St. Cyril's Priest Cleared to Resume Duties

The Examiner
February 5, 2012

http://www.examiner.net/news/x1200259402/St-Cyrils-priest-cleared-to-resume-duties

Sugar Creek, MO — A Sugar Creek priest who had been placed on administrative leave following an investigation into a complaint against him has beem cleared to return to parish work, according to a release from the Catholic Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph.

The Rev. Matthew Bartulica was given permission to resume duties at St. Cyril Parish in Sugar Creek effective Feb. 4.

St. Cyril parishioners were told in a letter on Jan. 22 that Bartulica had been put on administrative leave -- under the diocese's new rules -- because of an undisclosed complaint brought to the ombudsman now acting as an independent public liaison to field and investigate any reports of suspicious or inappropriate behavior.

The Independent Review Board that recommended the leave has now recommended that Bishop Robert Finn allow Bartulica to return to parish work, according to the release from the diocese.

Bartulica, who was ordained in 2010, has been with St. Cyril's for about six months.