FLORIDA
The Daytona Beach News-Journal
Staff Report
Last update: December 24, 2004
An Indiana priest who served one year at St. Peter's Catholic Church in DeLand has been placed on administrative leave after a church panel found "credible evidence" to support sexual misconduct allegations against him.
The case against the Rev. Richard Emerson, associate pastor of St. Peter's for one year beginning in January 1990, has now been turned over to a Vatican group to advise the bishop in Gary, Ind., how to proceed.
Emerson could not be reached for comment.
The case against him stems from a sexual abuse complaint lodged with the Orlando diocese in May, according to diocese spokeswoman Carol Brinati. Church officials turned over the information to the State Attorney's Office in Orlando and the Gary diocese where Emerson has worked for most of the last 28 years.
A 29-year-old man complained Emerson had abused him for seven years, beginning when he was 11, according to a June 10 diocesan letter to the state attorney quoted Thursday by the Orlando Sentinel.
Emerson worked at three Central Florida churches from 1987 to 1991 so he could be close to his ailing parents, Gary Diocese spokesman Brian Olszewski said.
Posted by kshaw at December 24, 2004 08:18 AM