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LifeSiteNews has announced that its co-founder and chief executive, John-Henry Westen, has been fully exonerated by an independent investigation into allegations that prompted his sudden removal from leadership earlier this summer.
The Canada-based news outlet confirmed in a statement from its board of directors that a review carried out by an external investigator, with support from lawyers and other professionals, had “fully addressed” and dismissed the claims raised at a board meeting on 2 July. The board added that Westen, who has led the organisation since its founding in 1997, was cleared of “any wrongdoing”.
The decision marks the conclusion of a period of turbulence for the pro-life and pro-family platform, which was thrown into controversy when Westen’s departure was first announced on 8 July.
At the time, LifeSiteNews said he was stepping aside to take a sabbatical, while internal disagreements over direction and management quickly surfaced online. The announcement sparked speculation across Catholic media, further fuelled by comments from Westen’s wife on social media referring to a non-disclosure agreement.
In the days following his removal, fellow co-founder Steve Jalsevac acknowledged serious difficulties facing the organisation, including a steep fall in readership and donations. He suggested that Westen’s leadership style and his focus on traditionalist Catholic themes had led to internal division. His remarks, posted on social media, were later withdrawn and replaced with a more formal corporate statement, which cited “several factors” influencing the decision, including staff concerns and financial decline.
The independent inquiry has now reversed the narrative, with the board declaring that the accusations made against Westen were “baseless”. It said the investigation has also prompted reforms in governance, including tighter internal controls and stronger oversight, which it claims will safeguard LifeSiteNews’s financial and administrative integrity. The board insisted that the organisation is now “strong, financially, organisationally and administratively” as it prepares for its annual Rome Life Forum in December.
Founded in Toronto three decades ago, LifeSiteNews has long occupied a controversial place within Catholic media, gaining prominence for its strong opposition to abortion and same-sex marriage, while also drawing criticism for publishing material regarded by its critics as extreme.
John-Henry Westen, a father of eight, became one of the most recognisable figures in the global pro-life movement, frequently appearing at conferences and rallies. His removal in July represented the most serious internal crisis in the history of LifeSiteNews, coinciding with financial pressures that have affected many independent Catholic outlets since the Covid-19 pandemic. With his exoneration now formally confirmed, the organisation has sought to draw a line under the affair.
Photo credit: catholicism.org
