Priest Removed from Local Parish after Abuse Allegation

The Journal Gazette
June 19, 2013

http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20130619/FEAT04/130619460

A Roman Catholic priest affiliated with a Fort Wayne parish has been removed from public ministry after his religious congregation received a credible allegation of sexual abuse of a minor against him, the Fort Wayne-South Bend Roman Catholic Diocese says.

In its 2013 diocesan directory, the Rev. Cornelius Ryan is listed as administrator of St. Joseph-Hessen Cassel parish on Old U.S. 27.

In a statement, the diocese said Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades was notified by the Congregation of Holy Cross on June 10 that a credible allegation had been received against Ryan.

The abuse was said to have taken place about 20 years ago in Africa, where Ryan then served, the statement said. It did not provide details, nor did it say how the allegation had been determined credible.

According to its website, the Congregation of Holy Cross is a Rome-based religious congregation in the Catholic Church composed of priests and religious brothers. It said it has about 1,200 people serving in 16 countries.

The congregation is handling the matter according to its policies and the church's norms, the diocesan statement said, adding any requests for additional information should be directed there.

For more on this story, visit www.journalgazette.net later today or see Thursday's print edition of The Journal Gazette.