The names of three San Antonio priests, including one who was very active in social justice causes in the sixties and seventies, and another who was a teacher at Antonian and Central Catholic High Schools, are named in a report released by the Jesuits listing them as among members of the order who have been 'credibly accused' of sexual abuse of a minor, News Radio 1200 WOAI news reports.
The Rev. Alfonso Madrid served at Our Lady of Guadalupe, a prominent west side parish where he was very involved in community activism.. The Jesuits say Fr. Madrid was allegedly involved in abuse of children in the 1950s and 1960s.. He died in 1982. The Archdiocese says it has been aware of the allegations against Fr. Madrid for three years, and is working with the parish to urge any other victims to come forward.
The list compiled by the Jesuits also includes allegations against Father Francis Landwermeyer, who served at St. Brigid's, a growing parish on the northwest side, and as a high school teacher.. The Archdiocese says it has not previously been aware of any allegations against Fr. Landwermeyer, who the Archdiocese says was 'removed from ministry' in 2010 and died earlier this year.. The Archdiocese didn't say why Landwermeyer was removed from the ministry.
The third priest named in the report is Father Austin Park, who also ministered at Our Lady of Guadalupe.. The Archdiocese says it was made aware of allegations against Fr. Park when Archbishop Garcia-Siller announced his intention to unmask sexual predators in the Archdiocese earlier this year. Father Park died in 2013.
Allegations against Madrid and Park were being investigated by the Lay Commission on Clergy Sexual Abuse of Minors, which was appointed by the Archbishop and is headed by veteran Judge Catherine Stone, and was tasked with investigating allegations of misconduct by local priests dating back to the 1940s.
The Archdiocese is encouraging anybody who has useful information about these priests to contact it's Office of Victim Assistance and Safe Environment.. Information about these allegations will also be circulated in the parishes where they worked and, in the case of Fr. Landwermeyer, among alumni of Antonian and Central Catholic.