Long Time Parishioner Reacts to Priest's Suspension

By Jessica Gavin
WAVE
May 20, 2016

http://www.wave3.com/story/32020020/long-time-parishioner-reacts-to-priests-suspension


14 News is hearing from a long-time parishioner of a church that an accused Western Kentucky priest in a sexual misconduct investigation, led for almost a decade.

Father Gerald Baker has been suspended from his duties as a priest at St. Mary of the Woods in Whitesville, after being accused of sexual misconduct with a child.

Baker had been a priest in Owensboro for the past few years, before that he served at St. Ann Catholic Church in Morganfield.

Father Gerald Baker was the priest at St. Ann for 9 years, from June 2003 to June 2012. Bishop William Medley tells us, the diocese opened its own investigation a few weeks ago, and is cooperating with Kentucky State Police.

Parishioners at Saint Mary of the Woods were told of the allegations against Baker, at mass this past weekend. 14 NEWS talked with Paul Monsour, he's been a parishioner of St. Ann Catholic Church in Morganfield, for 35 years.

He told us he believes Father Baker positively influenced not only fellow church attendees, but many people throughout Union County, for years.

"He had a big impact not only on our church but on our community, he was very active, I know he joined the Lions Club," said Paul Monsour, St. Ann Catholic Church parishioner. "He was very positive about a lot of things, he had a lot of friends and did a lot of good works. He had a little conservative bend on a few religious issues, I think that turned a lot of people off, but we were all stunned when we heard about this." >

In a letter to parishioners, Bishop William Medley said Father Baker is innocent until proven guilty, but the Diocesan Review Board unanimously judged this allegation to have sufficient merit to act immediately.