Vatican exonerates retired bishop of sexual abuse, but rebukes The bishop had acted irresponsibly as a priest, the Vatican said and upheld restrictions placed on him in 2018 Updated: January 27, 2021 05:25 AM GMT Trending The Vatican’s doctrinal congregation has exonerated retired Bishop Joseph Hart of Cheyenne over numerous accusations of the sexual abuse of minors, but issued a canonical rebuke. The Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith exonerated retired Bishop Joseph H. Hart of Cheyenne of seven accusations of sexual abuse of minors and determined that five other accusations "could not be proven with moral certitude," the Diocese of Cheyenne said.