IOWA
TH Online
Posted: Monday, July 13, 2015
A former Dubuque priest accused of sexual abuse has been cleared by the Archdiocesan Review Board, but an advocacy group for clerical-abuse victims doubts the veracity of the investigation.
The Rev. Leo Riley served as a Church of the Resurrection associate pastor in 1985 and 1986.
Jeff Buchheit, 39, formerly of Dubuque, had said in March that he was in fourth grade and serving as an altar boy in October 1985 when he was abused by Riley. In response, Riley had been placed on leave from his position as a pastor in the Diocese of Venice, Fla.
Neither the Florida diocese nor Buchheit could immediately be reached for comment on Sunday.
Dubuque Archbishop Michael Jackels wrote in a letter to parishioners Sunday that “the best information available does not support a reasonable belief that the allegation is true.”
He wrote that the review board considered evidence against Riley and that church officials hired a licensed private investigator to interview Buchheit, Riley and people who knew them. The investigator also checked criminal complaints made against Riley.
“Unless additional evidence is presented, there is no need to pursue it any further,” Jackels wrote.
Jackels wrote that the findings of the church investigation would be communicated to Riley and his bishop in Florida.
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