Rev. William S. Myers

Summary of Case: Myers was placed on leave in May 2011 for a "boundary violation" after it became known by the archdiocese that he had followed a 17-year-old boy into a San Francisco clothing store dressing room the previous month. The boy's father saw what was happening and banged on the dressing room door. Police were called and determined that a crime had not been committed. The boy denied being touched. Myers acknowledged he had a sexual addiction to adults, and said he thought the boy was an adult. Earlier in his career Myers underwent treatment for sexual identity issues.

Ordained: 1988

1988

Stockton bishop was Donald William Montrose (1985-1999), followed by Stephen William Blaire (1999-)

2000

San Francisco archbishop was William Joseph Levada (1995-2005)

2005

Levada was succeeded by George Hugh Niederauer (2005-)

Menlo Park

• Myers was accused of a "boundary violation" involving a 17-year-old boy in April 2011. Myers had followed the boy into a dressing room at a department store. The priest and the boy did not know one another. The boy's father was there and intervened.

Parish had a school with 245 students, and a religious education program with 143-50 students.

Store personnel called police. Myers was not charged with a crime. The archdiocese did not learn of the incident until May 26. Myers was placed on leave the next day. The case was to be referred to the archdiocesan review board. Angry St. Raymond's parishioners criticized the archdiocese for ignoring "red flags". Myers acknowledged he struggles with a sexual addiction toward adults, and was seeking treatment.

Source: Official Catholic Directory (New York: P.J. Kenedy and Sons, 1989-2010)

• Update: St. Raymond Pastor on Leave after "Boundary Violation" with Teen, Archdiocese Says, By Sandy Brundage, The Almanac
June 1, 2011
• Parishioners Demand Answers after Menlo Park Pastor Suspended, By Diana Samuels, Mercury News, June 2, 2011
• Menlo Park Priest on Leave after Incident with Boy, KTVU, June 1, 2011
• William Meyers, Peninsula Priest with "Sexual Addiction," Trails Boy into Dressing Room, By Peter Jamison, SF Weekly, June 2, 2011
• Alleged Inappropriate Conduct Stuns St. Raymond, Menlo Park Patch, June 2, 2011
• Parish Stunned by Pastor's "Boundary Violation", By Sandy Brundage, The Almanac, June 6, 2011
• St. Raymond Parish: Archdiocese Names Interim Administrator, By Rick DelVecchio, Catholic San Francisco, June 8, 2011
• Former Modesto Priest on Leave, By Sue Nowicki, Modesto Bee, June 8, 2011
• Peninsula Priest Held in "Private" S.F. Location As Abuse Investigation Moves Forward, By Peter Jamison, SF Weekly, June 16, 2011
• Church Continues to Investigate Menlo Park Pastor Who Followed Teen into Dressing Room, By Diana Samuels, Mercury News, July 15, 2011
• DA Won't Charge Former St. Raymond Pastor, By George Raine, Catholic San Francisco, July 15, 2011

Priests in a Parish: We use the following convention to show a priest's place among the clergy of a parish: 1/2 means that he is the first priest listed in the Official Catholic Directory (usually the pastor) and that there is a total of two priests at the parish. The shorthand 3/4 means that the priest is listed third on a four-priest roster. See our sample page from the Directory.

Note: The Official Catholic Directory aims to report the whereabouts of Catholic priests in the United States on January 1 of the Directory's publication year. Our working assumption is that a priest listed in the Directory for a given year was at the same assignment for part of the previous year as well. However, Kenedy and Sons will sometimes accept updates well into the year of publication. Diocesan clergy records are rarely available to correct this information. The Directory is also sometimes misleading or wrong. We have tried to create an accurate assignment record, given the source materials and their limitations. Assignment records are a work in progress and we are always improving the records that we post. Please email us with new information and corrections.

This assignment record collates Myers' career history as it is represented in the Official Catholic Directory with allegations as reported in the media. We make no representation regarding the truth of the allegation we report, and we remind our readers that the U.S. legal system presumes that a person accused of or charged with a crime is innocent until proven guilty. Similarly, individuals who may be defendants in civil actions are presumed not to be liable for such claims unless a plaintiff proves otherwise. Admissions of guilt or liability are not typically a part of civil or private settlements. For more information, see our posting policy.

This assignment record was last updated on Oct. 5, 2011.