Fr. Xavier Mankel
Monsignor Francis Xavier Mankel. Helped found the Knoxville diocese; was its first chancellor and vicar general. Pastor of Sacred Heart Cathedral 1987-97. Accused in a 7/19 lawsuit of repeatedly sexually abusing a Sacred Heart altar boy for two-and-a-half years, beginning in 1991 when the boy was in fourth grade. The boy was allegedly “offered up” to other priests for sex, including admitted abuser Bishop Anthony O’Connell, at least twice. Mankel died in 2017. Mankel’s accuser filed a police report in 2018 and met with Bishop Stika, who said there was no credible evidence. The suit also accused a Sacred Heart music teacher, William Michael Lovelace, of attempting inappropriate touch. The diocese settled with Mankel’s accuser in 12/19 while still denying the validity of the claim.
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