| Rev. Michael E. Nowak Summary of Case: In May 2011 two girls, ages 14 and 17, separately reported to police that Nowak had made sexual comments to them over the phone. According to the police reports, Nowak asked the 14-year-old if he could perform oral sex on her, and he invited the 17- year-old to a "Valentine's dinner," asking her to wear a low cut shirt to show off her "cha-chas." Nowak was placed on administrative leave. He initially pleaded "not guilty" to two counts of inappropriate use of a telephone, and later pleaded guilty. He was sentenced in July 2011 to 30 days in jail and one year probation. Ordained: 1997 |
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| Start | Stop | Parish | Town/Accusations | State | Position | Notes |
1997 Milwaukee archbishop was Rembert George Weakland, O.S.B. (1977-2002), followed by Timothy Michael Dolan (1977-2009) |
2003 | Christ the King | Wauwatosa | WI | 2/2 | Parish had a school with 465-430 students, and a religious education program with 267-173 students. |
2003 Dolan was succeeded by Jerome Edward Listecki (2009-) |
2011 | St. Therese's | Kenosha • Nowak was accused in May 2011 of making sexually explicit comments in a phone call to a 14-year-old girl, asking her if he could perform oral sex on her. The girl told her parents, who called local police. • The day after the 14-year-old girl filed a police report, a 17 year-old girl reported to the police that Nowak had made sexual comments to her over the phone. The girl said Nowak took her to a movie, then called to invite her to a "Valentine's" dinner. She also said Nowak asked her "to wear a low cut shirt to show off your cha-chas." • As of May 25, 2011 police were investigating a possible third victim of Nowak, regarding an incident that may have happened in Racine. |
WI | 1/1 | Parish had a school with 121-75 students, and a religious education program with 209- 145 students.
Nowak was placed on administrative leave in May 2011 after police informed the archdiocese of accusations against him. Nowak was charged with two counts of inappropriate use of a telephone. He initially pleaded not guilty. In July 2011 he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 30 days in jail and one year probation. |
Sources: Official Catholic Directory (New York: P.J. Kenedy and Sons, 1998-2010) Priest Placed on Leave for Alleged Sexual Comments, By John Fauber, Milwaukee Journal Sentiel, May 7, 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. |