A priest at Most Precious Blood Catholic Church in Fort Wayne has been placed on administrative leave after an allegation of past sexual abuse of a minor was judged credible, according to a statement Monday from the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend.

Announcement of the move regarding the Rev. Joseph W. Gaughan was made during the weekend to the Most Precious Blood parish and St. Vincent de Paul parish in Fort Wayne, where he had previously served, said Jennifer Simerman, diocesan spokeswoman.

The alleged abuse took place more than 20 years ago in South Bend while Gaughan served as associate pastor at St. Anthony of Padua parish, she said.

Gaughan was ordained in 1994 by the diocese's late Bishop John M. D'Arcy as the only priest ordained that year. He began serving at St. Anthony on Dec. 13, 1994, after time as a deacon at St. Matthew Cathedral in South Bend, according to an account in The Journal Gazette at the time of his ordination.

Gaughan was placed at St. Vincent de Paul on Fort Wayne's north side 51/2 years later and has been at Most Precious Blood just north of downtown for 14 years, according to a profile of the priest that appeared in the diocese's weekly newspaper, Today's Catholic, in June.

Both parishes have large and active schools.

The diocese's statement says the allegation was made Dec. 10 and reported to “civil authorities” and the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in Rome.

Being placed on administrative leave is a requirement of canon law in such cases but does not imply guilt, and Gaughan “is presumed innocent until proven otherwise,” the statement says.

A letter sent to St. Vincent parishioners and obtained by The Journal Gazette provides additional details.

It says the allegation was investigated by an independent investigator appointed by the diocese's bishop, the Rev. Kevin C. Rhoades.

The alleged victim and Gaughan were interviewed, and evidence was reviewed by the Diocesan Review Board. Rhoades accepted the board's recommendation that the allegation was credible, the letter states.

The St. Joseph County prosecutor's office in South Bend on Monday afternoon confirmed its Special Victims Unit was contacted Thursday by a representative of the diocese.

The unit was notified the victim wished to remain anonymous, said Jessica McBrier, media relations director.

The office generally does not name the accused if the individual has not be charged or arrested, she said.

According to the Today's Catholic profile, Gaughan is a Fort Wayne native who grew up in Peru, Illinois. He received a teaching license in 1989 from IPFW and attended St. John's Seminary in Brighton, Massachusetts, before being ordained.

Gaughan was named to Most Precious Blood in 2006. His appointment came after the parish was turned over to the diocese from an independent religious order, the Missionaries of the Precious Blood.

The order founded the parish in the late 19th century but could not sustain it because of a priest shortage.

The diocese's statement says it is following the church's 2002 Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People and “is committed to providing a safe environment for all people, especially the young and vulnerable.”

The Indiana Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests, or SNAP, issued a statement Monday afternoon saying the group was encouraged by how the announcement was handled.

“We applaud Bishop Kevin Rhoades and other church leaders for ensuring that this information was circulated throughout his (jurisdiction). We hope additional efforts were made to inform the faithful in those towns and parishes” where Gaughan served, the SNAP statement says.

Those wishing to report sexual abuse of a minor by a Catholic church leader may do so by contacting Mary Glowaski, victim's assistance coordinator, at mglowaski@diocesefwsb.org or 260-399-1458.

rsalter@jg.net