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	Urbanic Dismissed from Ministry By Kim Norvell St. Joseph News-Press July 6, 2011 http://www.newspressnow.com/localnews/28464737/detail.html A Catholic order has removed a former St. Joseph priest from his duties following reports of sexual improprieties in the mid-1970s. The Rev. James Urbanic, former associate pastor at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, has been removed from all public ministry by the Missionaries of the Precious Blood, a religious order based out of Liberty, Mo. According to a statement released Tuesday, two independent reports of sexual misconduct with a minor were reported last month against Rev. Urbanic. Both individuals alleged the abuse occurred while he served at St. Francis. Following the reports, the Rev. Joseph Nassal, provincial director of the Kansas City Province of the Missionaries of the Precious Blood, and Bishop Robert Finn presented the allegations to the Independent Review Board of the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, which found the reports to be credible. “Following their review, the board found the allegations to be credible and recommended that Father Urbanic no longer serve in public ministry,” the statement reads. “The order is unaware of any other allegations concerning Father Urbanic.” Rev. Urbanic acknowledged the abuse in a statement released to the order, stating “early in my priesthood I acted inappropriately.” He has cooperated fully with the investigation. Rev. Urbanic has also served as associate pastor of St. James Catholic Church in Liberty and Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Warrensburg. Kim Norvell can be reached at kim.norvell@newspressnow.com
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