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  Former Lexington Bishop Moving to Another Town
Undisclosed Spot Is in Louisville Archdiocese

By Valarie Honeycutt Spears
Lexington Herald Leader (Kentucky)
December 12, 2002

Bishop J. Kendrick Williams, who resigned in June as head of the Catholic Diocese of Lexington amid sexual-abuse allegations, is moving to an undisclosed Kentucky town, officials said yesterday.

Williams, the only bishop of the diocese since it was created in 1988, is now a private citizen. But since his resignation, he has remained in the Georgetown home owned by the Diocese and designated for the bishop.

Tom Shaughnessy, spokes-man for the Lexington Diocese, said Williams was moving to the Louisville Diocese, which covers several counties.

It was inevitable that Williams would move from the residence, Shaughnessy said, because the pope will ultimately name another bishop for Lexington.

Shaughnessy said Williams made his plans known in a recent letter to the Catholic clergy, parish leadership and Catholic Center staff. Shaughnessy said he did not know to which county Williams was moving, but said Williams is originally from the Louisville Diocese.

For now, the Rev. Robert H. Nieberding is the interim administrator for the Catholic Diocese.

Williams has denied three allegations of sexual abuse that date back to his years as a priest in the Louisville archdiocese.

As a result, he is refraining from an active public ministry, Shaughnessy said.

 
 

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