Charlotte diocese returns Father Patrick Hoare to ministry after years-long review of boundary concerns

Assignment takes effect Jan. 13, 2026, with chaplaincy role at a High Point retirement community

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte has announced that Father Patrick Hoare will return to active ministry on Jan. 13, 2026, after more than six years on administrative leave and a multi-stage church review of allegations involving minors.

Hoare is slated to serve as chaplain at Pennybyrn, a retirement community in High Point where the diocese is the spiritual sponsor. The diocese said the appointment follows completion of steps recommended by its independent Lay Review Advisory Board, including a multi-week professional assessment, boundary counseling, and a plan for ongoing professional counseling, reflection, and review.

Background: removal from parish leadership and church appeals

Hoare was removed as pastor of St. Matthew Catholic Church in Charlotte in 2020 after the diocesan review board concluded that allegations of boundary violations with minors observed in group settings were credible. The concerns cited by church officials included physical-contact behaviors viewed as inconsistent with diocesan standards for adult interactions with minors.

Hoare remained on administrative leave while pursuing church-law appeals. The Diocese of Charlotte has stated that its decision to remove him from pastoral leadership was upheld through the Vatican review process, including consideration by the Apostolic Signatura, the Catholic Church’s highest judicial tribunal.

What “return to active ministry” means in this case

In the new role, the diocese said Hoare will minister primarily to seniors at Pennybyrn. The duties described include visiting the sick, administering last rites, and providing pastoral care to residents. Hoare will replace Father Stephen Hoyt, who is being reassigned as temporary administrator of St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Morganton as its longtime pastor retires.

The diocese said it reviewed the steps Hoare completed in response to the earlier findings and determined he meets its standards for public ministry.

Key points the diocese has placed on record

• Hoare’s 2020 removal from parish leadership followed a review board finding that boundary-violation allegations had credibility.
• Church appeals related to the removal concluded with determinations supporting the diocese’s action under canon law.
• Before the new assignment, the diocese said Hoare completed recommended assessment and counseling steps, and committed to ongoing professional oversight.
• The new placement is a chaplaincy role at a retirement community, rather than parish pastorate.

The diocese’s announcement frames the assignment as a structured return to ministry following an evaluation process and continuing safeguards, while placing Hoare in a setting focused on pastoral care for older adults.

The decision is expected to draw attention in Charlotte’s Catholic community because it follows years of scrutiny, policy-focused debate within the broader church about supervision and standards in cases involving minors, and the high visibility of Hoare’s earlier leadership role at one of the region’s largest parishes.