WASHINGTON (DC)
Catholic Standard [Archdiocese of Washington DC]
July 22, 2024
Following a review of abuse allegations made in October 2023 against Msgr. Michael Mellone, the pastor of Annunciation Parish in Washington, and Deacon Lawrence Bell of St. Martin of Tours Parish in Gaithersburg, Cardinal Wilton Gregory announced in July 17, 2024 letters to those parish communities that no evidence of misconduct was found, and both men may return to active ministry.
The cardinal explained that after the Maryland Child Victims Act took effect on Oct. 1, 2023, The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington received notice of a lawsuit that included a John Doe plaintiff’s allegations of sexual abuse of a minor made against Msgr. Mellone and Deacon Bell that dated back to the 1990s, when they served together at St. Martin of Tours.
“To be clear, apart from the lawsuit, we have received no prior complaints of any sort of improper conduct made against either Monsignor Mellone or Deacon Bell – at any time or at any place,” the cardinal said.
Cardinal Gregory noted that after learning of the allegations, the Archdiocese of Washington followed the requirements of Canon Law and the protocols of the archdiocese’s Child Protection and Safe Environment Policy. “We immediately reported those allegations to law enforcement, and both men were removed from active ministry as a precautionary measure, pending further investigation,” he said.
A temporary administrator was appointed to Annunciation Parish. Both parish communities were informed about all those actions, and they were told that the precautions taken were not meant to be interpreted as any judgment on the truth or falsity of the allegations, about that priest or deacon, or about the person who made the allegations.
After the required reports to law enforcement were made, the archdiocese was later informed that neither Montgomery County nor the State of Maryland were pursuing a criminal investigation of the allegations made in the lawsuit.
The cardinal noted that he initiated a preliminary investigation in accordance with the requirements of Canon Law, and he explained that process “entails an investigation of the facts and circumstances related to the allegations, so that I may determine the next steps regarding their future ministry.”
An experienced investigative firm was retained to assist with the canonical investigation and to gather any available evidence. All the parties involved were given an opportunity to participate.
“After a thorough investigation, the findings were recently presented to me, and I shared these findings with our Child Protection and Safe Environment Advisory Board, a group mainly comprised of lay people who have expertise in these matters,” the cardinal said.
In the letters, Cardinal Gregory then said, “After careful review and consultation, I have not seen any evidence that supports the allegations made in the John Doe lawsuit. Nor are there any other past instances of alleged misconduct involving either Monsignor Mellone or Deacon Bell. Accordingly, I have made the determination to lift the precautionary restrictions that had been placed on Monsignor Mellone and Deacon Bell, effective immediately, so that both men may return to active ministry. This matter could be revisited in the future if the circumstances change or if new information becomes available that would necessitate further review.”
Cardinal Gregory in those letters said he recognized the toll that the process has taken on Msgr. Mellone, Deacon Bell and on the Annunciation and St. Martin of Tours parish communities. The cardinal will be visiting Annunciation Parish to celebrate the Vigil Mass on Saturday July 27, and he said that he hopes to visit St. Martin of Tours Parish soon. He noted that Washington Auxiliary Bishop Juan Esposito – who serves as the Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia for The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington – is making arrangements to concelebrate Mass at St. Martin of Tours in coming weeks. The cardinal also asked that a copy of his letter be read at all Masses at those parishes on one weekend, and that the letter be posted on the parishes’ websites.
Closing the letters, Cardinal Gregory asked the people of Annunciation Parish to welcome back Msgr. Mellone as their pastor, and the people of St. Martin of Tours to welcome back Deacon Bell, who has served at that parish for many years. He asked them to pray for Msgr. Mellone, Deacon Bell, for the John Doe who made the allegations, and for all the impacted communities.
Information on the archdiocese’s Child Protection and Safe Environment policies, practices and resources can be found at https://adw.org/about-us/resources/child-protection/