By Vatican decision, priest returned to ministry after leave

Published: 2007-01-08

CINCINNATI (CNS) -- Father James Kiffmeyer, a priest of the Cincinnati Archdiocese, has been returned to active priestly ministry as a result of a recent action by the Vatican. He has been on leave for more than four years. Father Kiffmeyer took personal leave from the priesthood in April 2002 after an allegation of sexual misconduct was made against him. Cincinnati Archbishop Daniel E. Pilarczyk later put him on administrative leave, which meant that he was unable to celebrate the sacraments, wear clerical garb or in any other way function as a priest. There were two allegations of sexual misconduct made against Father Kiffmeyer. Both involved drinking, and both accusations came from students at Fenwick High School who were 18 or older at the time of the alleged events. The first allegation from 1990 was brought to the attention of the archdiocese in 1997. Father Kiffmeyer reached a four-figure settlement with the accuser. The second incident was said to have occurred around 1986 and was brought to the attention of the archdiocese in April 2002.

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