Diocese Suspends Pastor After Sexual Abuse Allegations

A woman buys a rosary from a street vendor, in San Cristobal de las Casas, Mexico, Sunday, Feb. 14, 2016. On Monday, Pope Francis will travel to the southern indigenous state of Chiapas, Mexico's poorest and least Ca... A woman buys a rosary from a street vendor, in San Cristobal de las Casas, Mexico, Sunday, Feb. 14, 2016. On Monday, Pope Francis will travel to the southern indigenous state of Chiapas, Mexico's poorest and least Catholic region. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo) MORE LESS

OWENSBORO, Ky. (AP) — The Catholic Diocese of Owensboro has suspended a pastor after allegations that he sexually abused a juvenile in the 1980s.

The Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer (http://bit.ly/1topael ) reports that the diocese suspended the Rev. Freddie Byrd after being notified of the allegation June 2. The Diocesan Review Board reviewed the complaint and recommended the suspension.

The diocese said in a statement Monday that the complaint accused Byrd of engaging in inappropriate conduct with a then-17-year-old in 1983. Byrd was not a priest at the time. Diocese spokeswoman Tina Kasey says the diocese has no connection with the alleged incident.

The diocese added that it is conducting its own investigation and has alerted law enforcement about the allegations.

Kentucky State Police Public Information Officer Corey King says authorities aren’t conducting an investigation.

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Information from: Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer, http://www.messenger-inquirer.com

Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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  1. Isn’t it “priest” rather than “pastor?”

  2. Avatar for wwss wwss says:

    And of course it’s simply because he’s an LGBT pedophile, right?

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