The Archdiocese of Cincinnati announced that Father Ed Burns, pastor of the St. Carlo Acutis Family of Parishes, has been cleared of any wrongdoing following an investigation into allegations regarding inappropriate internet activity on a computer previously used by him at St. Michael Parish.

Last week, the archdiocese placed Fr. Burns on administrative leave after a parish employee submitted a computer and a document listing websites that were believed to have been accessed from the device. The archdiocese clarified that administrative leave is not an assumption of guilt but rather "a procedural step intended to protect all parties and allow for an objective investigation."

In line with its policies, the archdiocese referred the matter to law enforcement. The Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office directed that the computer be handed over to the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office for forensic analysis.

The sheriff’s office has now completed its review and reported no evidence of criminal, pornographic, or inappropriate material found on the device. According to information provided by the archdiocese, "the initial list of concerning websites... was not in fact a list of websites that had actually been accessed by anyone using the computer." Instead, these sites were identified by an anti-malware program installed on the device. The person who created the document mistakenly thought these sites appeared in records showing actual web activity.

The list was generated by a parish employee's son and presented to leadership at the Pastoral Center; it was not requested by archdiocesan officials. After receiving both items, "archdiocesan leadership did not even turn on the computer while in possession of it" before turning them over to authorities.

Following his exoneration by law enforcement, Fr. Burns will immediately resume his pastoral duties at St. Carlo Acutis Family of Parishes.

Archbishop Robert Casey expressed appreciation for Fr. Burns’ cooperation during this process: "Archbishop Robert Casey expresses his gratitude for Father Burns’ patience and cooperation during this process, and for his ongoing service to God, the Church, and his parishioners."

The Archdiocese stated its commitment to transparency while emphasizing respect for individuals involved and adherence to due process: "That commitment must always be balanced with respect for the individuals involved, the integrity of investigative processes, and the public’s trust in the safeguards that are in place... Trust is built not only through openness but also through consistent adherence to due process and established protocols..."

The Archdiocese thanked local law enforcement agencies as well as members of its community for their patience throughout this matter.

With nearly 440,000 Catholics across 19 counties and more than 40,000 students enrolled in Catholic schools within its territory, the Archdiocese ranks as one of largest dioceses in both population size and school enrollment nationwide.