MADISON (WI)
Journal Sentinel [Milwaukee WI]
September 4, 2025
By Laura Schulte
- A Madison Diocese priest was arrested on suspicion of child sex crimes after the diocese had already received complaints about his behavior.
- Despite prior complaints, the priest was scheduled to lead a group of teens on a pilgrimage to Rome.
- A woman has come forward stating the priest groped her at a social event in Chicago last year, and her family’s reports to the diocese went unanswered by the bishop.
- An advocacy group plans to file a complaint with the Vatican against Bishop Donald Hying for allegedly failing to protect parishioners.
MADISON – Despite reports of abuse involving a priest in the Madison Diocese, officials were planning to allow him to escort a group of teens to Rome next year, according to the diocese’s social media.
Andrew J. Showers’ arrest in Clintonville last month on suspicion of child sex crimes came after the diocese had already received complaints about his behavior, including a report of an assault of a young woman in Chicago last year.
At a Sept. 4 media conference, Patricia Moriarty said Showers approached her and her friends at a social event, introduced himself as a priest, then groped her underneath her clothes before sharing his business card with her.
Moriarty’s father, John Moriarty, said he called the diocese at least five times reporting the abuse, but was unable to speak directly with Bishop Donald Hying. John Moriarty did reach someone at the diocese and reported the abuse, he said. The family reported the incident to the Chicago Police, who conducted an investigation.
Patricia Moriarty said she wanted to share her story after hearing of Showers’ arrest to hold the diocese accountable and show others they knew the priest had assaulted others before.
“I made the decision to share my story in hopes that others will feel empowered and encouraged to speak their truth as well,” she said. “In my experience, this decision was far from easy. It meant revisiting an experience that left me feeling powerless, that I knew staying silent would only protect those who are selfish and wrong.”
Prosecutors charged Showers Aug. 27 with attempted second-degree sexual assault of a child, attempted child enticement and attempted use of a computer to facilitate a child sex crime. The criminal complaint against Showers, 37, says he sent sexually explicit online messages and traveled to Waupaca County to meet someone he believed to be a 14-year-old girl to have sex with her, unaware he was actually corresponding with a Clintonville police officer.
The Diocese of Madison said it learned of the arrest Aug. 25 and restricted Showers from ministry while the investigation is ongoing. The diocese initially said it had not previously received allegations of misconduct connected to Showers, who was ordained in 2017, but later acknowledged that Showers had been the subject of a previous complaint dating to 2021.
Showers was set to lead a group of teens on a trip to Italy next March.
According to a now-deleted Facebook post from Aug. 7, Showers was set to lead a small group on the trip to Rome and Siena.
“The pilgrimage is geared towards young adults in the Madison Diocese and will be led by Fr. Andrew Showers,” the post said. “They are working to keep the pilgrimage group small (13 people total) to create a strong communal essence to the trip.”
As of Sept. 4, the post had been removed from the Facebook page.
The diocese did not respond to questions about Patricia Moriarty’s report or the group trip.
More: Madison Diocese brother charged with sexual abuse of minor
Former accusations found by the Madison Diocese during investigation
In an Aug. 27 letter to members of the diocese, Hying disclosed that a parent expressed concern about questions Showers asked of a male middle school child during Confession in 2021.
An incident report filed with the Lodi Police Department shows that a father reported Showers for asking inappropriate questions of his son at St. Patrick Church in Lodi. The father said the priest asked about masturbation and pornography, and that his son was uncomfortable and reported it immediately after leaving church.
Church and diocese officials told the father that priests will ask questions about “sins that are natural for that age group,” and said that is what Showers had done.
Lodi police did not deem the incident a criminal act, but as a “question of appropriateness.”
Peter Isely, a founder of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, said at the Sept. 4 news conference that any report of inappropriate behavior in the confessional should have triggered at least a suspension for Showers.
“What has gone on with this case? Why was he able to get away with this behavior for so long?” Isely said.
Isely said that Nate’s Mission, an advocacy group founded in honor of Nate Lindstrom, will file a complaint against Hying with the Vatican, alleging that he failed to protect parishioners.
“Bishop Hying needs to be held accountable and investigated,” Isely said. “It’s a very serious crime he committed under church law and if found guilty, he should be removed from being the bishop.”
Showers posted bail and was released from jail on Aug. 28. He is due back in Waupaca County Court on Sept. 30 for an initial appearance.
Showers had the following assignments, according to the diocese:
- Director of the diocesan office of worship, 2024 to present.
- Parochial vicar for a grouping known as Pastorate 22 or Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, which collectively includes two churches, St. Raphael and Good Shepherd, and one school, St. James, all in Madison, 2023 to present.
- Priest in residence at All Saints in Berlin and Our Lady of the Lake in Green Lake, 2022 to 2023.
- Provided Spanish Mass assistance at St. John the Baptist in Waunakee, 2022.
- Pastor of St. Stephen in Clinton, 2020 to 2022.
- Parochial vicar for St. Paul’s Catholic Student Center, which serves UW-Madison students, 2018 to 2020.
- Parochial vicar of St. Cecilia in Wisconsin Dells, summer of 2017.
The Diocese of Madison said allegations of sexual misconduct should always be brought to law enforcement, and allegations involving priests, deacons or other church personnel should also be reported to the diocese’s sexual misconduct question and reporting line, at 608-821-3162, regardless of when they are said to have occurred.
The Madison Diocese concluded an investigation into clergy abuse in 2019, and released the names of seven men. Since then, the names of three additional men have been added to the list after accusations or charges were brought forward.
In addition to diocesan reviews of credibly accused abusers, the Department of Justice is investigating accusations of abuse by faith leaders or clergy.
If you have information about abuse that happened to you or another person, the DOJ can be contacted at 877-222-2620 or by using the online reporting tool at supportsurvivors.widoj.gov. Both options provide the ability to file an anonymous tip.
The department is still accepting reports, and said survivors have control of what happens after their report is received.
Laura Schulte can be reached at leschulte@jrn.com and on X @SchulteLaura.