BishopAccountability.org
	Diocese: Locals Didn't Know of Priest Sex Charges By Ken Fountain Beaumont Enterprise January 22, 2010 http://www.beaumontenterprise.com/news/local/82412312.html BEAUMONT (TX) -- When the Catholic diocese of Beaumont accepted Frank Paduch for ordination, it knew of no allegations of sexual misconduct at the time, according to a diocese statement released today. In the formal statement, Bishop Curtis J. Guillory, S.V.D., D.D., Bishop of Beaumont, said, "We were not aware of the complaints of abuse that allegedly occurred in the 1980s in Chicago until a lawsuit was filed there in 1997 against the Augustinian Order. That lawsuit was filed eight years after Fr. Paduch was ordained. When we received a complaint against him here in the Diocese of Beaumont in 2001, we initiated an investigation that eventually led to his removal. I also personally contacted the complainants and offered them pastoral assistance and counseling at the diocese's expense." The press release dated Jan. 22 is available in its entirety on the diocesan Web site, www.dioceseofbmt.org.
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.