By Patrick Noaker
Anderson Advocates Blog
August 17 2010
http://andersonadvocatesblog.blogspot.com/2010/08/unrestricted-priest-webmaster-arrested.html
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| Bishop Callahan speaking to the parish of Fr. Patrick Umberger after Umberger’s arrest for possessing child pornography, |
This is a particularly sad story. A little over a year ago, Fr. Patrick Umberger of the Diocese of LaCrosse was kicked out of Noah’s Ark Water Park in Lake Delton, Wisconsin for following young boys to the bathroom. When water park personnel observed Fr. Umberger follow the boys into the bathroom, they called the police and revoked his season pass. Two days ago, it was revealed that the Diocese of LaCrosse knew about this incident, but never restricted Fr. Umberger’s involvement with kids.
Instead, the Diocese allowed Fr. Umberger to continue as a pastor of a church, teach at the parish school, serve as a chaplain at a middle school and function as the webmaster for the Diocese of LaCrosse and Pacelli High School in Stevens Point, WI.
Recently, Fr. Umberger was arrested and charged with possessing child pornography, when images of children were found on his computer and when Umberger admitted to being attracted to boys who were 12 to 15 years old. In response to the arrest and criminal charges, the Diocese of LaCrosse stripped Umberger’s duties “to protect all parties involved.” “The diocese cautioned the move should not be taken as a sign of Umberger’s guilt or innocence.”
Shame on Fr. Umberger for fueling an industry that is based on the sexual exploitation of children. Double shame on the Diocese of LaCrosse for allowing him to do so. Shouldn’t the Diocese protect the children who were sexually victimized in order to make those pornographic images as much as they protected Fr. Umberger?
About the author: Patrick Noaker is an attorney with Jeff Anderson & Associates who handles cases involving child sexual abuse, exploitation and pornography.
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