MINNESOTA
Pioneer Press
POSTED: 10/26/2014
A Minneapolis deacon has been reinstated to ministry after a clergy review board determined he poses no risk to others, after child sexual-abuse allegations leveled by younger relatives.
The allegations against Deacon Joseph Damiani came from his younger brothers, who said Damiani sexually abused them when they were children. Damiani has served at Annunciation Catholic Church and Gichitwaa Kateri Catholic Church, both in Minneapolis, since 2009.
Archbishop John Nienstedt said in a statement Sunday that a clergy review board advising the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis determined Damiani posed no risk to others’ safety.
“Based on the thorough review … along with the fact that these allegations are over 40 years old and there has been no accusations of any misconduct while he has served as a deacon, the Board found no reason to believe that Deacon Damiani poses a risk to the health or safety of others,” Nienstedt said in his statement.
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