Federal court, citing First Amendment, dismisses priest’s suit for reinstatement
February 16, 2022
» Continue to this story on Religion Clause
CWN Editor's Note: In 2018, Archbishop Timothy Broglio of the Military Services suspended Father Azuka Iwuchukwu after a woman accused him of sexually abusing her while she was hospitalized for mental illness in 2007. Police declined to investigate because of the statute of limitations had expired; the priest maintained his innocence and passed a polygraph test.
Archbishop Broglio declined to restore the priest’s faculties because of the “gravity of the accusations” and because civil authorities “have not declared that [Iwuchukwu is] innocent.”
Dismissing the suit, a federal district court ruled that “the First Amendment’s two clauses concerning religion provide dual protections to ensure that churches can freely determine the composition of their clergy.”
For all current news, visit our News home page.
All comments are moderated. To lighten our editing burden, only current donors are allowed to Sound Off. If you are a current donor, log in to see the comment form; otherwise please support our work, and Sound Off!