![]() The two priests told Knox News they spoke to church officials as part of the apostolic visitation, though both declined to say what was discussed or the purpose of the meetings. Another letter, from Susan Vance of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, was sent in October to Archbishop Shelton Fabre of Louisville, who oversees the Knoxville diocese, saying that the diocese is silencing victims of clergy sexual abuse. ![]() Apostolic visitations often are a signal that church leaders are concerned about a matter and gives them a chance to speak directly with people involved.Īdditionally, a letter from parishioners in Chattanooga was sent in October to high-ranking church officials detailing concerns about Bishop Richard Stika, who leads the 70,000-member diocese located in East Tennessee. To protect them from retaliation, Knox News is not identifying the two priests and a third person who has firsthand knowledge of the visitation.Īpostolic visitations are ordered by church authorities to dig into the spiritual well-being of a diocese. The visit - known as an apostolic visitation - was headed by Bishops Barry Knestout of Richmond and Michael Burbidge of Arlington, according to one of two priests with direct knowledge of the trip who spoke to Knox News. Subscribe online at /subscribe.High-ranking Catholic clergy conducted a fact-finding visit to the Diocese of Knoxville late last year, three sources confirmed to Knox News, as two lawsuits targeting the local church over its handling of sex abuse allegations are ongoing. Make our community, our society and our republic stronger by supporting robust local journalism. Connect with Tyler by emailing him at Follow him on Twitter tyler_whetstone. Tyler Whetstone is an investigative reporter focused on accountability journalism. Best was arrested Friday after an initial appearance. Once there, they confirmed the physical description given by the teen. He was eventually found, pulled over and officers followed him home. ![]() Instead of coming home, he turned off his cell phone and did not respond to officers. Last week, Best was notified that police had a warrant to search him. The phone was used to send sexually explicit text messages and arrange meetings, according to the complaint. In future interviews with investigators, the teen said Best told him to keep their relationship a secret, going as far as to purchase a “secret phone” for them to communicate. In January 2022, the teen was given a forensic medical exam, the results of which were consistent with the reported sexual abuse.Īuthorities including the FBI, the United States Postal Inspection Service and the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General obtained security camera footage of the building, which confirmed the two were inside wearing the same clothes they were seen in later that night. The teen gave police a detailed description of Best’s office, including a poster on the wall and a “cabinet full of keys.” Roughly 10 days later, the teen had an interview with police where he described personal physical characteristics of Best and detailed their sexual activity, including sex inside an empty office at the Post Office facility on Weisgarber Road on the day of the car crash. ![]()
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