FULL LIST: Several Accused Priests Served in Dubois County, According to Catholic Church Report

By: David Shepherd, News Director / Anchor

DUBOIS COUNTY -- The list of priests accused of sexual abuse has been released and several of them worked in Dubois and surrounding counties.

Father Michael Allen admitted to one incident of child abuse and has been out of public ministry since 2002.

He worked as associate pastor at St. Joseph Catholic Church in 1979, and again in 1982.

He left and came back again to St. Joe’s in 1995 and worked at St. Celestine as the pastor in 2001.

Father John Breidenbach admitted to sexual abuse of minors that occurred prior to his ordination as a deacon.

He was the associate pastor of Holy Family in Jasper back in 1990 and Precious Blood in 2004.

He’s not in public ministry as of 2014.

Father Wilfred Englert admitted to one incident of child abuse.

He was the associate pastor at Holy Family in 1987 and St. Joseph’s in 2004.  He was convicted of sexual battery in 2006, served time in prison and was dispensed from the clerical state in 2009.

Father Arthur Mergen had 2 credible allegations made against him. 

He worked as associate pastor of St. Joseph’s in Jasper in 1981.

Father Othmar Schroeder had 18 credible cases reported.

He served as associate pastor at St. Joseph’s in 1942 and Holy Family in 1947.

He died in 1988 before the abuse was reported.

And Father Richard Wildeman was dispensed from the clerical state in 2002.  He admitted to one case.

He worked at St. Joseph’s in 1977 and Holy Family in 1982.

These priests worked in other area churches outside of Dubois County as well.  Some in Washington, Vincennes and Loogootee.