GARY (IN)
The Ledger
GARY, Ind.
A northwest Indiana Roman Catholic priest, accused of sexual misconduct that allegedly occurred while he was serving in Florida, has been placed on administrative leave.
Gary Bishop Dale J. Melczek took the action against the Rev. Richard Emerson, 52, of Hammond, after the diocese's response team reviewed the allegations, diocese spokesman Brian T. Olszewski said in a news release Saturday.
He is restrained from public ministry or contact with minors pending a Vatican review, the release said. Emerson, who was ordained in 1978 in the Gary diocese, has been pastor of Michigan City's Notre Dame parish since July 2003.
According to the allegations, Emerson engaged in sexual misconduct with a minor in the late 1980s while he was a priest in the Diocese of Orlando.