LOUISVILLE (KY)
WDRB [Louisville KY]
January 22, 2025
A former Louisville priest pleaded not guilty Wednesday to child sex abuse charges.
The accusations against Joseph Mouser, 86, are new, but court records allege the incidents happened 35 years ago when the victim was younger than 12 years old.
Mouser was one of two dozen priests named in a class action lawsuit alleging abuse of minors in the 60s and 70s. In that case, Mouser was accused of taking several boys to a drive-in, giving them alcohol and assaulting them.
The alleged incidents happened during his time at St. Francis of Assisi in Louisville and St. Helen in Glasgow, Kentucky. That lawsuit was settled for nearly $26 million the following year.
The former priest was removed from public ministry in 2002.
In 2005, he was directed by the Holy See to lead a life of prayer and penance. After the allegations, Louisville’s archbishop at the time sent him to live in a private home at the Sisters of Loretto Motherhouse in Nerinx, Kentucky.
He was not supposed to serve in any active ministry. According to the National Catholic Reporter, he was found to be doing that while serving as chaplain to the Sisters of Loretto in 2020.
The article said he also had close contact with children as students from a nearby high school and other kids would often visit the farm.
In a statement at the time of his arrest, the Archdiocese of Louisville said:
“Fr. Mouser ended his ministry in the archdiocese decades ago. With the support of the Holy See, he was ordered to live a life of prayer and penance. Presently, he resides in a nursing home. We have not heard anything regarding the indictment and cannot comment on this matter.”
Due to him facing felony charges, there’s no statute of limitations. He was initially charged with four counts of sodomy and two counts of sexual abuse.
Mouser was arrested earlier this month on the new child abuse charges, and was being held on a $5,000 cash bond. He is expected to be back in court in March.