Father Terry W. Specht, a priest of the Arlington Diocese,
has been placed on administrative leave pending investigation
of an allegation of sexual misconduct involving a male minor
in the late 1990s. The investigation is in its initial phase
and no final determination has yet been made regarding the
allegation.
Father Specht denies the accusation.
The diocese has received no other allegations of misconduct
against Father Specht. Like all priests, diocesan employees
and volunteers who work with children, he underwent an
official background check early in his tenure.
Pursuant to the diocesan child protection policy, the Fairfax
County Police Department was notified when the diocese
received the allegation, and the diocese is cooperating fully
with law enforcement.
The majority lay-person Diocesan Review Board, which advises
Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde and reviews allegations of
sexual abuse of minors by clerics, has been advised of the
allegation and will continue to review the information that
is gathered during the investigation. Under diocesan policy,
any priest with an allegation of abuse or misconduct with a
minor that reaches a final determination of credibility is
permanently removed from ministry.
Father Specht served as a parochial vicar of St. Mary of
Sorrows Church in Fairfax from 1996 to 2000, as chaplain and
assistant principal at Paul VI Catholic High School in
Fairfax from 2000 to 2004, as the director of the diocesan
Office of Child Protection and Safety from 2004 to 2011, and
as administrator and pastor of Holy Spirit Church in
Annandale since 2007.
“Any allegation of abuse deepens the pain felt by all
Catholics, and particularly survivors of abuse. We are
committed to full cooperation with law enforcement regarding
this allegation, and I have directed an independent
investigator to review the actions and decisions made by
Father Specht during his tenure as director of Child
Protection,” said Bishop Loverde.
The bishop has appointed Father Paul F. deLadurantaye as
parochial administrator of Holy Spirit Church.
The diocese encourages anyone who knows of any information
related to this case, or of any misconduct or abuse on the
part of any cleric or employee of the diocese, to notify
civil authorities, as well as to reach out to the diocesan
Victim Assistance coordinators, Patricia Mudd at 703/841-2537
and Adlin deCardi at 703/841-2530. The Fairfax County Police
Department asks individuals with any information to contact
them at 703-246-7854.
The diocesan child protection policy is online at arlingtondiocese.org.
