Bishops Speaks Up About Kansas Priest Investigation

Bishop Randolph Calvo, for the Diocese of Reno, has sent a statement to all of the Catholic parishes in the state of Nevada in regards to his position on Reverend Tom Cronin's leave, as reported by the Reno Gazette Journal.

Bishop Calvo put Rev. Cronin on leave from his pastoral duties while a review board investigated a lawsuit alleging that Cronin sexually abused a young girl in 1979.

Cronin was serving at St. Mary's in the Mountains in Virginia City when he was put on leave.  The abuse claim stems from his time at Sacred Heart Parish in Hamilton, Mo. 

The civil lawsuit accuses Cronin of molesting, and sexually abusing, a 17-year-old member of Sacred Heart.  He is denying the claims.

Cronin started his service in the Reno diocese as the chaplain at Washoe Medical Center in 1998 - now known as the Renown Regional Medical Center.  He then became the pastor at St. Robert Bellarmine in Fernley from 2000 to 2004.

Spokesman for the diocese, Brother Matthew Cunningham, said that Rev. Cronin and Bishop Calvo discussed the lawsuit and that Cronin agreed to take a voluntary leave during the Kansas City investigation.  Cunningham said, "The bishop had decided to ask him to step aside even before we heard the final word from the board."

The executive director for the St. Louis-based SNAP, Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests, David Clohessy, said Calvo should have both suspended Calvo immediately once he learned of charges, and, disclosed the allegations to the public.  The three week delay, per Clohessy is a "disturbing and deliberate cover-up."

A portion of the statement Calvo make to both parishes and the media read, "I believe it is important for you to hear directly from me what action I have taken in this matter."

Calvo contends that he learned of the lawsuit after reading it in a newspaper on October 1. He then asked Cunningham to communicate with the diocese for both "substantiation and direction in this matter."

Calvo stated, "We had no access to any facts about this case and we were never contacted by the victim or her lawyers."

Calvo continued by saying that they contacted the Kansas City diocese and informed them of their policies on allegations of this nature. The policy demands an examination of facts by the Diocesan Review Board, and then the board makes a recommendation about whether a priest should be put on leave during the investigation. Civil authorities may be contacted if deemed appropriate.

The Vicar General of the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph told the Reno diocese that Cronin should be placed on leave, "Based on the allegations presented and pending further investigation."

Calvo concluded, "There is no place in the ministry for those who would harm the young. Let us pray for everyone in the case and for a just resolution to this matter."

If a priest has abused you, or someone you hold dear, contact a personal injury attorney in our directory for help today!