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	Community Notification Statement: Bro. Richard Suttle, CMF Catholic Sun December 18, 2008 The Claretian Missionaries of the U.S. Western Province have notified the Diocese of Phoenix that their review board has found a report of sexual abuse of a minor to be credible against Bro. Richard Suttle, a religious brother of the Claretian Order. Credibility does not imply either guilt or innocence but rather that the allegations made in the report are possible. In that report, Bro. Richard Suttle, CMF, is accused of engaging in sexual abuse of a minor during the 1982-83 school year while at Sacred Heart School in Prescott where Bro. Suttle was a teacher and a coach. After becoming aware of the report during the fall of 2008, the Diocese of Phoenix promptly conducted a thorough investigation into the charges and forwarded its findings to the Claretian Missionaries. To date, the report of the 1982-83 abuse at Sacred Heart is the only report of sexual abuse of a minor against Bro. Suttle that is known to the Diocese of Phoenix. The Claretians are not aware of any other allegations of sexual abuse of a minor against Bro. Suttle. The Claretian Missionaries have officially informed the Diocese of Phoenix that Bro. Suttle no longer resides in Arizona and will not be assigned to the diocese at any time in the future. The religious order has removed him from any ministry involving minors and has placed him on a plan that restricts and monitors his movements. Bro. Suttle was also employed at Bourgade Catholic High School in Phoenix from 1988 to 1998, where he was a teacher and coach. He served as principal of Sacred Heart School between 2006 and 2008. The diocese urges anyone who may know of any sexual abuse or other improprieties by Bro. Suttle or who may have any other such information about him to contact the Maricopa County Attorney's Office at (602) 506-3411, the Yavapai County Attorney's Office at (928) 771-3485 or the Claretian Missionaries at (626) 289-2009. Anyone who has experienced sexual misconduct or abuse by anyone with the Church is encouraged to make a report to local law enforcement and to contact the Office of Child and Youth Protection at (602) 354-2396.
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