St. Martins priest accused of misconduct resigns

ST. MARTIN, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Diocese of Jefferson City said a St. Martin Parish priest in St. Marins resigned after being placed on leave last year.

Diocese spokeswoman Helen Osman said in an email the priest, Mark Porterfield, resigned on Tuesday.

A release from Osman said a former employee accused Porterfield of misconduct. She said the pastor was subsequently removed from all supervisory authority at the church and the school.

It was unclear from the email what misconduct Porterfield was accused of.

A team of independent investigators could not be corroborate the allegations, the spokeswoman said.

According to the release, Father Jason Doke was appointed as the next pastor of the church.

Bishop W. Shawn McKnight said Porterfield's resignation was a sign of his concern for the parish. The release included Porterfield's priestly faculties were restored and he joined a program to reenter the ministry.