MICHIGAN CITY (IN)
WFTV
POSTED: 2:54 pm EST January 6, 2006
MICHIGAN CITY, Ind. -- A Roman Catholic priest accused of sexual misconduct in Orlando, Fla., has resigned his position with a northwestern Indiana church.
The Rev. Richard Emerson resigned from Notre Dame Parish in Michigan City more than a year after accusations were first made against him, the Rev. Brian Chadwick, Diocese of Gary spokesman, said Thursday. The news was also delivered to diocesan priests through a letter from Bishop Dale J. Melczek.
"It doesn't mean he's confessing his guilt," the Rev. James McGrogan of Sacred Heart Mission parish in Michigan City, told the Post-Tribune of Merrillville.
Emerson in December 2004 was removed from public ministry, which means he can no longer practice priestly duties such as conducting Mass.
Posted by kshaw at January 6, 2006 05:14 PM