MADISON (WI)
WMTV [Madison, WI]
September 4, 2025
By Nicole Herzog
MADISON (WMTV) — New allegations are being brought against a Madison priest accused of child sex crimes.
Andrew Showers was arrested after an undercover operation last month in which a Clintonville police officer posed online as a 14-year-old girl. Showers had agreed to meet her for sex.
Now, Patricia Moriarty said she wants to share her experience with Showers, despite the painful memories it brings her.
“I share my story not just for myself, but for everyone who is still carrying their pain in silence like I once did,” Moriarty said.
Moriarty alleges that she was out with friends in Chicago in January 2024 when Andrew Showers introduced himself to her as a priest. She claims he then groped her underneath her clothes and talked to her in a sexually inappropriate manner.
“It’s a rollercoaster of emotions,” Moriarty said. “There’s days where you’re like, ‘Alright. I’m ready, I’m ready, I’m ready,’ and there’s days where it’s too scary. I wasn’t given much of an option when I read the news last week. It was, well, ‘We’re ready now, because something needs to change.’”
Nate’s Mission, an advocacy group aimed at ending clergy abuse in Wisconsin, said Patricia’s father called the Diocese of Madison to warn them about Showers’ behavior.
“Guess what? Bishop Hying failed to call him back,” Sarah Pearson, deputy director for Nate’s Mission said. “He gave them forms to fill out, but he refused to make direct contact with Patricia’s father so that he could make this report.”
The family said they also filed a police report with the Chicago Police Department, yet no action was taken against Showers at the time.
Nate’s Mission pointed to another incident in 2021, where Showers allegedly asked a child sexually inappropriate questions during a confession.
Nate’s Mission said they want the Diocese of Madison to be investigated, and for the clergy to take accountability.
“Father Showers would not be able to operate like this if he didn’t have the backing of Bishop Hying,” Pearson said. “If he didn’t have the backing of the diocese, and if it weren’t for the complacency of individuals and institutions who should have acted sooner to stop these kinds of crimes from occurring.”
Meanwhile, Moriarty said she hopes sharing her story can also inspire change.
“By speaking out, I also hope to protect others from experiencing this kind of harm and this kind of pain in the future,” she said.
Nate’s Mission encourages victims of clergy abuse to reach out to their organization or call the hotline for the “Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests” (SNAP). The phone number is 877-762-74-32.
The Diocese of Madison released a statement which said it is, “saddened to hear of these additional distressing allegations.” The Diocese said another statement will be released at a later time