Fort Wayne-South Bend bishop says he will release list of names of priests accused of sex abuse

Indianapolis Star
August 17, 2018

https://www.indystar.com/story/news/2018/08/17/indiana-bishop-priest-sex-abuse/1023330002/

St. Joseph Catholic Church in Mishawaka, Ind., is one of many churches under Rev. Kevin Rhoades, bishop of the Fort Wayne-South Bend Catholic Diocese, seen Thursday, Aug. 16, 2018. Photo by Jenna Watson

A Catholic bishop in Indiana announced Friday that he will release a list of names of priests in his territory who've been credibly accused of sex abuse following this week's Pennsylvania report accusing more than 300 clergy of similar acts against 1,000 children.

The Rev. Kevin Rhoades, bishop of the Fort Wayne-South Bend Diocese, made the announcement in a news conference and called the decision a response to a Pennsylvania grand jury report released Tuesday.

"As we’ve seen in Pennsylvania, this report and the listing of abusers has prompted new victims to come forward," according a transcript of Rhoades' announcement Friday. "Whether it’s now or following the posting of our list, I want the people of Fort Wayne and South Bend to know this."

The Pennsylvania report describes Rhoades, who was bishop of the Harrisburg, Pa., Diocese from 2004-2010, as resisting disclosure of abuse-allegation details against two now-deceased priests, though he alerted prosecutors and church officials to sexual abuse complaints against the pair.

Rhoades warned a "scandal" might ensue if such information became public.

In his Friday news conference, Rhoades maintained that he has released names of all priests removed from his diocese as a result of credible allegations of sexual abuse involving minors.

Rhoades said he hopes that by releasing the list of those accused in his diocese, victims can begin the process of healing.

"The church failed you," Rhoades said. "For that, I apologize."

In a related development, the University of Notre Dame said Friday said it has information on one of the now-deceased priests tied to Rhoades' "scandal" comments.

That man, William Presley, was a graduate student and employee at Notre Dame from 1970 to 1976. 

On Friday, Notre Dame spokesman Paul J. Browne told IndyStar that the university had evidence Presley abused a student there in the mid-1970s.

That person revealed the allegations to the university in 2002, Browne said. Notre Dame reported the allegations to the Erie, Pa., Diocese that same year and “publicly” apologized to the alumnus who made the accusation the following year, Browne said.