GREEN BAY (WI)
The Post-Crescent
GREEN BAY — Pope Benedict XVI officially has dismissed a former Freedom priest from the clerical state because of the ex-priest’s conviction for child sexual abuse.
John P. Feeney, 78, whose most recent address was Los Angeles, was sentenced in April 2004 to 15 years in prison for three counts of attempted sexual assault of a child and one count of sexual assault of a child. He is being held at the Fox Lake Correctional Institution.
The charges stemmed from Feeney’s tenure as pastor of St. Nicholas Catholic Church in Freedom in 1978.
The victims, two brothers, were 12 and 14 years old at the time.
Green Bay Bishop David Zubik announced Monday that he has received official word from the Holy See that Feeney has been dismissed from the clerical state.