Catholic deacon removed from ministry after calling for independent investigation of sex abuse allegations
HOLLY MEYER | NASHVILLE TENNESSEAN
Updated 10:58 a.m. CST Dec. 14, 2018
A Catholic deacon, who called for an independent investigation after the
Nashville diocese released the names of priests accused of sexual abuse, has been removed from ministry at his Brentwood parish.
Deacon Ron Deal, who has served at
Holy Family Catholic Church since 2010, cannot minister as a deacon at the parish until his “public disagreement with the diocese is resolved,” according to a letter from the Rev. Joe McMahon, the church’s pastor.
The letter says the parish priest’s decision was backed by
Nashville Bishop J. Mark Spalding.
Deal is not surprised by the decision, but says he has never spoken against the diocese as a deacon at the parish. But Deal does not think the diocese can effectively investigate itself when it comes to child abuse allegations against priests and he plans to continue to call for that external review.
“I believe in the church. I want the church to live up to the ideals that it asks of the rest of us,” Deal said. "I just feel like it’s still falling short . . .
. . . But Deal said the hiccups in the diocese’s release of information is further evidence that outside review is needed.
Deal said he was among those who flagged missing names from a shorter list initially shared internally by the diocese. When the 13 names were eventually published, some of the priests’ assignments were missing and one of them listed as dead was actually alive.
When it corrected itself, the diocese also shared the names of three additional priests. Those men are accused of abuse in other dioceses . . .
