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	Owensboro Man Posts about Abuse, Kills Himself By Peter Smith The Courier-Journal February 5, 2011 http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20110204/NEWS01/302040093/-1/sports080101/Owensboro-man-posts-about-abuse-kills-himself?odyssey=nav|head The Diocese of Owensboro is investigating sexual abuse accusations posted on the Internet by a man just before he fatally shot himself Thursday in a church parking lot, its bishop said Friday. Owensboro police say 23-year-old David M. Jarboe Jr. — an Owensboro Catholic High School football player and graduate — was found lying in the grass at Blessed Mother Catholic Church around 7 a.m. CST Thursday. The University of St. Thomas in Minnesota confirmed that the priest who received the harshest language in Jarboe’s online post was the Rev. William Baer, who was rector of a seminary there when Jarboe attended the school for three semesters between 2006 and 2008. Jarboe’s post referred to Baer as an "evil man." Jarboe forgave another priest and thanked a third. He did not accuse any priest of abuse by name but wrote that abuse in the church is “real" and that he hopes to "save at least one child from the pain and torment that I had to go through." Spokesman Dennis McGrath of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis said he was unaware of any internal investigation of Baer triggered by the post. He called Baer "very respected" and said Baer has been pastor of an Oakdale, Minn., parish since leaving the seminary in 2010. Baer was for 11 years rector of St. John Vianney College Seminary at the university. St. Thomas spokesman Doug Hennes said Baer was "very popular." "Father Baer does not know what motivated” the criticism in the Facebook post, Hennes said. "He has had positive conversations with David since he left the seminary — the last one was about a year ago — and is saddened by his death." Baer has never been accused of sexual abuse, Hennes said. Baer did not return a phone message left at his Transfiguration Church on Friday. Owensboro Bishop William F. Medley said Friday the Facebook postings prompted the diocese "to investigate in accord with diocesan policy." In a statement, Medley asked the media to wait until after Jarboe's funeral "before contacting the bishop’s office with questions and requests for information." "We are saddened by the untimely death … ," Medley said. "Our hearts and prayers are with his family and loved ones." Jarboe's parents were "just in shock," said the Rev. John Meredith, pastor at Blessed Mother Church in Owensboro where the family attends. Meredith said he'd likely comment on the death at weekend Masses. Jarboe graduated from Owensboro Catholic High School in 2006. He was a linebacker for the school's football team and editor-in-chief of the school newspaper. He attended St. Thomas in the 2006-07 academic year, did not attend in the fall of 2007 but returned in spring 2008 before leaving for good, Hennes said. In a personal website, Jarboe wrote that he decided to attend St. Thomas because of the opportunity to play football there and to "discern a possible calling to the Catholic priesthood." But because of the cold weather there, he decided to continue his studies at Western Kentucky University, he wrote. David Clohessy, director of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, said in a statement: "Our hearts go out to Mr. Jarboe's loved ones at this tragic time. We know that many who have been assaulted by clergy feel the hopelessness that he felt. But we want to stress that healing is possible, though it's always a long, tough road." Reporter Peter Smith can be reached at (502) 582-4469. Associated Press contributed to this story. Contact: psmith@courier-journal.com
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