Rev. Joseph Gibbs Clauder, 64, a Madison priest who faces second-degree child sexual assault charge, made an initial appearance in Dane County Circuit Court Thursday morning.
In 1999, the Diocese of Madison began to investigate allegations of inappropriate relationships between Clauder and one adult woman, diocese spokesperson Brent King said. The diocese prohibited Clauder from the public ministry after further investigation into the allegations.
The charges stem back from an incident that dates to 2004, King said.
In 2009, the diocese said the woman, who at the time was a minor, claimed Clauder had made inappropriate sexual contact with the woman in 2004. This occurred after Clauder was removed from the public ministry, King said.
""There is no place in the priesthood for those who would abuse a child, regardless of when the crime was committed,"" King said. ""We as a church and as a diocese have promised appropriate recognition, precaution and reporting with regard to sexual abuse of minors and we renew that promise.""
After a preliminary investigation the Diocesan Sexual Abuse Review Board decided the accusations against Clauder were credible. The diocese will pursue a canonical trial after the conclusion of any criminal or civil trial, King said.
—Maggie DeGroot
