Iowa Diocese Recommends Coach to Abuser List

Muscatine Journal
July 7, 2012

http://muscatinejournal.com/news/state-and-regional/iowa/iowa-diocese-recommends-coach-to-abuser-list/article_4b66a359-4b9f-5525-8ceb-3a85c4d75e27.html

The Diocese of Davenport Review Board recommends a football coach suspected of sexually abusing minors decades ago be added to an online list of abusers.

The board on Friday recommended to Bishop Martin Amos that a report of abuse against Walter Phipps was credible.

Phipps was a coach at Our Lady Of Lourdes in Bettendorf from 1973 to 1975. He was arrested in 1987 and convicted of sexual abuse. Phipps was sentenced to 10 years in prison. He died in 2010.

The board considered a second report of abuse by another non-clergy member, but recommended additional investigation before a credibility decision is made.

A recent ruling allows the diocese to withhold the names of 18 priests who were subject to abuse allegations that the board found to be not credible.