Priest in Waterloo, Ont., suspended after allegation of misconduct

Fr. Frank Freitas, a priest in Waterloo, Ont., has been suspended from priestly ministry  after a “substantiated allegation of professional misconduct.” 

Freitas, pastor at St. Michael Parish and the St. John Paul II Student Centre serving post-secondary students in Kitchener-Waterloo, was suspended July 13 by the Diocese of Hamilton. Parishioners were informed of the suspension, as were members of the student centre, in a July 15 message from Bishop Douglas Crosby, said Msgr. Murray Kroetsch, Hamilton diocese chancellor, vicar general and official spokesperson.

“We ask for prayers for Fr. Freitas and for those who have been harmed by his actions,” said Kroetsch in an e-mailed statement.

There were no details of the alleged misconduct.

The Diocese of Hamilton has a protocol in place to investigate allegations of abuse for misconduct and pledges to investigate according to norms set forth under its protocol, including co-operation with civil authorities.

No criminal charges have been laid against Freitas, said Cst. Ashley Dietrich of the Waterloo Regional Police Service.

Freitas, a native of Kitchener, Ont., and a graduate of St. Peter's Seminary in London, Ont., he was ordained to the priesthood in 1997 for service in the Diocese of Hamilton. He was also the author of several books published by The Catholic Register, which has suspended sales of the books pending further information.

Msgr. Earl Talbot has taken over as administrator of St. Michael’s Parish and the St. John Paul II Student Centre.