Catholic Priest Arrested After Allegedly Groping Woman During Last Rites
Peter D'Abrosca
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A Catholic priest was arrested in Texas and accused of groping a woman while administering last rites, a Catholic ceremony for church members nearing the end of life.
“Austin Police arrested Rev. Gerold Langsch and charged him with assault by contact stemming from the October 5, 2018 encounter,” according to CBS11.
The woman was in hospice care when the alleged encounter occurred.
“The woman, who is still alive, reported that Langsch first anointed her chest with holy water, then began to apply lotion, massaging a breast, pinching a nipple and asking ‘Does that feel good?’ He then tried to slip his hand inside her diaper but was unable to,” the report said.
The woman told police that the priest’s actions left her feeling like “nasty, dirty piece of meat.”
Langsch, 75, was released on a $15,000 bond. He could face a hefty fine and up to one year in jail if convicted.
“In a statement Wednesday, the Catholic Diocese of Austin said Langsch had been pastor of St. Paul Catholic Church in Austin until last month, when the diocese ‘received an unrelated report that he had failed to maintain proper boundaries with an adult,'” according to the report.
Langsch has been removed by the diocese and will no longer be able to serve as a priest there. The diocese reportedly plans to cooperate with the police investigation.
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