Diocese of Arlington Catholic Priest Facing Accusations of Child Sexual Abuse

For Immediate Release: May 28, 2026

The Catholic Diocese of Arlington announced yesterday that the Very Reverend Patrick L. Posey, a priest of the Diocese, has been placed on administrative leave pending the investigation of an accusation of sexual “misconduct” with a child. According to the news release, the “misconduct” occurred between 1992 and 1993, outside the Diocese. Fr. Posey denies the accusation, but the Diocese has reported it to law enforcement. The clergyman was working at the Cathedral of Saint Thomas More in Arlington before he was placed on leave.

The Abuse Survivors Coalition (ASC) urges anyone with information about these accusations against Fr. Posey, or about any other abuse by this cleric, to report to law enforcement immediately. Those who prey on boys and girls rarely have just one victim. If you know something, say something!

It can take survivors decades to come forward. Delayed disclosure of child sexual abuse is quite common. We also know that false accusations of child sexual abuse are very rare.

ASC Virginia Contact, Becky Ianni, adds, “It's sad that the Diocese seeks to minimize accusations of child sexual abuse -- a crime -- by referring to them as "misconduct," and to distance themselves by mentioning that the crimes occurred "outside" of the Diocese. This survivor’s bravery will help to keep other children safe.”

We urge the Diocese of Arlington to provide more information about these serious accusations. Doing so could help encourage any other victims to come forward, get help, and begin healing. 

The ASC also urges anyone who experienced abuse by Fr. Posey or anyone else in the Diocese of Arlington to speak up. Tell trusted family and friends, a trained therapist, law enforcement, or support groups like ours. You do not need to suffer alone and in silence! There are people who will believe and support you.

Contact: Becky Ianni, ASC Virginia Contact, (703-801-6044, rianni@cox.net), David Lorenz, ASC Operations Team (301-906-9161, glydonct@gmail.com)

(The Abuse Survivor’s Coalition is a survivor‑led, peer‑run organization dedicated to supporting individuals affected by abuse and advocating for accountability within institutions where abuse has occurred. ASC is informed by decades of collective experience in survivor support, advocacy, and public education. The organization focuses on facilitating peer support, sharing information about available survivor resources, and engaging in advocacy efforts centered on survivor‑led principles. Survivors remain the central priority of ASC’s work. Our website is: www.ascoalition.org)