Archdiocese Investigating Allegation against Roeland Park Priest

Roman Catholic Diocese of Kansas City in Kansas
May 9, 2012

http://www.archkck.org/page.aspx?pid=743

The Safe Environment Coordinator for the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas has received a report from a 45 year old Kansas City, Kansas man who alleges that 30 years ago (1982) when he was 15 years old, he was inappropriately touched by a priest of the archdiocese, Fr. John Wisner. The man claims that the alleged misconduct took place while on a youth outing.

Archbishop Naumann has informed Father Wisner of the allegation. While Father Wisner acknowledges the time, location and circumstances surrounding the allegation, he denies that he engaged in any sexual misconduct. In light of the allegation and in accord with archdiocesan policy, Father Wisner has been temporarily relieved of his ministerial responsibilities and restricted from exercising his priestly ministry pending the results of an investigation into this matter. The Archbishop has appointed a special auditor with law enforcement and investigative experience to investigate the allegation.

Father Wisner has served as a parochial vicar (associate pastor) at St. Agnes Parish in Roeland Park, Kansas since 1985. Father Wisner was ordained in 1972 and has served at Sacred Heart and Christ the King Parishes in Kansas City, Kansas and at St. Joseph Parish in Shawnee. Father Wisner is also a medical doctor and employed fulltime as an associate professor. The archdiocese has no record of any other allegations of sexual misconduct raised against Father Wisner in his forty years of ministry.

Archdiocesan policies place the protection of children as the first priority. Furthermore, the archdiocese respects the sincere concerns of all individuals who bring forth allegations of misconduct, and is thus committed to conducting a thorough investigation. However, it is important to remember that all accused persons should be presumed innocent unless evidence proves otherwise.

In accord with archdiocesan polices, local law enforcement has been contacted and the chairman of the Independent Review Board has been notified. The archdiocese encourages any person who believes they have been sexually abused by any cleric, employee or volunteer of any archdiocesan parish, school or agency, regardless of when such abuse may have occurred, to contact the archdiocesan Safe Environment Coordinator at 913-647-6324, the Confidential Report Line at 913-647-3051, or to contact local law enforcement. Specifically, if anyone has information pertinent to this investigation, they are encouraged to contact the archdiocesan Safe Environment Coordinator at the above number.

Contact Information:

Rose Hammes, Director of Communications

913-948-3996, rhammes@archkck.org

Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas

12615 Parallel Parkway

Kansas City, KS 66109