A shepherd has come home to his flock': Priest cleared of sexual abuse allegations returns to ministry

By Jaccii Farris
WFMZ-TV
August 31, 2020

https://bit.ly/3juxDan

With Allentown Bishop Alfred Schlert by his side, Father Robert Potts returns to St. Ursula's Catholic Church in Fountain Hill after being cleared of sexual abuse allegations.

During his first sermon this year, Potts spoke about his time away from the ministry.

"When you are in a situation such as mine, days go by and you wonder is there light at the end of the tunnel?"

Potts told parishioners at times he felt very alone, "but you realize that God is with you every step along the way."

Potts continued, "a shepherd has come home to his flock."

Potts would be separated from his flock for 10 months while Cornerstone Consulting, a firm made up of former FBI agents, investigated.

The Diocese of Allentown says the allegation came to light as part of a financial claim to the Washington DC law firm handling the compensation fund for church sex abuse victims.

The Diocese says the person who made the claim told investigators the alleged incident happened in the 80 or 90's in Shenandoah, Schuylkill County, where Potts was the Pastor of St. George Parish before joining St. Ursula's in 2006.

"The investigators concluded that father Potts did not commit the acts that were alleged," said Paul Wirth, Diocese of Allentown spokesman.

The Diocese says 48 of its priests have been credibly accused of sexual abuse. As of January, the Diocese has agreed to pay nearly $9 million to 47 victims.

This is the second time in recent years a priest has been exonerated and returned to ministry. In 2018, Monsignor Edward Sacks at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Bethlehem Township was also cleared of wrongdoing. The Diocese says in Sack's case, it was mistaken identity.

The Diocese says the members of St. Ursula's never stopped supporting Potts and waited, sometimes impatiently, for the truth to bring their shepherd home.

"I believe it'll take some time for the parish to heal. This has been a very serious allegation it really affected Father Potts's good name," said Wirth.