Calgary priest resigns after past conviction revealed

The Bishop of Calgary admits he made a mistake when he hired a convicted sex offender who returned to the priesthood.

Frederick Henry issued the public apology Thursday. He admitted he made a mistake when he hired Rev. James Kneale. Kneale pleaded guilty to assaulting a 16-year-old Ontario boy in 1986 and served a nine-month conditional sentence.

"I'm the guy who made a bad judgment call," Bishop Henry said. "So from that vantage point, it's my responsibility. I goofed."

But he maintains his mistake was not the hiring of Kneale, but his failure to consult parishioners at St. Patrick's Catholic Church about the decision.

"I was trying to balance out the need to know, versus the person's right to his reputation, and it's a very difficult balance, but based upon the scientific evidence, and his past history, I judged he was not at risk to offend," said Henry.

Henry said Kneale's offence happened 16 years ago, and that psychiatric assessments from Ontario's Southdown Institute predicted he is unlikely to reoffend. Kneale received treatment at the facility.

Kneale handed in his resignation Thursday, saying he realized he caused a rift in the church. Parishioners staged protests, explaining that they were furious a convicted sex offender could be hired without their knowledge.

But Henry says he's still convinced Kneale has been rehabilitated and deserves another chance to work within the Catholic church.