Fr John McManus has been restored to ministry by the church more than three years after the Northern Ireland Public Prosecution Service decided he had no case to answer following abuse allegations made against him.
A former chancellor of the Down and Connor diocese and its press spokesman for many years, Fr McManus denied the allegations, which were made in January 2011.
There has been no explanation as to why it has taken the church a further 3½ years to restore him to ministry.
Speaking at Masses he concelebrated with Fr McManus, in Portaferry and Ballygalget, Bishop of Down and Connor Noel Treanor said he was pleased to announce Fr McManus's return to ministry in the diocese.
