SAINT PAUL (MN)
Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis [Minnesota]
October 3, 2025
By Archbishop Bernard A. Hebda
- October 3, 2025
From Archbishop Bernard A. Hebda
Father Michael Ince, a retired priest of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, has been authorized to return to ministry after being on a leave of absence since May 2022. This leave followed an allegation of clergy abuse involving a minor dating back to the 1980s.
In accordance with Archdiocesan protocols, the allegation was reported to local law enforcement and reviewed by their County Attorney’s office, which declined to pursue prosecution.
With the permission of law enforcement, the Archdiocese’s Office of Ministerial Standards and Safe Environment (OMSSE) conducted a thorough internal investigation. The Archdiocese’s Ministerial Review Board (MRB) reviewed this matter and, after careful consideration, determined that the allegation was unsubstantiated. Considering Father Ince’s current personal situation as well as other past circumstances reviewed during this process, the MRB recommended that Father Ince be permitted, in collaboration with the OMSSE, to return to public ministry in his retirement. Paul Iovino, Director of the OMSSE, agreed with this recommendation, and I have concurred.