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	Ownensboro Catholic Diocese Oks Probe into Abuse Allegations By Garret Mathews Evansville Courier & Press February 7, 2011 http://www.courierpress.com/news/2011/feb/07/diocese-oks-probe-into-abuse-allegations/ OWENSBORO, Ky. — In the wake of a Thursday morning suicide in which a 23-year-old man alleged sexual abuse on the Internet before shooting himself, the Diocese of Owensboro on Monday promised to seek an independent investigator. The diocese also pledged cooperation with Bruce Kuegel, the Daviess County Commonwealth attorney. David M. Jarboe Jr. was found dead outside Blessed Mother Catholic Church, where he was a member. Earlier, he had left a Facebook posting referring to one priest as an "evil man." He thanked one priest on the post and wrote that he "forgave" another. Jarboe did not accuse any priest by name, but he wrote that abuse in the church is "real" and he would like to "save at least one child from the pain and torment that I had to go through." In a news release issued Monday by the office of Owensboro Bishop William F. Medley, it was noted that "David spoke of pain he had endured as a consequence of sexual abuse within the church, perhaps at the hands of a Catholic priest." A Diocesan Review Board convened Saturday to review the information in Jarboe's Facebook posting and to recommend the hiring of an independent investigator. The 13-member body includes lay psychologists, educators, law enforcement personnel and an Episcopal priest. Jarboe's funeral Mass was held Monday at Blessed Mother. "The prayers and comfort of all of us in the church are extended to the family in this moment of tragic loss," Medley said in the release. Jarboe graduated from Owensboro Catholic High School in 2006. He was a linebacker on the football team and editor-in-chief of the school newspaper. He attended the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota for portions of three years, but left in 2008. He transferred to Western Kentucky University and was an intern with Northwestern Mutual at the time of his death. According to the Louisville Courier-Journal, the University of St. Thomas 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. Baer has not been accused of sexual abuse, according to the Louisville Courier-Journal. Jeff Koenig, 42, a leader of Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests in the Louisville area, said he hoped any abusive priests are punished. "I hope Bishop Medley will do a full investigation," Koenig said Monday. "I'm very upset at what happened," Koenig added. "I did not know David Jarboe. I wish he had reached out to our group so we could have been there for support."
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