Hancock County Sheriff’s Office
CV NEWS FEED // Pope Francis has laicized former Ohio Catholic priest Michael Jude Zacharias, who was convicted of sexual misconduct, forever stripping him of his priestly role as he serves a life sentence in prison.
Local outlet Mansfield News Journal reported that Zacharias formerly served several parishes throughout the Diocese of Toledo during his 22 years of priesthood.
According to Mansfield News Journal, the Diocese of Toledo announced Zacharias’ laicization in a press release Monday, emphasizing that the decision came straight from the Vatican.
“The Holy Father alone has the authority to impose this penalty of direct dismissal from the clerical state when the case warrants such an action,” the news release stated. “The Diocese was recently informed that the Holy Father has imposed upon Zacharias the perpetual penalty of direct dismissal from the clerical state (returning him to the lay state), for the sexual abuse of minors and other reprehensible immoral behavior.”
Bishop of Toledo Daniel E. Thomas added that “With the imposition of this penalty, it is my hope and prayer that healing for victims may continue and justice be restored, as we remain vigilant in confronting evil.”
According to Mansfield News Journal, Zacharias was arrested in October 2020 by the Northwest Ohio Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. He was accused of grooming victims and sexually abusing and trafficking several people, including minors.
At his trial in May 2023, Zacharias “admitted to having sexual relations with several men, but maintained the behavior never happened with anyone under the age of 18,” Mansfield News Journal reported.
However, he was convicted of one count of sexual trafficking of a minor, two counts of sexual trafficking of a minor by force, fraud, or coercion, and two counts of sexual trafficking of an adult by force, fraud, or coercion.
He was sentenced to life in prison in November 2023.
