Vatican removes former Shoreline priest from active ministry; allegations involved minor

 The Vatican has barred from active ministry the Rev. Dennis Kemp, formerly assigned to St. Marks in North City.

Story By Janet I. Tu, Seattle Times staff reporter

The Vatican has permanently barred from active ministry the Rev. Dennis Kemp, former pastor of St. Monica Roman Catholic Church on Mercer Island.

Kemp was placed on administrative leave in 2007 after allegations of inappropriate conduct with a minor.

After the archdiocese received the allegation, it notified the Mercer Island Police Department, which investigated and turned the case over to the King County Prosecutor's office. The prosecutor decided no criminal charges could be filed because of insufficient evidence.

He also served at St. Marks Church in Shoreline and at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church in Bremerton, and as a campus minister and teacher at Kennedy High School in Burien. 

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