Diocese of Madison addresses severe accusations against a local priest, asserting no concealment of wrongdoing

In a five-page statement, the Diocese of Madison has responded to the allegations made by Patricia Moriarty, who claimed that she was groped and subjected to sexually inappropriate comments by Andrew Showers, a Madison priest, during a meeting in Chicago in January 2024.

According to the diocese, John Moriarty, Patricia's father, reached out to the diocese about the incident but did not share 'essential information' with staff, such as the name of the priest, the location where the alleged incident occurred, or which police department was investigating. The diocese also stated that no copy of the police report was ever sent, and no law enforcement agency, including the Wisconsin Department of Justice, ever reached out to the diocese about the alleged assault.

Regarding the Lodi incident, the diocese claims that the pastor and parish staff did what was expected. However, they did not provide further details about this incident.

Andrew Showers was arrested last month by the Clintonville Police following an undercover operation for attempting to meet up with someone he believed was a 14-year-old girl for sex. Showers is charged with attempted use of a computer to facilitate a child sex crime, attempted child enticement, and attempted second-degree sexual assault of a child under 16 years old. He is due in court for his initial appearance on September 30.

The diocese did not bail Showers out of jail and they are not providing him with legal representation. Bishop Donald Hying released a statement, saying the last two weeks have been "very dark and sad" for the diocese, and that Moriarty was brave coming forward with her allegation against Showers.

However, the diocese defends Bishop Hying, stating that he cannot discipline or remove a priest without reports of abuse. They also claim that they did not call Moriarty or her father back due to church abuse reporting protocols designed to protect victims.

Sarah Pearson, Deputy Director of Nate's Mission, an advocacy group aimed at ending clergy abuse in Wisconsin, stated that they do not trust the Church and always go to law enforcement first due to past traumatic experiences with the Church. Moriarty shared her story on the steps of the State Capitol building alongside Nate's Mission.

A background check done on Showers in June of 2025 did not show criminal charges or convictions from Lodi, Wisconsin, Chicago, or anywhere else. However, the search results did not provide information about the police agency involved in the undercover operation against the accused priest.

Showers allegedly asked a 14-year-old boy questions of a sexual nature during confession, including explaining words for masturbation and looking at explicit content. The diocese did not comment on these specific allegations.

Until Showers' arrest, there was 'no reason to suspect Fr. Showers of inappropriate behavior.' This underscores the importance of reporting all allegations of abuse, no matter how small they may seem, to ensure the safety of all individuals involved.

Diocese of Madison addresses severe accusations against a local priest, asserting no concealment of wrongdoing