News Release #434

Statement Concerning Rev. Francis Markey

New Ulm - Cable News Network (CNN) recently aired a report about Fr. Francis Markey, an 82-year-old priest of the Diocese of Clogher, Ireland. Markey has lived in the United States since 1981, and reportedly has worked as a chemical dependency counselor in California and Michigan. He currently resides in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and awaits extradition to Ireland where he will face charges that he sexually abused a 15-year-old boy about 40 years ago.

In December of 1981, Fr. Markey came to Willmar, Minnesota, located in the Diocese of New Ulm. He had applied and was accepted to participate in a Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) program at Willmar State Hospital. While participating in that program, he did some temporary parish work in the diocese.

For about three months, in the spring of 1982, Fr. Markey filled in at the Church of St. Andrew in Granite Falls, following the death of the church’s pastor, and before the new pastor began his assignment there. Fr. Markey left the Diocese of New Ulm in June of 1982. Since that time, Markey has not lived in or served the diocese in any capacity.

The Diocese of New Ulm has a comprehensive safe environment program which educates clergy, teachers, parents and students, and helps them identify and prevent sexual misconduct. We are committed to offer help and healing to anyone who has been a victim of sexual misconduct and to prevent this terrible crime in the diocese. Anyone who believes that he or she may have suffered sexual abuse, exploitation, or harassment by a priest, deacon, pastor or pastoral administrator of the Diocese of New Ulm is urged to report such misconduct to the Victim Assistance Coordinator or the Bishop’s Delegate in Matters Pertaining to Sexual Misconduct, 1400 Sixth Street North, New Ulm, MN 56073; phone: (507) 359-2966.