael Tierney as pastor of Christ the King Parish after receiving reports of sexual misconduct with minors in the early 1970s and 1980s, KMBC is reporting.
The Kansas City-St. Joseph Catholic Diocese's Independent Review Board reportedly received "credible reports alleging sexual misconduct with minors" by Tierney and recommended the pastor's removal from Christ the King Parish as well as from all public ministry. Tierney's removal comes as the diocese and Finn are catching heat over inaction in the Father Shawn Ratigan case.
From KMBC:
Tierney has denied the allegations and cooperated with the investigation.One individual making a complaint recently met with the Review Board, a
panel of eight people that includes clinical psychologists, law
enforcement personnel and a member of the clergy, who advises Bishop
Robert Finn on matters of clerical misconduct.
After hearing the report and meeting with Tierney, board members also
considered information concerning two other individuals, according to
the release. Each accuser declined to meet with the Review Board, but
made similar claims of misconduct by Tierney, according to the release.
One of these individuals originally reported wrestling with Tierney, but
claimed in a 2010 lawsuit that he had been groped.
Tierney was accused of molesting a 13-year-old boy in 1971.
In a civil lawsuit filed in February, Tierney is accused of making advances to an 11-year-old boy. However, Tierney wasn't named as a defendant in the lawsuit.
Tierney is still listed on the staff page of Christ the King Parish's website.
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