Teen Sues Cleveland Diocese Saying It Failed To Protect Him From Sexual Abuse

A Northeast Ohio teenager has filed a civil lawsuit against the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland that alleges the diocese failed to protect him against his abuser: former priest Robert McWilliams. A federal judge sentenced McWilliams to a life sentence last November for numerous child pornography, child exploitation and child sex trafficking charges. McWilliams took his … Read more

The McWilliams Sex Abuse Scandal: Critics Say Cleveland Diocese Must Do More to Address Problems

Ever since one of its priests was convicted of federal pornography and sexual-abuse crimes, the Diocese of Cleveland has stood by its claims about the integrity of its seminary screening and formation program. However, recent revelations have cast a shadow over those assertions, calling into question both the effectiveness of St. Mary Seminary’s protocols and … Read more

Cleveland Priest Gets Life Sentence for Molesting Boys

McWilliams, who was ordained in 2017, destroys the bishops’ narrative that clergy abuse is something in the distant past. A Catholic priest was sentenced to life in prison Tuesday for sexually exploiting boys, some of whom he extorted with details he gained from taking their confessions. U.S. District Judge Sara Lioi said the public needed … Read more

Ohio Priest Allegedly Used Confession to Extort Sexual Favors from Boys

More details, as found in new federal filings with the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, were released in the case against a former priest who pleaded guilty to numerous sex crimes involving children. The investigation into allegations against Robert McWilliams started in October 2019 after two Geauga County families came forward … Read more

WATCH: Prosecutors Find Evidence Ohio Priest Was Engaged In Child Prostitution

The Strongsville priest who was charged with possession of child pornography may be facing additional charges, according to the Geauga County Clerk of Courts. On Jan. 8, Reverend Robert McWilliams made his initial appearance in court and was charged with illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material or performance. Since that appearance, the Cuyahoga … Read more

WATCH: If Seminaries Are ‘Now Good,’ Then How’d This Guy Get Through?

A priest ordained in 2017 for the diocese of Cleveland, Ohio just had his bond related to child porn charges tripled. Geauga County Judge Terri Stupica raised the bond from $50,000 to $150,000 for Fr. Robert McWilliams owing to recent charges from multiple counties following his arrest last month. Stupica also ordered that McWilliams, who pleaded not guilty to all charges, avoid contact with any … Read more

Cleveland Diocesan Priest Arrested on Child Porn Charges

A Catholic priest was arrested Thursday on charges of possessing child pornography. Investigators took St. Joseph Catholic Church Rev. Robert McWilliams into custody Thursday at the church. He is charged with four counts of possessing child pornography and one count of possessing criminal tools. The criminal complaint was filed in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court. … Read more