A former reverend, who previously worked at St. Brigid’s Parish in Grand Junction as a pastor and who also did some work in Paton, has come to light when an Iowa Catholic diocese recently admitted to concealing the priest’s admission of sexually abusing dozens of Iowa boys over several decades.
The Associated Press reports that Rev. Jerome Coyle, now 85-years-old, was stripped of his parish assignments in the 1980s but was never defrocked. The Diocese of Sioux City identified Coyle to the AP as an admitted pedophile, even though they were aware of his actions for over 30 years.
In a letter obtained by the AP from the diocese vicar general, it says that Coyle admitted to victimizing about 50 boys, ranging in ages from 7th to 10th grades. In a YouTube video from the Catholic Globe, Bishop Walker Nickless with the Iowa Diocese of Sioux City says no one has first-hand knowledge of Coyle’s actions, but they are putting together information that they do have. He confirmed that Coyle was sent to a treatment facility in Albuquerque, New Mexico in 1986. During that time, Coyle was not to present himself as a priest or as Father Coyle, as it would be a direct violation of the restrictions from the bishop of the diocese back then.
Bishop Walker says Coyle chose to stay in New Mexico and befriended a family with children. Following a car accident that Coyle was involved in, the family encouraged Coyle to move in with them. The diocese discouraged that decision and fully disclosed Coyle’s past. Due to his age and health, the diocese decided to move Coyle back to a retirement facility in Fort Dodge, however, Bishop Walk er notes that Coyle will not remain there.
Bishop Walker says the policy has changed since the 1980s, and they now report any sexual abuse allegations to civil authorities, which they are doing with the victims of Coyle. Walker encourages any other victims to reach out to their third party Victims Assistance Coordinator Angie Mack at 866-435-4397 or 712-279-5610 report any abuse from their clergy.
Sources say Coyle was a pastor at St. Brigid’s Parish in Grand Junction from 1977 to 1978.