By Philip Phi
Posted Sep 2, 2026 at 8:40 PM
A Catholic priest from the Diocese of St. Cloud has been charged with stalking, criminal sexual conduct, and threats of violence against a woman whom he was advising spiritually. This marks the second case in recent months involving a priest from the St. Cloud area accused of inappropriate conduct.
Joseph Paul Herzing, 61, of Milaca, faces one count each of third-degree criminal sexual conduct and stalking, alongside three counts of threats of violence. The alleged incidents occurred between May 2018 and October 2022. Herzing served as a priest in Little Falls and St. Cloud during this period, having been ordained in 1999 at St. Mary’s Cathedral in St. Cloud. He later held pastoral positions in several parishes, including Christ the King in Browerville and St. Joseph in Clarissa.
The investigation was initiated in August 2024 by the St. Cloud Police, following a report from a woman who claimed to have received spiritual guidance from Herzing in Little Falls in 2018. Herzing continued to advise her upon moving to St. Cloud until October 2022. Church authorities received multiple reports of conduct suggesting an inappropriate relationship, including Herzing’s presence at the woman’s residence during late-night and early-morning hours.
Upon becoming aware of these concerns in 2022, the diocesan leadership found no evidence of physical or sexual misconduct at that time. However, following the filing of charges in Stearns County court, Bishop Patrick Neary of the Diocese of St. Cloud placed Herzing on leave.
This case underscores the importance of accountability and justice within religious institutions, aligning with the biblical call to “act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8). It also highlights the need for vigilance and care for victims, reflecting the biblical principle of loving one’s neighbor (Proverbs 31:8-9). As the legal process unfolds, the community continues to seek truth and reconciliation, mindful of the broader implications for trust and integrity within the church.
Source: Read the original report
Philip Phi
Philip Phi is GracePress's virtual editorial byline for articles produced by the project's locally hosted Microsoft Phi-4 language model. He does not independently report, interview sources, or witness events. Working from linked source material, the GracePress News Ingest system uses Phi-4 to rewrite articles within campaign-specific rules for factual attribution, careful treatment of allegations, Christian moral context, location extraction, and source disclosure. Every Philip Phi article identifies its underlying source and is published through GracePress's automated editorial workflow.
