Rev. Bill Moloney returing to Immaculate Conception Church in Peterborough after investigation completed

By Joelle Kovach
Peterborough Examiner
July 11, 2017

https://goo.gl/kWFczU

Rev. Bill Moloney.

Rev. Bill Moloney will return as pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish on Wednesday after a police investigation for sexual misconduct did not result in criminal charges and the diocese completed an investigation of its own.

The Catholic Diocese of Peterborough issued a written statement on Monday to say that Moloney will return to his job July 12.

The statement indicates that parishioners at Immaculate Conception Parish on Rogers St. in East City were told on Sunday about the reinstatement.

Rev. Moloney was put on administrative leave in Nov. 2016, after allegations of sexual misconduct were reported to the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP).

The misconduct was alleged to have occurred in the 1980s, at a summer camp where Moloney was the long-time director.

Camp Northern Lights in Haliburton is a camp for kids aged nine to 13 that was founded in the 1970s by the Knights of Columbus. Moloney stepped down from the directorship of the camp in November.

Although the OPP announced in early December that they'd investigated and that no charges would be laid against Moloney, the Diocese of Peterborough still needed to do its own internal investigation.

Monday's press release states that the Diocese did its investigation and forwarded the results - as well as the results of the OPP investigation - to a private review board.

That board's job was to make a recommendation to the local bishop on whether Moloney should be returned to ministry.

The review board is made up of nine people - six lay people and three clergy - who have expertise in psychology, social work and law.

"They have professional experience with victims of violence and abuse, including child abuse, sexual assault and domestic violence," states Rev. Joseph Devereaux, judicial vicar, in the release.

The board recommended Moloney be returned to ministry as pastor at Immaculate Conception, states the release.

It also states that Bishop Daniel Miehm, the head of the Diocese of Peterborough, had the final say - and he decided to follow the recommendation and return Moloney to his job.

"An appropriate course of investigation was followed, and we welcome Fr. Moloney back to the parish based on the recommendation of the review board," Miehm stated.

Miehm also thanked Rev. Peter Seabrooke for serving as acting administrator of the church since November and Rev. Peter Wayow for his ministry at the parish.