Home News American priest, who was once accused of child abuse, dies in central...

American priest, who was once accused of child abuse, dies in central Philippines

Father Kenneth Bernard Pius Hendricks died due to complications of pneumonia coupled with diabetes

An American Catholic priest, who was once accused of molesting young boys in his parish, died in the town of Naval in the central Philippines, on January 26. He was 80 years old.

Father Kenneth Bernard Pius Hendricks, who served the Holy Rosary Parish of Naval since the 1970s, died due to complications of pneumonia coupled with diabetes, said a report on the news site Biliran Blogs.

He was also found to be positive of COVID-19.

The priest was buried at Naval Catholic Cemetery on the same day after a funeral Mass officiated by Bishop Rex Ramirez.




In 2019, Father Hendricks pleaded not guilty of allegations that he sexually molested children, most of them acolytes.

Philippine police, immigration officials, and U.S. Homeland Security agents arrested the priest in 2018 over the alleged abuse of at least seven children over the past 40 years.

The U.S. District Court of Ohio issued a warrant for the priest’s arrest on charges of engaging in illicit sexual conduct in a foreign country, a crime in the United States.

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Warrants for the arrest of the priest were also issued by a Philippine court for several counts of alleged sex abuse of minors.

In an article posted online two weeks ago, Father Shay Cullen who is known for his work with victims of sex abuse, reported that Father Hendricks was celebrating Mass in the Diocese of Biliran.

The Archdiocese of Cincinnati has earlier issued a statement disowning Father Hendricks, saying the priest “is not, nor has ever been, a priest” in the archdiocese.

The archdiocese, however, admitted that Father Hendricks is listed on its website as a missionary serving in Asia.

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