The Diocese of Scranton announced on Tuesdaythat a preliminary canonical investigation into allegations of abuse against the priest Christopher C. was opened in July.
According to the diocese, the case involves a credible allegation of sexualised violence against a minor.
"Father C. was and is on the public list of priests of the Diocese of Scranton who are credibly accused of sexual abuse of minors," emphasised the diocese. At the same time, existing sanctions against the priest since 2004 have been tightened.
The results of the preliminary investigation had already been communicated to the Vatican Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, which is the competent ecclesiastical judicial authority in cases of abuse involving minors. competent ecclesiastical judicial authority in cases involving minors.
The diocese had only learnt of C.'s whereabouts through the events at the Arlington monastery: "Up to this point, the Diocese of Scranton had not been able to locate Father C., who had been unlawfully absent from this diocese since June 2004."
Since 2004, C. has not been allowed to exercise priestly ministries or act as a priest. With the opening of the new preliminary investigation, a ban on residence in the territory of the Fort Worth diocese was added to the sanctions. The ban on residence is a purely ecclesiastical measure and has no effect in the area of state law; in particular, it cannot be enforced by state authorities.
Allegations of abuse against members of a traditionalist community
In July, it became known that in the convent of the Carmelite nuns of Arlington, who have since been expelled from their order two suspended priests are working there.
According to the Diocese of Fort Worth, in which the convent is located, the two priests who administer the sacraments in the convent are Christopher C. and Marshall R., who are both currently not allowed to exercise their priestly ministry and belonged to the "Society of St John" community, a traditionalist religious institute under diocesan law in the Diocese of Scranton (Pennsylvania), which has since been dissolved due to allegations of abuse.
The dispute surrounding the convent and its former superior Mother Teresa Agnes has been smouldering for over a year. Mother Teresa Agnes is said to have admitted a breach of her vow of chastity.
As a result, the local diocesan bishop of Fort Worth investigated the matter and had the Carmel searched. The dispute came to light in May last year after the sisters went public to protest against the bishop's actions.
The Vatican largely rejected the sisters' complaints, but placed the convent under the authority of Sister Marie of the Incarnation instead of Bishop Michael Olson, the president of the relevant Carmelite religious order.
The sisters accept neither the authority of the Vatican nor the authorities assigned by Rome.
In September it became known that they had joined the the Society of St Pius X a traditionalist community without canonical status that is not in full communion with the Church. This break with the communion of the Church led to the exclusion of the sisters from the order.
As a result, they are no longer considered religious under canon law and have no claim to the convent they still inhabit.