As reported in The Blade yesterday, Father Frank Murd resigned as pastor of St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Maumee, Ohio (a Toledo suburb) because he is under investigation for an alleged sexual crime involving an adult male.
You can read the article here.
The 65-year-old priest allegedly touched a male improperly in a hot tub at the Jewish Community Center in Sylvania.
The incident reportedly occurred March 18. Father Murd met with Toledo Bishop Leonard Blair on Monday and resigned on Tuesday. A letter was mailed out to the 6,600 parishioners on Thursday from the bishop.
Father Murd has been admitted to a residential treatment center.
The allegation is sketchy; police aren't saying much. The victim has not come forward to the media and maybe never will. But the fact that the priest is at a residential treatment center for spiritual remedies, evaluation and counseling is a strong sign that there is some substance to the charges.
If Father Murd had denied the allegations, based on my reporting experience as well as simple common sense, it seems the bishop would not have sent the priest away for evaluation and counseling.
The prosecutor said charges may not be filed.
It also would seem unlikely for Father Murd to resign as pastor of this large, prestigious church immediately, but in most cases would have been placed on administrative leave the police and probably a church investigation are conducted.
Those are not my personal judgments but straightforward observations based on previous incidents.
Time and the legal system will tell whether these allegations are credible.

Sylvania, Ohio
April 13, 2008