A new bishop has been appointed to lead the Fresno Diocese, which governs Catholic churches in Kern and several other counties. The formal announcement that Bishop Joseph Brennan will succeed retiring Bishop Armando Ochoa was made at a news conference this morning, it follows Sunday’s letter from Ochoa confirming Bakersfield priest Father Miguel Florez is being investigated for a sex assault case dating back to 2002. He’d been previously cleared of rape and threats against a 16-year-old girl at that time.

Suzanne Grant