A Maryland man is suing the Diocese of Nashville, accusing the church of concealing its knowledge of a Tennessee priest’s conduct.
The plaintiff, now 65, alleges he was sexually abused as a child by Father Walter Emala in Baltimore.
According to court documents, the plaintiff did not learn the Diocese of Nashville had prior knowledge of misconduct by Emala until the Maryland attorney general released a 2023 report on child sexual abuse in the Archdiocese of Baltimore.
On Thursday, Oct. 15, a federal judge denied the Diocese’s attempt to dismiss the lawsuit under Tennessee’s statute of limitations.
The ruling by U.S. District Judge Waverly Crenshaw means a jury must resolve when the plaintiff knew or should have known about the Diocese’s alleged wrongdoing. It does not determine whether the Diocese is liable.
Internal records show church leadership was aware of allegations against Emala as early as 1959.
That year, Nashville Bishop William Adrian wrote to Emala stating he could not entrust him with a leadership position due to his conduct, saying an episode with a boy caused “a scandal to many of your people.”
Allegations of misconduct with young boys continued until Diocese of Nashville Apostolic Administrator Joseph Durick wrote to Emala in 1968, ordering him to retire or leave the state.
Emala chose to move to Maryland. There, he began assisting at Our Lady Queen of Peace.
According to court documents, there is no evidence that the Diocese of Nashville notified the Archdiocese of Baltimore of Emala’s conduct in Tennessee.
By June 1975, multiple families approached parish priests with allegations regarding Emala’s behavior with young boys. He was terminated later that month by the Archbishop for “reasons of health.”
Unsealed correspondence between Baltimore and the Diocese of Memphis – which was carved out from the Nashville diocese in 1971 – shows detailed discussions of Emala’s mental health and alleged misconduct with young men, including middle school boys.
Despite this, the Diocese of Memphis went on to recommend Emala to parish leaders, and he continued to face new accusations.
The Diocese of Nashville argued in court documents that it was never notified about Emala’s conduct in Maryland.
Emala died in 2008. He has been publicly named on lists of priests credibly accused of child sexual abuse published by dioceses in Harrisburg, Baltimore, and Nashville.
“Genuine disputes remain regarding whether the Diocese withheld its internal records and historical concerns about Emala from public disclosure,” Crenshaw wrote.
A spokesperson for the Diocese of Nashville sent the following statement to News 2:
“This lawsuit follows actions alleged to have happened approximately 60 years ago. We will continue to respond to allegations set forth in this lawsuit through the appropriate legal channels.
The Diocese of Nashville encourages anyone who reasonably suspects that abuse has taken place to report it to civil authorities and asks that they also make a report to the diocesan safe environment coordinator.
The diocese has a victims assistance program open to victims of abuse no matter how long ago that abuse might have taken place. Information about the entire safe environment program is available at www.dioceseofnashville.com.”
-Diocese of Nashville
Diocese lawyers have also suggested the plaintiff only reported the abuse after seeing a television commercial for a personal injury law firm.
The plaintiff is asking the court for a trial by jury and financial recovery, including damages, for the permanent physical and mental harm caused by the alleged abuse.