Recently, the Archdiocese of Cincinnati suspended two priests from active ministry. The details surrounding both suspensions are disturbing and make clear that secrecy, corruption, and a lack of faith still prevail within the Catholic Church. Below is an open letter to my ordinary, Archbishop Dennis Schnurr, regarding his handling of these suspensions.
Your Excellency,
I am writing this open letter to express my disgust at your recent handling of the suspension of two priests of the Archdiocese, Fathers Geoff Drew and Clarence Heis.
You suspended Fr. Geoff Drew, pastor of St. Ignatius of Loyola parish, for “inappropriate” texting with a male student at the attached St. Ignatius school. No details have been given of these texts, but they were obviously “inappropriate” enough to warrant the serious action you took. Furthermore, it came to light after his suspension that Fr. Drew had been under monitoring at his last assignment at St. Maximilian Kolbe parish for similar concerns, including complaints of hugs, shoulder rubs, patting of knees, comments of a sexual nature, and texting. The principal of St. Ignatius school stated that he had not been informed of these concerns when Fr. Drew was assigned to St. Ignatius last year. The complaints from St. Maximilian Kolbe parish apparently were shoved under the rug because Fr. Drew’s actions weren’t technically criminal. With the focus strictly on legality instead of the salvation of souls, a wolf was allowed to roam among the sheep.
