Toledo priest is barred from ministry over allegations of child sexual abuse

5/23/2006
BLADE STAFF

A priest who spearheaded a $60 million capital campaign for the Toledo Catholic Diocese in 2001 has been barred from ministry over allegations of child sexual abuse.

The Rev. Robert J. Yeager, 68, is accused of molesting a boy nearly 30 years ago, the diocese announced.

The diocese said the allegations first surfaced in 2004, but that it took until now to obtain specific information for its review board to conclude that the allegations are credible.

Father Yeager, who led the diocese's "One Faith ... Many Blessings"

fund-raising campaign in 2001 and 2002, worked as a "planned giving consultant" for the diocese from 1997 until his retirement in July, 2005.

He is listed as executive director of Diocesan Fiscal Management Conference, a private firm based in Waterville that provides Catholic dioceses around the country with advice on financial investments and spiritual growth.

Father Yeager could not be reached for comment today.

Read more in later editions of The Blade and toledoblade.com.