MADISON, Wis — Bishop Donald Hying backtracked on his statement that a priest accused of sexual misconduct last week had an absolutely clean record. The bishop said in a new statement that a parent complained about Showers in 2021. The parent “expressed concern” about pastoral questions that were asked of a male middle-school child during confession. The bishop further explained:
“The parish pastor at that time indicated that if the concerned parent felt the need to, he should report the matter to the police. The parent then reported his concerns to the Lodi Police Department. The police met with the father and child, assessed that the incident did not rise to the level of a criminal act, and so did not refer the matter further or pursue it with the diocese.”
About particulars of what happened in Lodi, which is 25 miles north of Madison, the bishop said both the pastor and parish staff did what should have been done. To further clear the air about the Lodi complaint, the bishop offered these particulars: Showers asked the 14-year-old boy “questions of moral nature” during confession. Some of those questions included Showers explaining slang for masturbation and looking at explicit content. The boy allegedly said no to the questions and had no other questions, so the conversation ended.
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Hying. Bishop of 11-county Madison Catholic Diocese since 2019. Earlier bishop in Gary, Indiana. From 2011 to 2015 an auxiliary bishop in Milwaukee.