Opinion ID: 2453320
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Investigations and Nash's departure from priesthood

Text: After the J.P. allegation, Bishop Warfel, then bishop of Juneau, ordered an investigation. It included, in 2003, a comprehensive report to Warfel, made by the Diocese of Juneau Review Board for the Protection of Children and Young People. The review board considered a rich record, which now forms the starting point for the record before this court. Also, the review board apparently had access to confidential documents, including a police report not part of the record before this court. The review board found J.P.'s statement to be the only evidence of sexual assault, and noted that Nash had called that statement into question with contradictory evidence. Accordingly, the review board recommended no action be taken on J.P.'s allegation at that time. Similarly, regarding the affidavit suggesting that Nash destroyed files, the review board found that although the affidavit was credible, Nash presented evidence calling the affidavit into question. The review board thus presumed Nash innocent of the alleged misconduct. However, regarding the older tickling and similar behavior (from 13 to 23 years prior and admitted to by Nash) the review board found the behavior to constitute sexual abuse of minorsand that Nash's intent was relatively unimportant. One of the review board's more detailed recommendations was that the bishop and Nash negotiate an agreement whereby Nash would voluntarily request a dispensation from the priesthood. The above investigation and report were conducted under pontifical secret. This appears to have prohibited Nash from independently investigating the merits of the allegations against him. Similarly, while Nash was allowed to answer questions from the church's review board, he was not able to present a case or cross-examine witnesses. Only after the review board and bishop reached their conclusion did a canonical advocatethe church's version of legal representationpresent the Vatican with a brief defending Nash. About a year after the review board's 2003 report, the church's governance granted the bishop permission to negotiate Nash's resignation. From 2004 to 2005 Nash and Bishop Warfel negotiated Nash's resignation in exchange for Nash receiving retirement pay, severance pay, and medical benefits, and a waiver by both sides of any claims against the other.