Nate’s Mission Response to Diocese of Madison’s Statement on Fr. Andrew Showers

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 6, 2025

The Diocese of Madison’s response to Thursday’s press conference is a textbook example of victim-blaming. To suggest that Ms. Moriarty and her father are responsible for the church’s failure to act because they did not feel comfortable with diocesan reporting procedures is deeply offensive. Survivors and their families should never be expected to place their trust in the same institution that has knowingly allowed abusers to remain in ministry and repeatedly misled the public. Bishop Hying’s refusal to return Mr. Moriarty’s phone call is not just a personal slight - it is an abdication of leadership

Bishop Hying insists he had “no way to act” without additional details, but that is false. When a parent contacts the diocese to report that a priest sexually assaulted his daughter, leadership has an obligation to take proactive steps to protect others from harm. The Diocese of Madison has the resources and authority to investigate its own clergy, yet it chose not to use them. That is a failure of Bishop Hying, not of the victim’s family.

We are furthermore disturbed by the diocese’s characterization of the 2021 confessional incident, where Fr. Showers questioned a middle-school child about masturbation and pornography. To minimize this behavior as merely “helping a young man make a thorough confession” is outrageous. This language obscures the reality: in any other setting, a teacher, counselor, or coach initiating sexual conversations with a child would have criminal consequences.

Bishop Hying is protecting himself, and the vulnerable have paid the price. Showers remained in ministry, active online in sexually inappropriate spaces, despite multiple concerns raised about his conduct. This reflects not a lack of information, but a lack of will to act.

Nate’s Mission calls on the Wisconsin Department of Justice to obtain the Diocese of Madison’s complete file on Fr. Showers and conduct a full, independent investigation. 

Quote from John Moriarty, father of Patricia Moriarty:
"I went to the Diocese of Madison in good faith, believing they would take action to protect others from the man who hurt my daughter. Instead, they are now turning around and blaming me for not giving them enough details. I’ve never been in this situation before. When I reached out to the Diocese of Madison, I told them I needed to speak to the bishop, and I said, “how Bishop Hying handles this will show how seriously he takes this.” The truth is, they had more than enough to act if they wanted to, and Bishop Hying refused to return my call. My daughter deserved protection, and so did every other person Fr. Showers came into contact with after my call. The diocese failed us - and they failed the public."