A week after longtime Jesuit figure lands on accused priests list, alum wants answers

By Jobin Panicker
WFAA 8 ABC
February 07, 2019

https://bit.ly/2TES4Fa

Father Patrick Koch was a former principal and president at Jesuit College Preparatory School in Dallas.

If you walk into John Patrick Korman's home, you will see an abundance of school pride.

"It's walking into Jesuit," said Korman, a graduate of Jesuit Preparatory School in Dallas. 

He was class of 1970 and once a teacher at Jesuit for five years, teaching film-making.

But any pride he has is masked now by the news that came out last week.

"It's the five stages of grief," Korman said. "I'm not sure which one I'm in now."

The Catholic Diocese of Dallas released names of 31 priests "credibly accused" of sexual abuse of minors over the last seven decades. On that list was Father Patrick Koch, who was a former principal and president at Jesuit College Preparatory School in Dallas.

Korman has been in contact with alumni through a series of emails, which he released to WFAA.

The following is an excerpt from Korman's email to Bishop Edward J. Burns:

"Where were these allegations derived from? Mostly from hate I would suppose. Whether these allegations are true or not, there is no supporting evidence that has been provided, no factual proof of these accusations."

Korman questioned the list of priests mainly because of its lack of substance and said it is leaving people to wonder.

"The allegations presented against a man who cannot defend himself is what hurts the most," Korman said. "So somebody has to defend him."

The diocese said it cannot respond to individual allegations but said this is about fulfilling its promise to the faithful.

"On January 31, 2019, Bishop Burns disclosed to the Diocese of Dallas the names of those priests who have been the subject of a credible allegation of sexual abuse of a minor in the Diocese during the period from 1950 to the present," the Diocese said in a statement. "A 'credible allegation' is one that, after review of reasonably available, relevant information in consultation with the Diocesan Review Board or other professionals, there is reason to believe is true.

"The process to compile this list began with an outside group of former state and federal law enforcement officers that reviewed the files of the 2,424 priests who have served in this diocese since 1950. Those investigators identified files which contained allegations of the sexual abuse of minors. The Diocesan Review Board, which includes local lay experts in law enforcement, clinical psychology, law, and medicine, then reviewed those allegations and recommended credible allegations of the sexual abuse of minors to Bishop Burns for disclosure. The list of names Bishop Burns released on January 31 reflects the recommendations of that Diocesan Review Board."

Korman said Koch was a man of integrity. Koch also made the list of credibly accused priests in Corpus Christi.

"Let's say these allegations are true?" WFAA asked Korman. 

"If they are I will retract any statement I've made," Korman said.

There is a sentiment that the Diocese' attempt at transparency may have opened the door to more questions.