Pastor at St. Margaret Mary Parish resigns amid FBI investigation

WHAS
August 21, 2015

http://www.whas11.com/story/news/local/2015/08/21/pastor-st-margaret-mary-parish-resigns-amid-fbi-investigation/32119029/

Father Stephen Pohl

LOUISVILLE (WHAS11) – Father Stephen Pohl resigned on Thursday, Aug. 20, from his position as a pastor of the St. Margaret Mary Parish.

Pohl is under investigation by the FBI and is accused of taking inappropriate pictures of children.

The Archdiocese of Louisville said Pohl’s ministry as a priest remains suspended. He cannot present himself as a priest, wear clerical garb or provide ministry.

The archdiocese said Pohl resigned so he could give his full attention to the situation he is facing and "...so that St. Margaret Mary Parish can move forward...".

The archdiocese said they have talked to police and will continue to cooperate with the investigation as it continues. They are concentrating on safety and pastoral care by providing an extra counselor at the school.

The Archdiocese of Louisville said Pohl had up to 200 photographs of St. Margaret Mary School students in his computer and were taken on parish grounds.

The archdiocese said '…authorities described some of the pics as inappropriate.'

The Cyber Crimes Unit of the FBI is investigating Pohl. According to the church, they found child pornography on his computer and other technology. The investigation will take months, according to the archdiocese, and they are asking parents who may have a child in a photo to contact the FBI.

At this time it is not known if any other school employees are involved in this investigation, according to the Archdiocese of Louisville.

They said the investigation began after a child took a photo they were uncomfortable with and the student’s parents turned the picture into authorities.

Father Mark Spalding will be the temporary administrator at St. Margaret Mary Parish until the archdiocese pinpoints a permanent pastor.