An investigation by Kentucky State Police found no criminal acts committed by Father Gerald Baker, the former pastor at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church who has been permanently suspended from public ministry.
As previously reported, the allegations that led to his suspension came in 2016 while he had been serving as pastor at St. Mary of the Wood Catholic Church in Whitesville and at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Fordsville.
The Diocese of Owensboro recently released a statement saying, “In 2016, Gerald Baker, a priest of the Diocese of Owensboro, was accused of sexual abuse by three minors. Law enforcement and the Diocesan Review Board both began their investigations. While we cannot comment on the results of the law enforcement’s investigation, we can say that the Diocesan Review Board found the accusations against Baker to be substantiated, and therefore Bishop William F. Medley recently suspended Baker permanently from public ministry.”
Kentucky State Police investigated those claims and Trooper Corey King says while conduct that may be considered inappropriate was found, nothing met the threshold of being criminal as defined by state law.
He says the church can act however it sees fit after investigating claims, but KSP can only act if a criminal act has been committed.
Baker led Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Hopkinsville from 1989 to 2003.