Canonical Rebuke and Definitive Decree Regarding Emeritus Bishop H. Joseph Hart

By Bishop James V. Johnston, Jr.
Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph
January 25, 2021

https://kcsjcatholic.org/2021/01/update-allegations-bp-hart/

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Bishop Stephen Biegler of the Diocese of Cheyenne has informed me that the ongoing case regarding allegations of the sexual abuse of minors by Bishop Joseph Hart has reached its conclusion. The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) has issued both a canonical rebuke of the now retired Bishop Hart, and a definitive decree.

This case is of special interest to the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph because several of the accusations against Bishop Hart originated from our diocese, dating to the time when he served here as a priest prior to becoming a bishop in Cheyenne in 1976.