Aug 15, 2018 3 min read

The victim asked for assistance with counseling to help him deal with his repressed issues of sexual abuse. Flaherty told him that she would contact her counterpart in Florida, where the victim was living, and would forward some referral information to him. Flaherty also asked him to make a written statement and told him that she would be obligated to share this information with the Washington County District Attorney’s Office.

On October 17, 2013, Flaherty sent a follow up e-mail to the victim, providing him with contact information for a local counselor. She also asked him to make a written statement outlining his allegations because the Diocese wanted want to follow up with Bauer and would like to have the written statement to discuss with him.

In a memorandum to the file dated October 17, 2013, Flaherty outlined a meeting that she, Bishop William Waltersheild, Father Mark Eckman had with Bauer to address the allegations. Bauer stated that he recalled the victim and that he remembered him as one of the young boys who would work out in the “wrestling room.” Bauer said he remembered wrestling with some of the boys on occasion in the “wrestling room.” Bauer stated he would often “join them” since he enjoyed doing a good workout.

Bauer was specifically asked about the trip when he took three young boys to Columbus, Ohio and provided them alcohol. Bauer initially denied taking this trip but then then recalled this trip did occur. Bauer denied providing the boys alcohol in their car ride and suggested that maybe they had their own alcohol that they were drinking but he was unaware of that happening. Bauer also suggested that the victim may have mistaken him for the deceased Romero who was also assigned to the parish at the same time. Bauer stated that some of the boys would ask him to provide them alcohol but that he never did.

The victim’s allegation was forwarded to the Washington County District Attorney’s office on August 5, 2014.