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  Recent Sacred Heart Pastor Leaves Priesthood over Reports of Sexual Misconduct

By Lisa Handke
The Digitalburg
July 13, 2011

http://www.digitalburg.com/artman2/publish/Top_Story_74/Recent_Sacred_Heart_pastor_leaves_priesthood_over_reports_of_sexual_misconduct.shtml

WARRENSBURG, Mo. – The most recent former pastor of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Warrensburg has resigned from priesthood after admitting to two separate incidents of sexual misconduct while he was an associate pastor at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in St. Joseph, Mo., in the mid-1970s.

The Rev. Jim Urbanic, who served as Sacred Heart’s priest from July 2008 until July 1, 2011, came under investigation in June 2011, after the Most Rev. Robert Finn, Bishop of the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, and the Rev. Joseph Nassal, provincial director of the Kansas City Province of the Missionaries of the Precious Blood, received reports from two individuals alleging sexual improprieties from Urbanic while they were minors and associated with activities at St. Francis.

As prescribed by the policies governing both the diocese and that religious order, Nassal presented the allegations to the Independent Review Board of the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph on June 29. Following their review, the board found the allegations to be credible and recommended that Urbanic no longer serve in public ministry. The order is unaware of any other allegations concerning the priest.

 
 

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