Bishop on Leave Pending Sexual Misconduct Investigation

By Jodi Rempala
Press and Guide
September 3, 2015

http://www.pressandguide.com/articles/2015/09/03/news/doc55e885e2b4583913052340.txt

Dearborn Heights Bishop Irineu Duvlea

A Michigan Orthodox bishop is on leave and cannot work as a priest following allegations of sexual misconduct.

Dearborn Heights Archbishop Nathaniel Popp on Tuesday publicly disclosed that his auxiliary bishop the Right Rev. Irineu Duvlea, is being investigated for sexual misconduct.

Popp said in a statement that Duvlea, 53, is presumed innocent, but has been placed on leave and is banned from working until the investigation is complete.

The church did not announce any information about potential victims.

Popp added that the investigation is highly confidential and urged his followers not to speak about the matter.

“No one should discuss the investigation with anyone,” Popp said in the announcement.

Duvlea served as the Bishop of Dearborn Heights and auxiliary bishop of the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America.

Members of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, said they welcomed the fact that Popp had made the investigation public. However, the group feels the archbishop isn’t going far enough because the investigation remains confidential.

Melanie Jula Sakoda, the Orthodox Director for SNAP, said in a statement, “Investigations into sexual misconduct should always be made public, and I was very pleased to see that Archbishop Nathaniel had made this announcement. Such disclosures encourage others who experienced witnessed or suspected abuse to come forward.”

“The Church should also supply additional information,” added Cappy Larson, also of SNAP Orthodox, “Did the misconduct involve a parishioner? If so, was the victim a child, an adult, a male, a female? How many victims have come forward? More complete disclosure can help to jog memories and reassure other survivors, producing additional testimony and evidence.” Continued...

Duvlea was a monk in Romania before he came to the United States in 2001. He founded The Ascension of The Lord Monastery in Clinton, Mich. He was the head of the Western States Vicariate of the OCA’s Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America. His territory included parishes in Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, Texas, Oregon and Washington.