Archdiocese clears former Dubuque priest of sexual abuse accusations

IOWA
The Republic

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: 7/13/15

DUBUQUE, Iowa — A former Dubuque priest has been cleared of allegations that he sexually abused an altar boy in the 1980s following a review by the Archdiocese of Dubuque.

Dubuque Archbishop Michael Jackels said that the Archdiocesan Review Board considered evidence against the Rev. Leo Riley and that church officials hired a licensed private investigator to interview Riley and the altar boy, who is now 39 years old and made the accusations in March, the Telegraph Herald (http://bit.ly/1RtQIcW ) reported.

Jackels said in a Sunday letter to parishioners that “the best information available does not support a reasonable belief that the allegation is true.”

“Unless additional evidence is presented, there is no need to pursue it any further,” Jackels said.

Riley had served as a Church of Resurrection associate pastor in 1985 and 1986. He was placed on leave as a pastor in the Diocese of Venice, Florida, after the allegations surfaced.

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