Earlier this month, I heard that one of the priests that taught at my school for the past fifteen years was asked to leave for allegations of sexual abuse of a child. The minute I heard that I wasn't really that surprised, but if it is true; it makes you think about the people you are around. Do you really know them that well? Especially, priests who are people that you confide in and are supposed to be holy and what not. But, having religion classes with this priest from 7th to senior year, I know that most people knew him to be somewhat sexist. He did not like girls too much. But, if you were a popular athletic guy at the school in any grade, you were his favorite. You could go to his classroom during off periods and just hang out. Or, even ride with him to state basketball games, or even allow him to tag along when there was a guy's night out. Wow, what a cool priest...NOT! I never liked the guy, I always thought there was something weird about him, and no it wasn't the fact that the man looked like Mr. Burns on the Simpsons, exactly like him.
Following diocesan policy, the allegation was first reported to police. Based on a written report of the abuse, Bishop Joseph L. Charron took action to bar Hobt from functioning publicly as a priest. The Des Moines diocese in September 2003 named three priests accused of sexual abuse of children, including a popular Dowling Catholic High School president, and announced they had been removed from ministry. In the time since, Albert Wilwerding died, John Ryan and Richard Wagner, the former Dowling president, reluctantly agreed to be laicized. The Vatican on Nov. 16.
And I will say it again; you never know why priests are accused of these crimes. And, also you really never know who your priest is, and I'm not saying that my ex-priest did it, but I did have a grasp of what kind of person he was, and like I said, I'm not surprised.
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