Deacon reinstated after inquiry into brothers' sex-abuse claims

Pioneer Press
October 26, 2014

http://www.twincities.com/crime/ci_26803440/minneapolis-deacon-reinstated-after-sex-abuse-inquiry

A Minneapolis deacon has been reinstated to ministry after a clergy review board determined he poses no risk to others, after child sexual-abuse allegations leveled by younger relatives.

The allegations against Deacon Joseph Damiani came from his younger brothers, who said Damiani sexually abused them when they were children. Damiani has served at Annunciation Catholic Church and Gichitwaa Kateri Catholic Church, both in Minneapolis, since 2009.

Archbishop John Nienstedt said in a statement Sunday that a clergy review board advising the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis determined Damiani posed no risk to others' safety.

"Based on the thorough review ... along with the fact that these allegations are over 40 years old and there has been no accusations of any misconduct while he has served as a deacon, the Board found no reason to believe that Deacon Damiani poses a risk to the health or safety of others," Nienstedt said in his statement.

Damiani sued his brothers David and Michael Damiani and the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) for defamation in February 2013. Damiani alleged that his brothers were spreading lies about him because they were unhappy about the way he was handling the money in their father's trust.

David Damiani, of Kirkland, Ill., countersued, insisting the abuse took place. The case was settled out of court.

The two brothers , along with representatives from the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP), handed out "child protection alerts" to parishioners at the two churches in November 2012. Earlier that month, they reported the alleged abuse to the Rosemount police, which determined the criminal statute of limitations had expired.

The archdiocese's clergy review panel is made up of lay people and clergy with expertise in sexual abuse, health care, mental health and law, and also includes parents and victims of abuse.