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Diocese of Owensboro ACCUSED PRIESTS

The Diocese of Owensboro, Kentucky, has been plagued with allegations of child sexual abuse by some of its priests. In Western Kentucky, the Diocese of Owensboro covers 32 counties and serves more than 50,000 Catholics. In April 2019, the Diocese listed ordained priests who have been accused of child sexual abuse while assigned to the Diocese.

Joseph Pilger was a former priest who served in several different Kentucky dioceses throughout his career. He is known as one of the worst predator priests due to the sheer number of boys he’s accused of molesting throughout his priesthood. In 2003, the Diocese of Covington, Kentucky, was ordered to pay a settlement of $5.2 million to at least 27 of Pilger’s alleged victims.

Later that year, after a father discovered Pilger masturbating to photographs of the man’s six-year-old son, the man murdered Pilger in his own home with a pickaxe. According to the man who killed Pilger, Pilger also offered him $5,000 to let Pilger have sex with the man’s son.

Court documents in lawsuits against the Catholic Church revealed that the Church sent Pilger to New Mexico to treat his pedophilia during Pilger’s tenure. Still, the Church later reinstated him as a priest and sent him to the Owensboro Diocese, where he continued molesting boys for years.

In 2019, a victim accused Joseph Edward Bradley of sexually abusing him in the 1980s when Bradley served as principal of Owensboro Catholic High School. Bradley was a popular priest and the former unofficial chaplain of Coach Rick Pitino’s University of Louisville basketball team. The Diocese suspended Bradley when the allegations surfaced. Bradley was already retired at the time of his suspension but still served as a volunteer chaplain at Owensboro Catholic High School.

Later in 2019, Owensboro Diocese Bishop William F. Medley recommended that Bradley be permanently suspended from the priesthood, finding that the allegations were credible and had been formally substantiated. In April 2021, however, the Vatican announced that Bradley was being reinstated as a priest, with the condition that he not be allowed to enter schools for five years. The Vatican found that Bradley had engaged in “imprudent behavior.” Bradley maintains that he’s innocent, and local officials declined to pursue criminal charges against him, citing a lack of evidence to support the allegations.
Kentucky has taken steps to help victims of child sexual abuse seek justice. In March 2021, the Kentucky Senate Panel advanced HB 472, which would extend the statute of limitations for child sex abuse victims from five to ten years after the victim turns 18 years old. Because child sex abuse victims often suppress memories of the abuse or don’t come forward until later in life, extending statutes of limitations can be vital for victims. However, it’s crucial to understand your legal rights to be able to bring a claim within the time allowed.

If someone sexually abused you or a loved one while at the Diocese of Owensboro, contact our legal team at Herman Law today to understand how we can help you pursue a civil claim for compensation and seek justice. We offer free case evaluations so that we can better understand what happened and how we can best help you.

Ordained: 1973
Status: Accused
 
Placed on leave by the Lafayette LA diocese in 4/02 after allegation he abused a teen boy prior to ordinationin the early 1960s, while a Benedictine brother. Alexander ‘acknowledged his involvement’ in the incident. At the time of the abuse, Alexander was a monk at St. Maur’s Priory in South Union KY and the boy was a student, apparently at St. Maur’s Preparatory Seminary. Alexander had joined the Benedictine order in 1955. Ordained a Benedictine priest in 1973. Arrived in Lafayette LA diocese in 1984. Allegation reported to Lafayette in 1/19 of abuse of a minor by Alexander while at St Anthony’s in Eunice, where he worked 9/88 – 4/02. Included on Owensboro diocesan list 4/12/19, which states that the St. Maur allegation was ‘considered substantiated.’ On Lafayette LA diocese’s list in 4/19.
Ordained: 1983
Status: Accused
 
Pastor of St Mary of the Woods in Whitesville KY since 6/12. Suspended after diocese received allegation 5/3/16 of ‘improper conduct of a sexual nature’ with a male minor from St. Mary’s. Kentucky State Police investigated. Allegations by two more people of sex abuse by Baker as minors. Baker worked in parishes across Western KY. At time of suspension was also pastor of St John the Baptist in Fordsville. Review Board found allegations substantiated; permanently suspended from ministry 10/18. Included in 4/12/19 Owensboro diocesan list of priests with substantiated allegations, which confirms that the Review Board deemed 3 allegations substantiated. Diocesan assignment list omits deanship 1996-2003 and other chancery positions.
Ordained: 1988
Status: Reinstated
 
Pastor of St. Ann’s in Morganfield KY when suspended from ministry in 6/16, due to allegations he sexually abused a 17-year-old boy in 1983, prior to ordination. In 2008 a 23-year-old man shot and killed himself outside of Byrd’s then-parish, Blessed Mother; the man mentioned Byrd in a suicide note. He wrote that he had experienced “pain and torment” because of sexual abuse in the Catholic church, but did not name an abuser. Of Byrd, the man wrote, “I forgive you.” Reinstated in 9/16. Per the diocese, “…the Diocesan Review Board further explored the information that has been compiled and counseled the bishop that there was insufficient information to substantiate the allegation.”
Ordained: 1966
Status: Settled
 
