Cincinnati, Ohio is buzzing with some heavy news this week. A parish priest has been placed on leave after “concerning websites” were found on his old work computer. And it is definitely raising plenty of eyebrows across the state.
According to reports, Father Ed Burns, who has been serving as the pastor of Ohio church St. Michael the Archangel Parish since 2018, is now under investigation. The Archdiocese of Cincinnati confirmed the situation after a worker, repurposing one of Burns’ former computers, stumbled upon websites that allegedly included pornography. It didn’t take long for the discovery to reach diocesan officials, who then contacted the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office to investigate, per Cleveland.com
Parishioners are used to seeing their priest not only at Mass but also at school functions, community fundraisers, and the occasional fish fry. So when a familiar face is suddenly absent and replaced with a vague explanation, people naturally start asking questions. Burns’ absence was first noticed the weekend of September 6-7, when parishioners were told he would not be present. No reasons were shared at the time, which only fueled speculation.
Ohio Priest Sparks Fears After Being Put On Leave
The Archdiocese later clarified that Burns would remain on administrative leave “pending the outcome of the investigation.” During that time, he’s banned from parish offices and school campuses. To many Ohio parents, though, that statement doesn’t feel like enough. Teresa Dinwiddie-Herrmann, co-founder of Ohioans for Child Protection, told WCPO that parents have been reaching out, worried about what exactly is going on. “Parents are concerned because they’re not getting answers as to why their priest was removed,” she said, adding that the archdiocese “should alert parents right away if there is a criminal concern.”
And here’s where the frustration sets in: transparency. After years of headlines about misconduct in religious institutions, people aren’t satisfied with vague reassurances. Ohio families want details, especially when it comes to the safety of children in schools and parishes. The archdiocese’s carefully worded statement, while procedural, doesn’t necessarily calm nerves. “Average Catholic behavior,” one person commented online.
Concerning Websites Found On Cincinnati Priest’s Work Computer
From a cultural standpoint, this incident plays right into the ongoing national conversation about accountability in the Catholic Church. Communities like those in Ohio have weathered scandals before, and each new case reopens wounds and tests trust. Even if the investigation clears Burns of wrongdoing beyond poor judgment online, the very fact that pornography was linked to a church computer is enough to shake confidence.
For parishioners of St. Michael the Archangel Parish, the immediate future looks uncertain. Questions linger about whether Burns will return, what the investigation will reveal, and how the archdiocese plans to handle parental concerns going forward. Meanwhile, Ohio residents outside of the parish are watching, some sadly familiar with the pattern: a sudden removal, cautious statements, and an anxious wait for clarity.
Nina Franklin 
Kenna Raye 
