Former Macon pastor removed from ministry amid sexual misconduct allegations

A former pastor of the Holy Spirit Church in Macon has been removed from ministry due to a sexual misconduct investigation, according to the Franciscan Friars of the Province of Our Lady.

A statement released earlier this month from Provincial Minister Friar Lawrence J. Hayes said Tuttle, who began working at Holy Spirit Church in 2020, according to his LinkedIn profile, had already been removed from active ministry and his role as pastor of the church when the reported alleged misconduct surfaced four months ago.

Tuttle was removed from all public ministry following an independent investigation, according the the statement.

The statement read, in part: “After careful deliberation, the Province Review Board (referenced in the Safeguarding Policies) reviewed and accepted the findings of the independent investigation, and unanimously recommended to the Provincial Minister that Fr. Tuttle be removed from all public ministry and placed under strict third-party supervision.

“The Provincial Council also accepted the Review Board’s recommendations. Thus, Fr. Tuttle has been removed from all public ministry.”

During the independent investigation process, the Province has offered outside pastoral care and counseling services to the abuse survivor who came forward with the allegations, the statement said.

Tuttle began his work with the Franciscan Friars in 1987 and previously worked at St. Anthony of Padua Church and as pastor at St. Anthony of Padua’s elementary school, according to his LinkedIn profile.

The statement said Tuttle is living under the strict supervision of an independent monitor.

In a written statement to The Telegraph issued through a spokesman on Tuesday, the Franciscan Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe said to protect the integrity of the process and the privacy of all parties, the Province will have no further comment.

Tuttle and the Holy Spirit Church in Macon have not responded to requests for comment.