The leave followed an allegation of clergy abuse involving a minor dating back to the 1980s, the archbishop said. Following archdiocesan protocols, the allegation was reported to local law enforcement and reviewed by the appropriate county attorney’s office, which declined to pursue prosecution.
With law enforcement’s permission, the archdiocese’s Office of Ministerial Standards and Safe Environment (OMSSE) conducted an internal investigation.
The archdiocese’s Ministerial Review Board (MRB) reviewed the matter, and it was determined that the allegation was unsubstantiated.
The MRB recommended that Father Ince be permitted, in collaboration with the OMSSE, to return to public ministry in his retirement. Father Ince’s current personal situation and past circumstances were reviewed during the process.
Archbishop Hebda said he concurred with Paul Iovino, director of the OMSSE, who agreed with the recommendation.
The archbishop’s full statement was posted to the archdiocese’s website.
Father Ince, 89, was ordained in 1964. He began his ministry with assignments as an assistant priest of St. John the Baptist in Hugo, Nativity of the Blessed Virgin in Bloomington and Immaculate Conception in Columbia Heights, where in 1972, he was named vicar econome.
In 1974, Father Ince was assigned as assistant priest of Holy Spirit in St. Paul. In 1976, he was assigned as assistant priest of St. Agnes in St. Paul until 1991, when he was named pastor of Holy Trinity in Waterville and parochial administrator of St. Andrew in Elysian, ministering to both parishes. He retired from active ministry in July 2021.