Two more priests gone from Lincoln Diocese

On Tuesday, officials in Pennsylvania released a grand jury report identifying more than 300 priests who molested children in six dioceses.

Back home in Lincoln, the local diocese removed another priest: Reverend Patrick Barvick of St. Mary’s in Davey.

Lincoln Bishop James Conley issued a statement saying he previously instructed Father Barvick that he was not to be alone with females but he wouldn’t be any more specific.

Another priest, Father Steve Thomlison recently resigned as pastor of two churches in Fillmore County.

Bishop Conley said Thomlison gave his resignation during a meeting about a past military incident that was a concern and that it had nothing to do with an offense against a minor or parishioner.

This comes a week after Conley removed priest Charles Townsend from St. Peter’s church in Lincoln.

For having an emotionally inappropriate relationship with a 19–year–old man

Bishop Conley said he will be more transparent moving forward and that an outside investigator will look at how he’s responded to sexual abuse allegations.