..when you’re in compliance. Isn’t it?

Lexington Diocese reinstates priest

Roman Catholic priest who was twice charged with sex-related offenses at Jacobson Park has been reinstated by the Lexington diocese, despite a recent allegation that he sexually abused a boy in Eastern Kentucky in the early 1970s.

A diocesan committee in Lexington that reviews allegations of sexual abuse decided the new claim against the Rev. William G. Poole was “not credible,” Bishop Ronald Gainer said. But a separate investigation, conducted by a neighboring diocese, resulted in a six-figure settlement with Poole’s accuser last year, said two victims’ advocates, who expressed outrage over the reinstatement.

A spokesman for the Covington diocese confirmed yesterday that it had paid Poole’s accuser, but would not discuss the size of the settlement.

“The diocese of Covington believed the individual’s allegations to be credible enough to support a request for financial assistance,” said diocesan spokesman Tim Fitzgerald.

He declined to answer any questions about the nature of the allegations, the terms of the settlement or the reason why the dioceses of Lexington and Covington disagree about the accuser’s credibility.

Poole was charged with disorderly conduct on May 17, 2001, after an undercover officer spotted him masturbating at a urinal in a public restroom, according to an arrest report. He pleaded guilty and was fined $100 plus court costs, court records show.

The priest was also arrested in 1990 during a prostitution sting at Jacobson Park, the diocese said. Fayette District Court records from that year were not available.

Poole, one of three priests who has paid fines after being caught in police stings at Jacobson Park, retired from the ministry at the time of his Sept. 2002 suspension.

Lexington’s bishop lifted the suspension on Dec. 24 and Poole is now “a priest in good standing,” a diocesan spokes-man said. Poole will not be “a pastor of souls,” Gainer said, but will substitute in parishes when the regular priest is sick or on vacation.

Neither diocese would offer comment on the state of Poole’s hair.