Fired Omaha priest solicited Catholic school children's cellphone numbers

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Omaha World Herald

By Christopher Burbach

The 58-year-old Omaha priest removed from public ministry after a sexual assault allegation had solicited Catholic school students' cellphone numbers at his west Omaha parish.

The Rev. Francis Nigli asked for students' numbers before Omaha Archbishop George Lucas removed the priest from ministry in June, ordering him to leave St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church and school, the archdiocese said Friday.

Archdiocesan officials became aware about a month ago that Nigli had sought and obtained a child's number, said Deacon Tim McNeil, chancellor of the Omaha Archdiocese. McNeil said the Rev. Scott Hastings, the archdiocese's vicar for clergy, was told about the solicitation of a phone number in a meeting with St. Wenceslaus parish and school staff about a month ago.

"The next day, Father Hastings told Father Nigli to cease and desist: Do not contact anybody from the parish — child or adult," McNeil said Friday.

FULL story at link below.

Read more: https://www.omaha.com/news/plus/fired-omaha-priest-solicited-catholic-school-children-s-cellphone-numbers/article_76993665-767b-5bba-8243-7203e359c8d4.html

[rurallib]

1. I can't access the article - pay wall. So what happens now?

Does the Church just wash their hands of him? Will some police action kick in so this guy doesn't go around hunting kids?

[Omaha Steve]

2. Here is another story (no paywall?) on the same priest...no charges filed yet

City prosecutor won’t file charges against priest accused of sex assault. Police didn’t interview priest

https://www.omaha.com/news/plus/city-prosecutor-won-t-file-charges-against-priest-accused-of/article_5b727b16-fe15-5ac2-a344-84955ab15d5b.html

[rurallib]

3. That's a no-go either.

Oh well.

[rpannier]

4. Found this

https://www.wowt.com/content/news/Priest-removed-from-ministry-498577631.html

from the site

Omaha Police tell 6 News that detectives investigated the claims and found the allegations did not rise to the level of a crime.

[rurallib]

5. Thanks very much.

[SpankMe]

6. Hmmm. There has to be more to this story.

We adults - with the permission of parents, of course - get the cell phone numbers of the boy scouts in our troop so we can text them and keep in contact for meetings, projects, hikes, eagle projects and the like. Asking for kids' cell phone numbers itself shouldn't be a red flag. There must be more to this.