INDIANA
Herald-Argus
By LAURA MALLORY — Reporter
LONG BEACH — Rev. Richard Emerson, current pastor of Notre Dame Catholic Church in Michigan City and former pastor of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in LaPorte, was placed on administrative leave Saturday after allegations of sexual misconduct from more than 10 years ago.
Bishop Dale Melczek, head of the Gary Diocese, made the announcement to stunned Notre Dame parishioners at both Saturday’s and Sunday’s Masses. He also read and handed out a letter explaining the situation in detail.
“Father Emerson had received permission … to minister in the Diocese of Orlando (Florida) between October 1987 and December 1997 in order to be closer to his mother and father who were experiencing some illness,” wrote Melczek.
“I was notified by the Diocese of Orlando earlier this year that they had received an allegation of sexual misconduct against Father Emerson. The alleged sexual misconduct with a minor took place in the late 1980s.”
Melczek’s letter went on to state that the matter has been turned over to civil authorities in Florida and Indiana.
The Gary Diocese was first made aware of the situation six to eight weeks ago, but had to go through several steps before deciding to put Emerson on leave, said a diocese spokesman.