August 09, 2005

Priest faces new molestation claim

ORLANDO (FL)
Orlando Sentinel

The Associated Press
Posted August 9, 2005

A Catholic priest accused of molesting a boy in Orlando more than a decade ago has been named in a second credible allegation of sexual misconduct, officials in Indiana said.

Officials wouldn't say whether the second alleged incident happened in Florida or Indiana, where the Rev. Richard Emerson most recently served.

The new allegation against Emerson was found to be credible, prompting the Diocese of Gary to notify his former northwest Indiana parishes last week, along with law-enforcement authorities, diocesan spokesman the Rev. Brian Chadwick said.

"It's not a finding of guilt," he said.

The alleged victim was a minor, Chadwick told the Herald-Argus of LaPorte for a story published Monday.

Posted by kshaw at August 9, 2005 07:55 AM