ORLANDO (FL)
Orlando Sentinel
By Amy C. Rippel | Sentinel Staff Writer
Posted December 19, 2004
A Roman Catholic priest who served in the Catholic Diocese of Orlando -- at an Orlando church and possibly one in DeLand in the late 1980s -- was placed on administrative leave after an allegation of sexual misconduct with a minor, authorities said.
The Rev. Richard Emerson, 52, served in the Orlando area for more than two years in the late 1980s, said Brian Olszewski, communications director for the Catholic Diocese of Gary, Ind., where Emerson most recently served. Olszewski said the allegation "has to do with an incident that took place in the late 1980s when he was in the Diocese of Orlando."
Orlando diocese spokeswoman Carol Brinati said he served at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church on Edgewater Drive. Orlando Sentinel records show that Emerson possibly served at St. Peter's Catholic Church in DeLand in 1990.
Olszewski said the Indiana diocese learned of the allegation about eight weeks ago from officials at the Orlando diocese. After an investigation by an Indiana diocese team, parishioners at northwest Indiana churches where Emerson served were notified of the allegation.