New York Times: Cardinal Levada permitted 4 abusive priests to minister

May 06, 2010

While serving as Archbishop of Portland (1986-95) and Archbishop of San Francisco (1995-2005), Cardinal William Levada, the prefect for the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, permitted at least four priests whom he knew had sexually abused children to remain in public ministry, The New York Times reports.

In Portland, Archbishop Levada returned at least two abusive priests to ministry with the support of therapists. The Times also reports that while in San Francisco, Archbishop Levada permitted Father Milton Walsh to remain in ministry despite his knowledge that the priest had committed child sexual abuse in the past, adding that the “archbishop went through a similar calculus with the Rev. Gregory Ingels.” The former was rector of the cathedral and academic dean of the seminary; the latter was chancellor of the archdiocese and a prominent canon lawyer.

Among the 81 pages of depositions, memoranda, and other documents published by the Times is the remarkable transcript of a telephone conversation between Father Walsh and his abuse victim. The conversation, recorded by police, took place nearly two decades after the homosexual abuse took place; the victim was 13 when he was molested.

 

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Further information:

• Cardinal Has a Mixed Record on Abuse Cases (New York Times)
• The Document Trail: William Levada (New York Times)
• Cardinal Levada did not report abusive priest in 1995 San Francisco case (CWN, 4/29/10)