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Newly accused Catholic bishop grew up in Lebanon

Bishop Kevin Rhoades.jpeg

Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend. (Photo: Courtesy Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend)

A past bishop to the Diocese of Harrisburg, now bishop of a diocese in Indiana, who was accused Thursday of misconduct grew up in Lebanon and is a graduate of Lebanon Catholic High School.

The Diocese of Harrisburg confirmed Kevin Rhoades, 60, has been accused of misconduct while serving as a priest in Dauphin County.

“We can confirm that we recently received an allegation of misconduct against former Bishop of Harrisburg Kevin Rhoades relating to his service as a priest within the Diocese,” spokesman Mike Barley said by email Thursday. “We immediately referred the matter to the Dauphin County District Attorney’s Office and PA ChildLine per state law and Diocesan policy.”

The statement stressed “this is an allegation,” and that there would be no further comment until the investigation by the district attorney’s office is concluded.

Through a spokeswoman for the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend in Indiana, where Rhoades is now serving as bishop, Rhoades denied the allegation.

“Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades adamantly denies any validity to this accusation and the insinuation of inappropriate behavior,” Stephanie A. Patka, Secretariat for Communications, said in an emailed statement. “He did nothing wrong, and is confident any investigation will bear this out.”

Dauphin County District Attorney Fran Chardo said Thursday that there is no indication of a crime from the initial report.

He said his office heard from the Diocese of Harrisburg in August after the grand jury report was released on Aug. 14.

“It was a report from a family member of a young man who died in 1996, saying they thought the relationship between then-Father Rhoades and this young man was odd and they reported it,” Chardo said.

Rhoades would have known the young man both before and after the young man turned 18, Chardo said.

Chardo emphasized that there is no indication of a criminal act, and that the family member who reported to the diocese did not observe any criminal misconduct.

“The report we received did not include an allegation of a crime,” Chardo said. “We’re following up to make sure that there is no allegation of a crime by any person.”

He said he believes the family of the young man who made the report was prompted by the recent grand jury report.

“We have seen an increase in reporting since the grand jury report and so we act upon them,” Chardo said.

Rhoades served as the bishop to the Harrisburg diocese from 2004-2010. He grew up in Lebanon and was a 1975 graduate of Lebanon Catholic High School.

He entered Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary in 1977. His first assignment in the Harrisburg diocese was as parochial vicar at Saint Patrick Parish in York from 1983-1985.

Rhoades had several roles in the diocese, including as assistant chancellor under then-Bishop William Keeler.

Keeler, who also was a native of Lebanon, served as Bishop of Harrisburg and Archbishop of Baltimore. He died in March, 2017.

In November 2009, Rhoades was named bishop of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend in Indiana.

He was named in the recently released grand jury report, which he submitted a response to:

“Bishop Rhoades is mentioned in the Report in connection with two cases of abuse that occurred long before he was installed as Bishop of the Diocese of Harrisburg,” David M. Laigaie, an attorney for Rhoades, wrote. “In both cases, after Bishop Rhoades was made aware of allegations of abuse, he reported them to civil authorities and saw to it that the abusers were punished.”

Neither Rhoades nor his attorney could be reached for comment Thursday.

Reporter Ed Mahon and Chris Feaver contributed reporting.

 

This story comes to us through a partnership between WITF and The Lebanon Daily News

 

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