Louisville priest 'on retreat' after an 'inappropriate relationship'

A priest is "on retreat" after being involved in an inappropriate relationship with an adult, Archdiocese of Louisville officials said.

The Rev. Shayne Duvall, pastor at St. Raphael Parish, "will be away for a couple of weeks to be on retreat" for "his previous involvement" in the relationship, spokeswoman Cecelia Price said in an email to Courier Journal reporter on Friday.

Price didn't say with whom Duvall had a relationship but said it had ended.

The Rev. Jeff Shooner, vicar for priests for the archdiocese, made the announcement to St. Raphael parishioners last weekend, the email said.

"Father Shayne has fully cooperated with Archbishop (Joseph) Kurtz in addressing this situation over the past months," Price said.

"Father Shayne has apologized and hopes to continue as pastor."

St. Raphael parish, which includes a grade school for boys and girls, is on Bardstown Road near the Highlands.

School officials and John Raque, St. Raphael Parish’s pastoral council chair, also declined comment and referred calls to the Archdiocese.

A man who answered a phone number listed for Duvall and his parents declined to comment and referred calls to the archdiocese.

Duvall earned a bachelor of science in justice administration from the University of Louisville and a master of divinity and master of theological studies degrees from Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology, according to the archdiocese.



His previous Kentucky appointments include: associate pastor of St. James Parish in Elizabethtown; St. Ignatius Parish in White Mills; and St. Ambrose Parish in Cecilia.



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