Louisville priest James Schook, who sexually abused altar boy, has died

LOUISVILLE (KY)
Louisville Courier Journal

December 10, 2018

By Chris Kenning

Former Louisville Roman Catholic priest James Schook, convicted of molesting a teen altar boy in the 1970s, died on Saturday at age 71, the Lousiville Archdiocese said Monday.

Schook was a central character for years in the local Catholic sex abuse crisis that exploded in 2002, which left some deeply critical of how the Louisville archdiocese handled abusive priests.

He was already suffering from end-stage melanoma, a terminal skin cancer, in 2014 when he was sentenced to 15 years in prison on three counts sodomy and one count indecent or immoral practice. He was released on medical parole last year.

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The Archdiocese of Louisville released a statement on Monday extending sympathy to his family. “In praying for the repose of his soul, we also pray for continued healing for his victims and for all victim survivors of childhood sexual abuse,” the statement said.

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