TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Catholic priest in Topeka suspended from his public duties after being accused of sexually abusing a minor will not face criminal charges in the case.
Shawnee County District Attorney Mike Kagay's office will not file charges against the Rev. John Pilcher after reviewing the results of an investigation conducted by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, Kagay told the Capital-Journal this week.
The Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas announced last September that it had suspended Pilcher, of Mater Dei parish, but said Pilcher denied the allegation and fully cooperated with the investigation.
The archdiocese said it will continue with evaluating Pilcher’s status as a priest.
“Be assured you will soon receive a communication from the Archdiocese upon final resolution of this matter,” a statement from the archdiocese that was read to Mater Dei parishioners this week said.
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TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The pastor of a Catholic parish in Topeka has been suspended from his public duties after being accused of sexually abusing a minor, the archdiocese for northeast Kansas announced Monday.
The Rev. John Pilcher of Mater Dei parish denies the allegation and is fully cooperating, the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas said. He will remain on leave until an investigation is complete and an independent review board has made a recommendation to Archbishop Joseph Naumann.
The archdiocese said that law enforcement was notified and announcement about the allegation made at all weekend Masses.
The parish includes two churches, Assumption across the street north of the Statehouse and Holy Name in central Topeka. They once were in separate parishes that merged in 2006.
The archdiocese said anyone with knowledge about the case regarding Pilcher or about any other misconduct should contact civil authorities first, then make a report to its confidential report line.