Vatican exonerates L.A. monsignor accused of sex abuse

LOS ANGELES -- A Roman Catholic monsignor in Los Angeles who was placed on leave a decade ago after being accused of sex abuse has been exonerated by the Vatican.

A spokeswoman for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, Monica Valencia, said Monday that Msgr. Richard Loomis has not been assigned to any parish.

The 68-year-old cleric was removed after allegations surfaced in 2003 that he had molested at least one boy at a Catholic school where he taught before he was ordained.

The alleged victim filed a civil lawsuit that was part of a $660 million settlement with the archdiocese in 2007.

Loomis served as vicar for clergy under Cardinal Roger Mahony and criticized how Mahony handled the case of former priest Michael Baker, who was later sentenced to prison for sex abuse.

CBS Los Angeles reported that on Saturday, the church released a statement which said, in part: "After ten years of exhaustive investigation and canonical trial, a Tribunal of the Holy See has definitively determined and ruled that no allegations of sexual misconduct of any kind alleged against Monsignor Richard Loomis have been proven. Monsignor Loomis has always professed his innocence of these accusations."

The statement added: "Now that the allegations against him have been conclusively resolved, Canon Law provides that the temporary restrictions on Monsignor Loomis' public exercise of his priesthood have ceased. He remains a priest of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles in good standing."