KENTUCKY
WAVE

By Joey Brown

LOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE) – The pastor of two Roman Catholic parishes in Marion County has been placed on administrative leave by the Archdiocese of Louisville after he was accused for a second time of child sexual abuse.

According to the Archdiocese, the accuser came forward on May 8 and reported that Fr. Joseph Hemmerle abused him as a child in Meade County during the 1970s. Hemmerle was ordained to the priesthood in 1967 and currently serves as pastor of St. Francis and Holy Cross parishes in Marion County.

In a written statement, the Archdiocese said it has written to the Commonwealth Attorney in Meade County to report the accusation and has advised the person making the accusation to contact authorities.

Hemmerle was previously accused of child sexual abuse in 2002. The accuser in that case also reported having been sexually abused by Hemmerle in…