KNOXVILLE (TN)
WBIR-TV, Ch. 10-NBC [Knoxville TN]
January 27, 2025
Father Joseph Reed was placed on leave after a complaint of “boundary violations.”
A priest at St. John Neumann Catholic Church and School, who was placed on administrative leave, has now been cleared of allegations by the Knox County Sheriff’s Office.
Father Joseph Reed was placed on leave after a complaint of “boundary violations” was brought to the attention of the Diocese of Knoxville. The diocese had reported the complaint to state authorities and informed Reed of the situation.
KCSO told 10News its investigation is closed and the allegations were unsubstantiated.
Previously, both KCSO, the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services and the diocese had confirmed they had opened investigations related to the case.
The diocese had taken precautionary measures, removing Fr. Reed from his pastoral responsibilities during the investigation, emphasizing their primary concern for protecting those in their care and ensuring a fair review of the allegations.
As of Jan. 22, the diocese told 10News its investigation remained ongoing and Fr. Reed was still on leave.
“We are waiting for the state to conclude its review and will be conducting our own internal investigation as soon as we have their results. The timeline is currently outside our control as we await the state’s findings. Since this is an open investigation, we cannot comment on details at this time,” the diocese told 10News.
Fr. Reed, a Knoxville native, attended local schools before becoming a seminarian for the Diocese. He later joined Conception Abbey as a monk for almost twenty years, earning additional degrees in theology from St. John’s Seminary in Minnesota and St. Vincent Seminary in Pennsylvania.
His background includes teaching and serving in various roles at Conception Seminary College and Conception Abbey, as well as studying in Rome. Prior to his position at St. John Neumann, Fr. Reed served as parochial vicar and school chaplain at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Knoxville.
During Fr. Reed’s leave, Michael Maples was appointed to handle the pastoral needs of St. John Neumann Parish, with all regular parish activities continuing as normal.
This story may be updated as more information becomes available.