According to a press release issued by the archdiocese of Omaha on Oct. 28, Archbishop George Lucas has permanently removed Rev. Donald Cleary from public ministry after he refused to contest an allegation that he sexually abused a minor in the mid-1980s in Wayne.

Rev. Donald Cleary was a priest at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Wayne from 1986-1998.

The allegation was reported to Michael Pieper, the Wayne County attorney. Michael Pieper was unavailable and did not return repeated phone calls for comment prior to publication.

According to Deacon Tim McNeil, the archdiocese has never previously received an allegation of sexual misconduct against Cleary. Cleary resided at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Omaha, and he moved out shortly after the allegation was made.

Cleary retired in 2015 in Omaha at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish. He served 44 years in public ministry.