Investigating the past

In December 2017, current Bishop Steven Biegler opened an independent investigation into Hart. In July 2018, the diocese announced that it had identified two alleged victims of Hart’s — the one from 2002 and one that was previously unknown — and that the church considered those victims’ claims legitimate and substantiated. The diocese said it had forwarded the results of that investigation to police, who confirmed in August 2018 that they were investigating Hart and priest abuse generally.

Malatesta said the investigation began in April, though police did not publicly acknowledge it until four months later, when the diocese had released its own statement about Hart.

“We want to reassure folks that justice can be served on a case even if it’s several decades old,” Malatesta said. “People who may not have been believed in the past or brought up things that weren’t given weight or investigated properly — we’ve done everything we can in this case so that it’s done completely, accurately and to the best of our abilities.”

Hart has denied the sexual abuse allegations. A call to his attorney was not returned Wednesday. Neither the chancellor, nor the vicar general, nor the bishop of the Cheyenne diocese returned multiple requests for comment sent Wednesday.