Immaculate Conception priest put on leave

By Madison Fleck
ABC 17 News
March 18, 2019

https://bit.ly/2udAnBp

Jefferson City Diocese

A priest at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church was placed on leave last week after he was accused of "boundary violations with minors."

Father Geoffrey Brooke was placed on leave while the allegations are investigated, according to a notice sent by Rev. W. Shawn McKnight to church members on March 10. The allegations were reported to the Missouri Children’s Division hotline, which will investigate the situation. The Diocesan Review Board will then review the results of the investigation and make a recommendation on how the Diocese should handle the issue.

Father Joshua Duncan was appointed as the part-time associate pastor for the Immaculate Conception parish, starting Monday.

The Diocese of Jefferson City released a list of clergy or brothers credibly accused of sexually abusing children in November.

Allegations against Brooke were made after the list was released, and those allegations will not be considered credible until the investigation has been completed, said Helen Osman, a spokeswoman with the Diocese of Jefferson City.