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Retired Catholic priest charged with invasion of privacy

News

August 27th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A retired Catholic priest in western Iowa has been charged with five counts of invasion of privacy over an alleged incident at a high school track meet in April. The Des Moines Register says a news release Friday from the Diocese of Des Moines announced that the Rev. Paul Monahan had been suspended on July 8 after the diocese learned of the investigation.

Monahan was charged by the Iowa Attorney General’s Office, which has not released details of the April incident. The Diocese says Father Monahan plans to plead not guilty. According to diocesan protocol, Bishop Richard Pates immediately suspended the retired priest from all public ministry, while the investigation and adjudication are ongoing. The suspension will remain in place until the matter is legally resolved. An independent third party conducted an audit of all diocesan files of living priests, including Father Monahan, in July 2014. Officials say the audit contained no evidence of inappropriate conduct by Father Monahan.

Monahan was ordained in 1960 and retired in 2004. He served St. Columbus in Weston, St. Mary’s in Avoca, St. Patrick’s in Walnut, Holy Family in Council Bluffs, St. Mary’s in Portsmouth, and Our Lady of Holy Rosary, in Glenwood.  In his retirement, Monahan also served as a senior chaplain at St. Albert Schools in Council Bluffs.

On behalf of the Diocese of Des Moines, Bishop Pates said he extends apologies to those who perceived violation of privacy. He urges prayer for all involved, including Father Monahan. The Bishop said “We must allow the law to run full course before further steps are taken by Church authorities.”