A priest slated to become the next bishop of Duluth has resigned due to an allegation of child sexual abuse, Church officials announced Sept. 7.
A priest of the Diocese of Rapid City, South Dakota, Father Michel Mulloy was scheduled to be ordained the 10th bishop of Duluth Oct. 1.
The Holy See announced Sept. 7 that Pope Francis had accepted Bishop-elect Mulloy’s resignation. The same day, the Diocese of Rapid City announced that on Aug. 7 the diocese received an allegation against the priest of sexual abuse of a minor in the early 1980s. According to the statement, Bishop Peter Muhich of Rapid City contacted law enforcement about the allegation, and Father Mulloy was directed to refrain from ministry.
An independent investigation commissioned by the diocese and reviewed by a lay-majority diocesan review board determined that the allegation warranted investigation under canon law, and Bishop Muhich informed the Holy See.
“(Father) Mulloy received a summary of the specific allegation against him and submitted his resignation as Bishop-elect of the Diocese of Duluth to the Holy Father, which has been accepted,” the statement said.
Pope Francis appointed Father Mulloy, 66, bishop-elect of Duluth June 19 following the Dec. 1, 2019, death of Bishop Paul Sirba at age 59. Father James Bissonette will continue to serve as the diocesan administrator of Duluth until Pope Francis appoints a new bishop for the diocese.
“We grieve with all who have suffered sexual abuse and their loved ones,” Father Bissonette said in a Sept. 7 statement. “I ask you to pray for the person who has come forward with this accusation, for Father Mulloy, for the faithful of our diocese, and for all affected. We place our hope and trust in God’s providence as we await, again, the appointment of our next bishop.”
The Diocese of Rapid City said it has not received other sexual abuse claims against Father Mulloy. He was ordained a priest for the neighboring Diocese of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, in 1979 but primarily ministered in the Diocese of Rapid City. He officially became a priest of the Diocese of Rapid City in 1986. He became its vicar general in 2017 and served as its diocesan administrator in 2019-2020 during an interim between bishops.
