Deacon Joseph Damiani
In public announcements in 11/12, Damiani’s two younger brothers alleged that he abused them between 1967-70 when he was a teenager and they were children. Over the years, they had demanded Damiani resign from his deacon duties but he refused. After the public disclosures and complaints to the Archdiocese, Joseph Damiani filed suit 1/13 against both brothers & SNAP for defamation. Both younger brothers countersued him. Suit later settled. Archdiocese reopened its investigation in 6/14 to clarify certain facts and determined that he would be temporarily removed from his duties. On 10/26/14 Archbishop Nienstedt announced that he was accepting his Clergy Review Board’s determination that Damiani was fit for ministry. Archbishop Nienstedt ended Damiani’s leave of absence and restored his faculties, declaring him a ‘Deacon in good standing.’
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