Louisville priest James Schook, who sexually abused altar boy, has died

By Chris Kenning
Louisville Courier Journal
December 10, 2018

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James Schook, center sits in Jefferson Circuit Court awaiting sentencing. 30 May 2014 Photo by David R. Lutman

Former Louisville Roman Catholic priest James Schook, convicted of molesting a teen altar boy in the 1970s, died on Saturday at age 71, the Lousiville Archdiocese said Monday.

Schook was a central character for years in the local Catholic sex abuse crisis that exploded in 2002, which left some deeply critical of how the Louisville archdiocese handled abusive priests.

He was already suffering from end-stage melanoma, a terminal skin cancer, in 2014 when he was sentenced to 15 years in prison on three counts sodomy and one count indecent or immoral practice. He was released on medical parole last year.

The Archdiocese of Louisville released a statement on Monday extending sympathy to his family. "In praying for the repose of his soul, we also pray for continued healing for his victims and for all victim survivors of childhood sexual abuse," the statement said.

In 2009, Archbishop Joseph Kurtz put Schook, then pastor of Saint Ignatius Martyr Parish in Louisville, on a leave of absence after the archdiocese received a report he had abused a minor in the 1980s. The archdiocese also reported this accusation to the police.

Schook was permanently removed the following year when the archdiocese determined the allegations credible. Though he retained the status of priest, he was sent to live a life of "prayer and penance."

Schook lived at St. Therese Church in 2009 and 2010, after the allegations came to light. At the time, Schook was the 10th priest removed from ministry over allegations of abuse and the sixth to face criminal charges.

In 2011, prosecutors released the Archdiocese's personnel file on Schook, which revealed he'd admitted to being a sex addict, though administrators believed he was involved with men rather than boys.

After his sentencing, Schook was housed in the Kentucky State Reformatory in Oldham County, which has a medical facility capable of caring for terminally ill inmates.

Kentucky authorities in 2017 granted Schook early medical parole for inmates with a diagnosis of being within a year of death.

Jeff Koenig, a member of Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, said Schook should not have been released early from prison because of his medical status. 

The Archdiocese said that funeral arrangements for Schook are private.