In separate interviews Thursday, both Waibel and Poole confirmed the circumstances of their charges. Yesterday, church officials would not discuss Howell's arrest, saying their attorney has advised them not to comment on that case because some of its details are included in sealed documents in a separate lawsuit. William Roman Catholic Church in London when they transferred him there in August 2001. Charles Howell, was arrested in 1998 and charged with indecent exposure after an officer saw him masturbating in front of two other men, police records show.ĭiocese officials say they knew about Howell's arrest, but did not tell parishioners at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Winchester, won't be allowed to preside over church services this weekend, diocese officials said.Īnother priest, the Rev. Patrick Catholic Church, and Waibel, pastor of St. Poole, the sacramental minister at Mount Sterling's St. The diocese is "deeply disappointed and saddened," the statement said. "The breach of celibacy, especially in such a public manner, inflicts a grave hurt upon the people of the local Catholic community," the diocese said in a statement yesterday afternoon. He acknowledged that the church had known of a similar 1990 charge against Poole. The diocese said it was unaware of the misdemeanor charges against Waibel and Poole until the Herald-Leader raised questions Thursday about the men's records, church spokesman Thomas Shaughnessy said yesterday.
Poole "scandalous behavior." It said it will investigate and take "imminent action" against the two priests.
Yesterday, the Lexington Diocese called the actions of the Revs. Three Lexington priests have been charged by police in the last four years after being caught exposing themselves and masturbating in Lexington's Jacobson Park, court records show. Lockwood, Lexington Herald Leader (Kentucky), ĭiocese Wasn't Aware Two Had Been Arrested 3 Priests Paid Fines for Exposure Diocese Wasnt Aware Two Had Been Arrested, by Frank E.