The bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Davenport is recommending that a priest accused of sexually abusing children be defrocked.Bishop Martin Amos says on the Web site for the dioceses' newspaper, the Catholic Messenger, that the Diocesan Review Board has recommended that the Rev. Gerald Stouvenel be defrocked.
Stouvenel was placed on leave last year after four people filed sexual abuse claims against him, claiming he abused them more than 30 years ago.
"I have accepted this recommendation and the request is being sent to the Vatican for review and decision," Amos said on the Web site. "During this process, Fr. Stouvenel will continue his leave from ministry while working at the St. Vincent Center in Davenport where he is being supervised."
Stouvenel was ordained in 1972 and served most recently as pastor at Ss. Mary & Joseph and Sacred Heart parishes in Fort Madison and St. Joseph parish in Montrose.
He previously served as an associate pastor at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Davenport, on the faculty at Assumption High School and associate pastor of St. Mary parish in West Point.
The claims against Stouvenel were made during the dioceses' bankruptcy.
The diocese filed for bankruptcy in 2006 and is awaiting approval of its reorganization plan.
The plan includes a $37 million settlement reached for a committee that represents 156 claimants, the diocese and its insurance company.
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