A Madison, Wisconsin, parish priest has been accused of attempting to sexually assault a 14-year-old girl, according to the arresting police department.
The Clintonville Police Department stated in a press release posted on its Facebook page that it arrested Father Andrew J. Showers, 37, Aug. 24 and transported him to the Waupaca County Jail. Fr. Showers was booked into jail on the charges of child enticement, use of a computer to facilitate a child sex crime, and attempted second-degree sexual assault of a child. According to the release, the department learned that Showers had made arrangements to travel over 130 miles to the City of Clintonville “and meet with a 14-year-old female to engage in sexual activity.”
The Diocese of Madison said in a statement Aug. 25 it had learned from the City of Madison Police Department the same day that Fr. Showers, who is a parochial vicar at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Madison, was arrested on the charges.
The Waupaca County District Attorney’s office will determine formal charges, according to the police.
The diocese’s initial statement noted that there “have been no previous allegations of misconduct connected to Fr. Showers.” It also stated that the priest will be completely restricted from ministry.
Bishop Donald Hying of the Diocese of Madison added in an Aug. 26 letter to his flock that he is “grieved beyond words” by the news. “We are still gathering details and are awaiting the release of the criminal complaint and formal charges by the Waupaca County District Attorney to understand more fully the situation. Right now, we know what the public knows….”
“I want to assure you that diocesan staff, clergy, and I are working in full cooperation with law enforcement,” Bishop Hying wrote. “While the investigation is ongoing, he has been completely restricted from all public ministry and barred from having contact with minors.”
Bishop Hying also reiterated that “any allegations of sexual misconduct against minors by priests, deacons, or other church personnel should immediately be brought to the attention of law enforcement officials, as well as the Diocese of Madison's Sexual Misconduct Question and Reporting Line at 608-821-3162.”
The Bishop vowed to keep the faithful fully informed about any further information he receives.
“These allegations wound the entire Body of Christ and cut to the heart for all of us throughout the diocese. Allegations of this nature are always deeply painful, but especially so in the case of a priest,” the Bishop concluded. “I earnestly ask for your prayers for anyone affected, for all victims of sexual abuse, and for our Church.”
Fr. Showers was ordained in 2017, according to the diocese. He has been the parochial vicar at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish since 2023 and has been the director of the Office of Worship since 2024.
The diocese asked for prayers for everyone involved and said any allegation of sexual misconduct should be reported to law enforcement. If Diocese of Madison clergy or church personnel are alleged to have committed sexual misconduct, it should be reported to the diocese by calling the Sexual Misconduct Question and Reporting Line, 608-821-3162.
“The safety of children, youth, and the vulnerable remains our highest priority and we continue to work daily to maintain safety in all regards,” the diocese’s release said.
The diocese’s policies regarding such matters can be found at madisondiocese.org/safe-environment.
The ClintonVille Police Department stated in its release that it received help from the Wisconsin Department of Justice’s Division of Criminal Investigation Mid-States Organized Crime Information Center and the Madison Police Department.