Accused along with two other priests of abuse of a girl in the 1960s. The alleged victim settled with Diocese in 1999 for $41K. In 2003 she died by suicide. Her family returned the settlement and filed suit on her behalf, saying she didn’t have the capacity to enter into settlement. She had been hospitalized several times. The diocese said she was 18 at the time of the ‘relationship’ and that it was consensual. Clemons was retired as of 11/09.
Ordained: 1947
Status: Accused
 
First identified publicly as accused on 4/12/19 Owensboro diocesan list, which stated: ‘multiple allegations deemed substantiated.’ Assignment list published by Owensboro diocese omits assignment as pastor at St Charles church in Livermore, as listed in 1987 Official Catholic Directory. Died 3/2/12.
Ordained: 1937
Status: Accused
 
Included in 4/12/19 Owensboro diocesan list of priests with substantiated allegations, which stated: ‘multiple allegations received after his death, but deemed substantiated.’ Diocesan list of assignments omits his appointment as Chancellor (1938-1947) and Vicar General (1947-1982). Title of monsignor granted 1949. Died 3/5/90.
 
Ordained: 1980
Status: Accused
 
Meredith was originally placed on medical leave in early 12/13 before being removed later in the month for credible accusations of inappropriate conduct with a minor. Police decided 1/16/14 that alleged conduct was not a criminal offense. Also, the minor was now an adult and did not want to be interviewed by the police so case closed. Incident may have involved a violation of church policy. Will remain a priest but still on leave. Included in 4/12/19 Owensboro diocesan list of priests with substantiated allegations: ‘one allegation deemed substantiated by the Diocesan Review Board.’
Ordained: 1955
Status: Convicted
 
Ordained for the Diocese of Covington. Pled guilty in 1995 to sexually abusing three brothers and their cousin in the 1960s. Received five years probation, beginning in 1/95. Sued in 2003 for abuse 1960-62. Suit settled 12/03 as part of $5.2M settlement with 27 accusers involving six priests. Murdered in 12/03 by a 26-year-old man who had been living with him. Included on the Owensboro diocese’s list 4/12/19, which notes 13 substantiated allegations. Included on the Covington diocese’s list 7/31/20. On the Lexington diocese’s list in 8/20. One known victim there, at St. Paul’s in 1962.
 
Ordained: 1975
Status: Convicted
 
Piskula, who “retired” in 2002, was arrested 6/12 after Grand Jury indicted him on charges of first-degree sodomy, victim under 12, and first-degree sexual abuse. One man notified authorities in 2/11 about incidents dating back to 1979 when Piskula was at Blessed Mother Church in Owensboro. Reports say Piskula has not had any ministerial duties since 2002 in accordance with the Dallas Charter. He was in a restricted assignment with the Diocese from 1994-2002 after similar allegation. Pled guilty 6/4/14 to 1st degree sexual abuse shortly before trial. Charge of first-degree sodomy dropped in plea agreement. Sentenced 8/6/14 to 5 years prison, register as sex offender for 20 years and receive sex offender treatment while in prison. Died 10/11/18. Included in 4/12/19 Owensboro diocesan list of priests with substantiated allegations: ‘six allegations deemed substantiated.’
Ordained: 1959
Status: Settled
 
Accused with two other priests in 1995 of abusing a girl in the 1960s. Alleged victim settled with Diocese in 1999 for $41K. In 2003 she died by suicide. Family returned settlement and filed suit on her behalf, saying she didn’t have capacity to enter into settlement, She had been hospitalized several times. Diocese said she was 18 and relationship was consensual. Powers denied all accusations. He was still active priest in 7/06; suit was still pending. Retired in 2007. Remains active in diocese in 11/15.
 
Ordained: 1974
Status: Accused
 
First identified publicly as accused in 4/12/19 Owensboro diocesan list of priests with substantiated allegations: ‘one allegation deemed substantiated.’
Ordained: 1975
Status: Accused
 
First identified publicly as accused in 4/12/19 Owensboro diocesan list of priests with substantiated allegations: ‘two allegations deemed substantiated.’ The Owensboro list of assignments for Wheatley is incomplete; e.g., it omits that he was Assistant Principal at Trinity High School in Whitesville 1976-1980; Principal of St Mary High School in Paducah 1984-1986; and Vice President for Student Affairs at Christian Brothers College in Memphis TN 1987-1988. Died 10/7/13.
 
Ordained: 1989
Status: Accused
 
First identified publicly as accused in 4/12/19 Owensboro diocesan list of priests with substantiated allegations: ‘one allegation of sexual abuse received in 2002 involving incident prior to ordination deemed substantiated.’ The Owensboro list of assignments omits Wieder’s chancery position of Director of Youth Ministry, as indicated in the 1996 Official Catholic Directory.
Ordained: 1968
Status: Settled
 
Accused, along with two other priests, of abusing a girl in the 1960s. The alleged victim settled with the Diocese in 1999 for $41K. In 2003 she died by suicide. Her family returned the settlement and filed suit on her behalf, saying she didn’t have capacity to enter into settlement. She had been hospitalized several times. The Diocese said she was 18 and that the relationship was ‘consensual.’ Willet died 11/6/01.

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