SOUTH BEND — An external investigation into allegations of sexual abuse against a former University of Notre Dame rector found that the university failed to appropriately respond to the allegations, despite reports of misconduct dating back to 2018.
The university says it is taking immediate action based on the investigation findings, enacting new policy and expanding its annual trainings to prevent and respond to any future misconduct.
The investigation, led by Helen Cantwell at the law firm of Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, was initiated last fall at the request of Notre Dame President the Rev. Robert A. Dowd and Board Chair John Veihmeyer. According to the report, which was released on May 28, the Rev. Thomas King served as rector of the dormitory Zahm Hall from 1980 to 1997, and the alleged sexual misconduct reportedly occurred during his time as rector.
The report says King’s counsel refused the law firm’s request for an interview during the investigation.
The law firm found that King “had an established pattern of inappropriate grooming behavior by weighing students,” which the report refers to as a “weighing scheme.” According to the report, he would express concern over a student’s health and take them to the Rockne Memorial Gym to be weighed.
“Once in the locker room, he would direct students to undress fully before they stepped onto a scale,” the report reads, “suggesting they needed to be naked in order to obtain an accurate reading of their weight.”
The law firm conducted over 100 interviews, and investigators found 15 individuals who were credibly subjected to the weighing scheme. The report adds that multiple individuals, some of whom were also weighed, were allegedly sexually touched or assaulted by King both at Notre Dame and after he left the university.
King also taught at Holy Cross College from 1981 to 2007, the report says, leaving Notre Dame in 1997 to teach exclusively at Holy Cross. The law firm says students interested in transferring to Notre Dame from Holy Cross would enroll in his class in hopes of receiving a letter of recommendation from him — a position which King allegedly leveraged.
“For at least one student, Fr. King wrote him an enthusiastic letter of recommendation after subjecting him to weighing,” the report says. “We learned from another witness that while Fr. King did not promise him admission to Notre Dame, he did threaten the student to prevent his admission if he told anyone about what happened at the Rockne. Fr. King leveraged the dynamic between the two institutions and his perceived influence at Notre Dame to facilitate his misconduct.”
The investigation found that King’s departure from Notre Dame “was not linked to any reports of his misconduct” but rather that his contract period had ended. However, some witnesses investigators spoke with speculated he left because of complaints raised by a former student and his father in 1997.
King also worked at parishes in Niles and near Lakeville, the report says, and in 2020, following complaints in Niles, he was directed to move into Holy Cross House, a home for retired, ill or elderly Holy Cross priests.
Investigators find other priests accused of misconduct
During the investigation, the law firm also heard allegations of misconduct against other priests, including another connected with Notre Dame. The Rev. David Porterfield served as rector of Sorin Hall, and, the report says, in the early 1980s, Notre Dame was made aware of at least one complaint of sexual abuse of a student during his time as rector.
According to the report, Porterfield resigned from the university in 1983 after Notre Dame learned of the allegation, but was rehired by Notre Dame as an assistant rector in Grace Hall in 1984 and served as an assistant director of admissions in 1985.
After another complaint against him in 1986, the report says, Porterfield left Notre Dame and entered an alcohol treatment program before returning to the South Bend area and serving in parishes in the local diocese. He also worked as a substance abuse counselor with Alcoholics Anonymous, the law firm found.
Recommended policy and structural changes
In the report, investigators conclude that, while Notre Dame has “long had policies and procedures intended to foster a community where the dignity of every member is respected and upheld,” the university should have done more to address the allegations against King.
“Senior leaders of Notre Dame are fully committed to students’ and alumni wellbeing,” the report says, “and have been deeply affected by the experiences of members of the community and others who have shared very painful memories.
“Despite this, with respect to allegations concerning Fr. King raised since 2018, the University did not recognize the reported conduct to be at a minimum boundary crossing and, more seriously, grooming behavior because the weighing scheme was not properly understood as sexual and did not include touching or specific sexual assault. This limited opportunities for Notre Dame to learn the full extent of Fr. King’s past sexual abuse earlier.”
The report outlines several recommendations to strengthen the university’s existing policies and procedures, including:
Notre Dame’s response
In a statement, the university’s Dowd and Veihmeyer expressed remorse for those who were harmed and reaffirmed Notre Dame’s “commitment to the safety and well-being of the current and future Notre Dame community.”
“We are deeply disturbed by these findings and wish to extend our deepest apologies to the victims for what they endured,” the statement reads. “The conduct described in this report is antithetical to everything Notre Dame stands for and to the dignity and respect owed to every member of this community.”
Dowd and Veihmeyer said Notre Dame is taking immediate action based on the report’s findings, including:
“As a community, we must confront our deep sorrow and pain and redouble our efforts to become the Notre Dame we seek to be,” the statement reads. “We also acknowledge that our work on these efforts must be ongoing and evolving.”
Email South Bend Tribune education reporter Rayleigh Deaton at rdeaton@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Notre Dame report lists failures to handle allegations against priest
Reporting by Rayleigh Deaton, South Bend Tribune / South Bend Tribune
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By Rayleigh Deaton, South Bend Tribune | USA TODAY Network
