May 24, 2006

Accused priest cannot minister

TOLEDO (OH)
Toledo Blade

By DAVID YONKE
BLADE RELIGION EDITOR

A Toledo priest who spearheaded a $60 million capital campaign for the diocese in 2001 has been barred from ministry over allegations of child sexual abuse.

The Rev. Robert J. Yeager, 68, is accused of molesting a boy nearly 30 years ago.

The diocese said in a statement yesterday that the abuse allegations first surfaced in 2004 but that it took until now for its review board to obtain "specific information sufficient to conclude that the allegations [are] indeed credible."

Father Yeager, who led the diocese's "One Faith ... Many Blessings" fund-raising campaign in 2001 and 2002, worked as a "planned giving consultant" for the diocese from 1997 until his retirement in July, 2005.

He is still listed as executive director of Diocesan Fiscal Management Conference, a private firm based in Waterville that provides dioceses around the country with advice on financial investments and spiritual growth.

Posted by kshaw at May 24, 2006 07:12 AM