Father Thomas Joseph, outgoing pastor of St. Nicholas in Carver, was temporarily removed from ministry because law enforcement is investigating him for criminal conduct involving an adult.
According to a Jan. 23 statement from Archbishop Bernard Hebda, the archdiocese reported to law enforcement an allegation of inappropriate conduct that it received against Father Joseph.
Tim O’Malley, the archdiocese’s director of Ministerial Standards and Safe Environment, informed law enforcement that it was the archdiocese’s policy to remove clergy under criminal investigation from ministry during the investigation, and that the archdiocese would not take any action that would interfere with a police investigation.
On Jan. 22, law enforcement notified archdiocesan officials that it was investigating Father Joseph for criminal conduct involving an adult, and removal of Father Joseph from ministry would not interfere with the investigation.
“With that clarification, Father Joseph was removed temporarily from ministry, pending the outcome of the criminal investigation,” Archbishop Hebda said in the statement. “Father’s removal from ministry should not be considered an indication or presumption of guilt.”
In a statement included with the archdiocese’s statement, Father Joseph maintained his innocence and said he was surprised and dismayed by the allegations.
“It is paramount that we as Catholics come together in God’s light to seek the truth,” he said, adding that he understood the need for law enforcement to investigate the allegations and he would cooperate “to clear my good name and the name of the Church.”
Archdiocesan officials are asking anyone with information about the matter to contact their local law enforcement agency.
