The pastor of Charlotte’s St. Matthew Catholic Church, which is one of the nation’s largest parishes, is no longer on active ministry after sex abuse allegations dating back decades have been brought to surface.
Father Patrick Hoare will remain out of active ministry and on administrative leave after receiving an allegation of child sexual abuse that was said to have occurred in Pennsylvania more than two decades ago.
In Philadelphia, the Abington Township Police Department investigated the sexual abuse allegation, along with a similar claim of abuse in Pennsylvania.
The allegations are that Hoare inappropriately touched minors in the 1980s and early 1990s.
In the beginning of 2020, Abington police told the diocese their investigation “found the claimants to be credible but, citing the statute of limitations, local authorities said they were unable to bring charges.”
According to the bishop, the diocese wasn’t allowed access to the police investigation under Pennsylvania law.
