Milwaukee, Wis., Apr 23, 2010 / 01:00 am
A Catholic priest in Wisconsin was placed on administrative leave while the Archdiocese of Milwaukee investigates a claim that he violated the seal of confession.
The Wisconsin Journal Sentinel reported on Tuesday that Fr. David Verhasselt was removed from his pastoral duties at St. Catherine of Alexandria Church in the town Oconomowoc, Wisconsin by Archbishop Jerome Listecki on Monday. The archdiocese's tribunal is currently conducting a preliminary investigation.
CNA contacted the Archdiocese of Milwaukee for more information on the details of the case and received a general statement from Archbishop Listecki.
“Every priest has a most serious obligation to maintain absolute confidentiality regarding what is confessed to him in the Sacrament of Reconciliation,” wrote the archbishop on April 14. “A sacred trust is established between a priest and a penitent and the integrity of the Sacrament relies upon this trust.”