An investigation commissioned by the University of Notre Dame revealed shortcomings in how allegations of sexual misconduct were handled by the institution. The report accuses the university of failing to take timely action against a former priest, Fr. Thomas King, despite persistent allegations spanning decades.

The investigation, led by the law firm Debevoise & Plimpton, uncovered disturbing practices executed by Fr. King during his tenure as a dorm rector at Notre Dame and while employed at Holy Cross College. During the 1980s and 1990s, Fr. King implemented a coercive “weighing scheme.” Under the guise of health concerns for male students, he required them to disrobe completely in a locker room to be weighed.

The report details incidents where multiple individuals were sexually assaulted or touched by Fr. King, both during his time at Notre Dame and afterward. Despite complaints dating back to the 1990s, university employees reportedly failed to act appropriately upon receiving the allegations.

The law firm’s 25-page report highlights how two departments, purported recipients of the complaints, denied recollecting receiving them. Additionally, employees who heard the complaints often misunderstood the sexual nature of the actions involved in the “weighing” process.

This case is not isolated; the report mentions previous instances where Notre Dame faced allegations of sexual abuse by priests. The findings call into question the mechanisms in place at one of America’s premier Catholic universities to handle such serious allegations.