Diocese responds to civil lawsuit filed against Bishop Taylor, diocese

Published: April 14, 2011

The Diocese of Little Rock issued a statement April 13 in response to a civil lawsuit filed in Pulaski County Circuit Court accusing Father Charles Kanu, a Nigerian priest serving in Arkansas since 2005, of sexual abuse and exploitation of an adult woman. Bishop Anthony B. Taylor issued a statement Jan. 14 to announce he had removed Father Kanu from ministry after he failed to meet "certain conditions that were placed on his continuing in ministry in Arkansas."

According to the April 13 statement, "Today the Diocese of Little Rock was informed of a lawsuit being filed in Little Rock by The Niblock Law Firm and other attorneys on behalf of a plaintiff identified as 'Jane Doe No. 5.' The allegations include that Father Charles Kanu was involved in sexually abusing and exploiting the plaintiff, an adult woman. Given the legal action that has been undertaken, the Diocese of Little Rock and Bishop Anthony B. Taylor cannot comment on the allegations that have been made.

"As previously disclosed, Father Charles Kanu was removed from ministry at Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Marche and his faculties to function as a priest were suspended on Jan. 14, 2011, because of an allegation of professional misconduct that had been made against him. While a preliminary investigation of the allegation of professional misconduct was inconclusive, Father Kanu's own admission of his failure to comply with certain conditions that were placed on his continuing in ministry in Arkansas led to the actions taken against him by Bishop Taylor in conformity to diocesan policy."