Diocese clears local priest of sexual abuse claims

TULSA, OK -- On December 3, Bishop David Konderla of the Diocese of Tulsa announced the findings of an internal investigation into claims of sexual abuse made against a local priest.

Bishop Konderla said the allegations against Father Joe Townsend were “unsubstantiated.”

A statement issued by the diocese on Tuesday noted that in May 2019, Bishop Konderla opened a preliminary investigation into an allegation of sexual abuse against a minor lodged against Father Joe Townsend, a priest of the Diocese of Tulsa.

“On July 5, 2019, Bishop Konderla, in a spirit of transparency and due diligence, made the allegation against Fr. Townsend public and invited anyone with knowledge or concerns to come forward,” the statement read. “On August 2, 2019, it was further disclosed that the allegation lodged against Fr. Townsend stemmed from when he served as an Associate Pastor at St. Pius X Catholic Church from June 1988 to

June 1991.”

The statement goes on to explain that, “After a thorough investigation that was both victim-centered and respectful of the rights of the accused, Bishop Konderla, in agreement with the thirdparty investigators and in consultation with the Diocesan Review Board, a board of primarily lay persons, has found the allegation against Fr. Townsend to be unsubstantiated.”

“I want to personally thank Fr. Townsend for his cooperation and patience during this difficult ordeal,” the bishop said.

The diocese said that Father Townsend is no longer on administrative leave and “may again exercise his public ministry as a priest of the Diocese of Tulsa.”

The exonerated priest will undertake what the diocese called “a season of healing and rest” before being assigned a new pastoral assignment in the summer of next year. (La Semana)