St. Joseph's Teacher Resigns Following Allegations He Enabled Sexual Abuse

WYFF 4 TV
March 5, 2019

https://www.wyff4.com/article/st-josephs-teacher-resigns-following-allegations-he-enabled-sexual-abuse/26685771

St. Joseph's has confirmed the resignation of a teacher who was accused of letting a former priest abuse a former student.

St. Joseph's headmaster Keith Kiser confirmed the resignation in a letter sent to parents and staff Tuesday afternoon.

Kiser said he accepted Neil O'Connor's resignation after nearly 26 years of sacrificial service.

Kiser said the move came over concerns about O'Connor's continued association with former Catholic priest Hayden Vaverek and his organization.

Former St. Joseph's student Michael Cassabon claimed Vaverek abused him starting in 1997, during his junior year at St. Joseph's.

The Catholic Church found the allegations credible and removed Vaverek's powers as a priest in 2013.

Cassabon said O'Connor would drive him to Vaverek's parish in Greenwood and had knowledge of the abuse.