MICHIGAN CITY (IN)
The News-Dispatch
By Deborah Sederberg The News-Dispatch
The Rev. Richard Emerson has been on leave for more than a year on allegations of sexual misconduct with a minor
While the Rev. Richard Emerson has resigned his pastorate, he has not resigned from the Roman Catholic priesthood, area priests say.
Emerson, 58, the former pastor of Notre Dame Catholic parish, has been on administrative leave since Dec. 18, 2004, following charges of sexual misconduct with a minor.
The charges, coming from an Orlando, Fla., man who is now 29, date back to the 1980s and early 1990s.
After Notre Dame's 9:30 a.m. Mass on Sunday, many parishioners expressed their continued belief in Emerson's innocence. He faces no criminal charges.