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  Kc Priest Removed from Duties over Sex Allegations

KCTV
June 3, 2011

http://www.kctv5.com/news/28119754/detail.html

The pastor of a Kansas City church has been removed from his ministry over allegations of sexual misconduct with minors.

The Kansas City-St. Joseph diocese announced Rev. Michael Tierney's removal from Christ the King parish late Thursday.

The diocese said in a statement that its review board received credible reports about sexual misconduct with minors by Tierney in the early 1970s and 1980s. The diocese said board members met with one alleged victim and considered information about two others.

The statement says Tierney denies the allegations and is cooperating with the process.

Tierney was accused in a civil lawsuit last year of molesting a 13-year-old Missouri boy in 1971. The Kansas City Star reported that at the time the diocese said it would vigorously defend Tierney against the allegations.

“It’s troubling," said Deborah Kemp, who lives right across the street from Christ the King. "I’m Catholic and a member of Christ the King. It hits close to home literally and figuratively. You read about it, but when in it’s in our parish, you hope and pray it's not true.”

A diocese spokesperson said Tierney has been removed from public ministry, which means he can’t wear the Roman collar; he will not be assigned to another church anywhere; he can’t perform any sacraments and even has to move out of the parish rectory. But where Tierney will end up is not known. The bishop gave Tierney instructions but those have not been made public

 
 

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