Bishop of Cleveland, Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Speak out after Strongsville Priest's Arrest

By Tyler Carey and Mark Naymik
WKYC
December 6, 2019

https://www.wkyc.com/article/news/crime/devastating-and-heart-wrenching-cleveland-bishop-nelson-j-perez-releases-statement-after-strongsville-priests-arrest/95-14c900fa-6478-430e-b313-975806ccdc5c

The Rev. Bob McWilliams is facing charges related to child pornography.

One day after the arrest of a priest in the diocese, Roman Catholic Bishop of Cleveland Nelson J. Perez has released a statement on the matter.

Perez, who is currently in Rome meeting with Pope Francis, called the accusations against the Rev. Bob McWilliams "devastating and heart-wrenching for the entire Catholic community in Northeast Ohio." The bishop also pledged to fully cooperate with investigators in the name of "the safety and well-being of our children."

"All of us feel tremendous emotions of shock, disappointment and confusion," Perez wrote. "I ask you to join me in prayerful solidarity for healing asking for God’s grace and guidance in this painful situation."

McWilliams was taken into custody Thursday after authorities searched St. Joseph Catholic Church in Strongsville. He has currently been booked on a charge of pandering obscenity related to an accusation of inappropriately texting a teenager in Newbury, and sources tell 3News that multiple images of child pornography were found at the St. Joseph rectory where McWilliams lives.