Former associate pastor at South Bend's St. Anthony de Padua accused of sexual abuse

Dec. 16--FORT WAYNE -- The Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend announced the administrative leave of a priest accused of abusing a child 20 years ago while assigned at St. Anthony de Padua Parish in South Bend.

Last week, the diocese received an allegation of abuse against The Rev. Joseph Gaughan, who was most recently assigned as pastor at Most Precious Blood parish in Fort Wayne.

"The abuse is alleged to have occurred over 20 years ago while he was the associate pastor at St. Anthony de Padua Parish in South Bend," said diocese spokeswoman Jennifer Simerman in a statement. "The Diocese has determined the allegation to be credible and has informed civil authorities."

"The case is being sent to the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith in Rome for adjudication," Simerman's statement said. "As required by canon law, Father Gaughan has been placed on administrative leave."

According to a profile of Gaughan published in a June edition of Today's Catholic, a magazine published by the diocese, he was assigned at St. Anthony de Padua for five years, then was a pastor at St. Vincent de Paul in Fort Wayne for six years and then was pastor at Most Precious Blood for 14 years.

Last year, the diocese released a list of 18 priests and seminarians credibly accused of sexual abuse of children, in the wake of the Pennsylvania grand jury report that revealed details about 300 priests accused of abusing more than 1,000 children.

Since then, the list has seen more priests added, bringing the total to 22 priests and seminarians.

The Congregation of Holy Cross also released a list earlier this year of priests credibly accused of sexually abusing children.

That list, with 14 priests and one seminarian, included a former director of campus ministries at the University of Notre Dame and two others that were assigned to Notre Dame at some point during their careers.

Four of the priests named on the Congregation of Holy Cross list had already been named in the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend list.

cbauer@sbtinfo.com

574-235-6187

@calebbauerSBT

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