Vatican clears bishop of abuse
ROME — The Vatican has exonerated a retired U.S. bishop of multiple allegations he sexually abused minors and teens, rejecting lay experts’ determination that a half-dozen claims were credible and instead slapping him on the wrist for what it called “flagrant“imprudent behavior.
The Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith cleared retired Cheyenne, Wyo., Bishop Joseph Hart of seven accusations of abuse and determined that five others couldn’t be proved “with moral certitude.”
Two other cases involving boys who were 16 and 17 couldn’t be prosecuted because the Catholic Church didn’t consider them minors at the time of the alleged abuse, the diocese said. A 13th allegation wasn’t addressed in the decree.
Hart, 89, had long maintained his innocence and denied all allegations of misconduct. His attorney, Thomas Jubin, said multiple allegations against Hart were “specious,” with some based on secondand third-hand information, and with some accusers emphasizing that Hart didn’t actually touch them.
“Despite this, Bishop Hart asks me to convey that he continues to pray for all involved in this case so that they may find peace and healing. He now asks, and I ask, too, that he may now be afforded peace in the twilight of this life as he prepares to meet his God in the next,” Jubin said in a statement.
The Vatican decision clearly disappointed Hart’s successor, Bishop Steven Biegler, who stressed that the Vatican’s findings didn’t mean Hart was innocent, just that the Holy See determined that the high burden of proof hadn’t been met.
“Today, I want the survivors to know that I support and believe you” Biegler said in a statement. “I understand that this announcement will not bring closure to the survivors, their family members, Bishop Hart and all those affected.”
Biegler has stood by the findings of his review board, which determined a half-dozen claims were credible.
The Vatican for decades has been criticized by victims’ groups for giving bishops a pass when they have been accused of sexual abuse or of covering it up.
A few exceptions have been made in recent years, most famously in the case of ex-Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, who was defrocked after the CDF determined he had abused minors as well as adults, including during confession — essentially the same allegations Hart faced.
Anne Barrett Doyle of the online resource BishopAccountability.org said the Vatican ruling was “heartbreaking and disgraceful“and showed that church law is biased in favor of priests and bishops.