Fr. Leonard Francis Mayhew
Named publicly as accused on the archdiocese’s list 11/6/2018. Assigned to parishes in Decatur, Atlanta, Athens, Monroe and LaGrange. Removed from ministry in 1966. Laicized in 1968. Died in 2012. Included in the 3/24/2023 GA PAC Report. Multiple allegations of abuse 1962-1968. Admitted in 1964 to “initiation for altar boys in the rectory” which included “divesting clothes, shaving cream, cold shower. Massaging abdomen until red…wrestling.” In 1966 a 15-year-old boy reported the “initiation” behavior toward him by Mayhew, which included the priest forcing his penis into the boy’s body. The boy was interviewed by Church officials in 10/1966, witnessed by Fr. Joseph L. Bernardin.
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