It seems to me that something rather strange is going on here. They got this guy to step down rather quickly. They already have another pastor coming aboard in July.
Was there something in this pastor’s past that made this a done deal, if he ever screwed up again?
It just seems like the Church abandoned the guy without any due process at all.
It sounds like the bishop was acting quickly, but it does indicate that they investigated, so there must have been something to it. Furthermore, he may have had other questionable incidents in his past, but they just didn’t go that far (whatever it was) or were one of those things that make people uncomfortable but aren’t really clear enough to identify.
I’d rather see them act quickly than let it drag out. Most bishops are so lily-livered and afraid of offending that they wait until there’s practically a video available before they do anything.
That's been happening a lot since the whole sexual abuse of minors crisis began. If there is ANY accusation, the priest is relieved of duty until a full investigation is done. No Diocese wants to be accused of covering up, again.
There have been some false accusations, and the priests have had to deal with the blast of negative media, then be left with a shredded reputation when the investigation is over, because the media might report he was cleared, but always with an overlay of "how can we ever trust him again?"
I would just like to inform you and everyone else that Father Murd was also caught before doing this. In Seneca County when he was with St. Mary’s Church he was caught 2 times. Once trying to pay for Oral Sex from an adult and Second in a near by Fremont Park with an adult doing sexual activities. This was not brought up by many or any articles because the Church asked that it not be put on record and that he was to be sent to perrysburg/maumee area and wouldn’t be in the seneca county area. So the courts filed it and basically lost it type deal.
Just thought you should know.
Also my cousin is a pastor and he is married for those posting about that..I think it just all has to do with what type if church your looking at.