Nebraska Priest on Leave Amid Abuse Allegation

San Antonio Express-News
April 29, 2012

http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/article/Omaha-priest-on-leave-after-abuse-allegation-3519559.php

An Omaha priest has been put on administrative leave amid an allegation of sexual abuse when he was at a Norfolk parish in the 1970s, the Archdiocese of Omaha said Sunday.

Deacon Timothy McNeil, chancellor of the archdiocese, said the allegation against Rev. Franklin Dvorak came to light at the end of March. He is accused of sexually abusing a female student from 1970 to 1972, when he was stationed at Sacred Heart Parish. Sacred Heart runs a school, now called Norfolk Catholic, that serves students in kindergarten through 12th grade.

A message left Sunday at the parish office wasn't immediately returned.

Dvorak has denied the allegation, which was first reported by WOWT-TV.

Dvorak, who was ordained in 1970, was appointed pastor of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Omaha in 2007.

McNeil said Dvorak was removed from the parish the first week of April and was officially placed on leave on Friday, after an internal review board found the claim credible.

The case is being forwarded to Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in Rome. Law enforcement has also been notified.

Parishioners at St. Elizabeth Ann and St. James were notified of the allegation in a letter distributed at Sunday services. McNeil said both parishes were notified because they share a grade school.