Liberty Twp. Church Offers Discussion Series in Wake of Sex Abuse Allegations of Its Former Pastor

By Michael D. Pitman
Journal-News
August 24, 2019

https://www.journal-news.com/news/liberty-twp-church-offers-discussion-series-wake-sex-abuse-allegations-its-former-priest/SMLmZoLYtPKm49hEkdXGNK/

Father Jim Riehle is establishing a series of Discussion and Holy Hour for Healing sessions.

St. Maximilian Kolbe is offering this weekend to parishioners a “short, yet powerful book” after each mass in the wake of a sex abuse scandal involving a former pastor of the Liberty Twp. parish.

Father Jim Riehle is establishing a series of Discussion and Holy Hour for Healing sessions.In a message to parishioners, Riehle wrote the book “addresses so much of the struggle, the pain, and the anger surrounding the evil of sexual abuse and the stain this has left on our church.”

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Former Pastor Geoff Drew was indicted on Aug. 19 in Hamilton County on nine counts of raping a boy who recently came forward in the wake of other allegations.

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The book, “Letter to a Suffering Church” by Bishop Robert Barron, directly addresses the issues currently facing the church, wrote Riehle.

Riehle said said he’s “encouraging” parishioners read the book “because I believe it addresses important and difficult topics” and hopes it will spark a conversation. He also hopes the book at the ensuing discussions will be “a small, first step towards the peace and healing and change that we all desire.”