Saturday, May 19, 2007

Diocese Fires Catholic Teacher For Alleged Sexual Contact

A Catholic school religion teacher was fired after admitting that he had sexual contact with a 14-year-old girl while he was a youth minister in 2001, diocese officials announced Friday.

Kelly B. Bayer, 30, was fired Thursday from Sacred Heart Catholic School in Muenster, about 60 miles north of Fort Worth.

Police in Denton, where Bayer served at St. Mark Catholic Church when the alleged offense occurred, are now conducting a criminal
investigation.

No incidents of sexual conduct with students have been reported since Bayer has taught religious education at Sacred Heart School the past two years, according to officials with the Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth.

The diocese began investigating after the alleged victim recently told two people during a retreat, and Bayer later admitted to the incident and was fired immediately, said diocese spokesman Pat Svacina.

Although diocese leaders contacted Denton police immediately, the alleged victim has declined to meet with church officials, Svacina said.

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