Image source: Andrew Showers, courtesy of Waupaca County Sheriff’s Office, as published by Spectrum News 1.
On August 24, 2025, the Clintonville Police Department arrested Father Andrew Showers, a priest of the Diocese of Madison, after an undercover operation. Police say Showers used Reddit and Telegram to exchange sexually explicit messages and images with someone he believed to be a 14-year-old girl named “Abby.” In reality, the person was an undercover officer. When Showers traveled to meet “Abby,” officers arrested him.
According to the Clintonville Police Department, Showers, 37, “was transported to the Waupaca County Jail and…booked into jail on the charges of child enticement, use of a computer to facilitate a child sex crime, and attempted second-degree sexual assault of a child.” He was released on a $10,000 bond and is scheduled for his initial court appearance on September 30, 2025.
According to the criminal complaint, “After being properly Mirandized Andrew drafted a letter addressed to ‘Abby’ wherein he apologized for his actions stating that he had put his ‘own desires, wants, and brokenness before [her] wellbeing… and I am sorry that you were the recipient and victim of my poor decisions and selfish pursuits.’”
Following his arrest, the Diocese of Madison suspended Showers from all public ministry and barred him from contact with minors. The arrest — and the Diocese’s handling of past complaints — has renewed troubling questions about whether clergy leaders responded adequately to earlier warnings.
Prior Complaints
2021 Confession Incident
In December 2021, a parent reported that Showers asked his middle-school son inappropriate sexual questions about masturbation and pornography during confession. Lodi police interviewed the father and child and concluded the behavior was not criminal.
The Diocese later characterized the exchange as Showers “helping a young man make a thorough confession,” a description that advocates have condemned as obscuring what really happened. Survivor group Nate’s Mission noted that, “in any other setting, a teacher, counselor, or coach initiating sexual conversations with a child would have criminal consequences.”
2024 Sexual Assault Allegation
On September 4, 2025, Patricia Moriarty and her father, John Moriarty, spoke publicly for the first time at a press conference outside the Wisconsin State Capitol, supported by Nate’s Mission and the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP). In January 2024, “Father Andrew Showers introduced himself to Patricia and her friends as a priest and then proceeded to grope her underneath her clothes and speak in a sexually inappropriate manner.” (Nate’s Mission)
“I made the decision to share my story in hopes that others will feel empowered and encouraged to speak their truths as well. In my experience, this decision was far from easy. It meant revisiting an experience that left me feeling powerless. But I knew staying silent would only protect those who are selfish and wrong. Despite the difficulties in coming forward, I’m determined to reclaim my voice and power. I share my story not just for myself, but for everyone who is still carrying their pain in silence like I once did. If my coming forward can even help one person stop doubting their own story or their experience or give them the strength to seek justice and healing, then sharing it will have been worth it. By speaking out, I also hope to protect others from experiencing this kind of harm and this kind of pain in the future,” said Patricia.
After the 2024 incident, John Moriarty contacted the Diocese of Madison directly and asked to speak with Bishop Donald Hying. According to him, the bishop never returned his call.
“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,” said John.
The Diocese’s Response and Pushback
In a Sept. 5 media statement, the Diocese said that Moriarty refused to provide “essential information,” including the priest’s name, the location of the incident, or the police department investigating, making it impossible for them to act. They insisted that there was “no cover-up.” In a Sept. 6 letter, Bishop Hying added that Showers is “solely responsible for his criminal legal defense and its related expenses.”
Nate’s Mission disputed the Diocese’s account, pointing out that any allegation of sexual assault by a priest should have triggered an internal investigation regardless of the details provided. They called the Diocese’s response “a textbook example of victim-blaming,” adding that “Bishop Hying’s refusal to return Mr. Moriarty’s phone call is not just a personal slight – it is an abdication of leadership.”
The Assignments of Fr. Showers
Fr. Showers held many influential roles, as published by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
- Director of the diocesan office of worship, 2024 to present.
- Parochial vicar for a grouping known as Pastorate 22 or Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, which collectively includes two churches, St. Raphael and Good Shepherd, and one school, St. James, all in Madison, 2023 to present.
- Priest in residence at All Saints in Berlin and Our Lady of the Lake in Green Lake, 2022 to 2023.
- Provided Spanish Mass assistance at St. John the Baptist in Waunakee, 2022.
- Pastor of St. Stephen in Clinton, 2020 to 2022.
- Parochial vicar for St. Paul’s Catholic Student Center, which serves UW-Madison students, 2018 to 2020.
He was also the parochial vicar at St. Cecelia in Wisconsin Dells in the summer of 2017, according to the diocese.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that Showers was slated to lead a 2026 pilgrimage to Rome and Siena, Italy for the young adults in the Madison Diocese. A Facebook post from Aug. 7 promoted the trip as a small group experience meant to foster community. The post was taken down shortly after Showers’ arrest.
Civil Liability of the Diocese
While prosecutors pursue the criminal case against Fr. Showers, the Diocese of Madison may face accountability under civil law. When church leaders receive reports of sexual misconduct, they have a duty to investigate, restrict access to parishioners, and take steps to protect the community.
Showers’ pattern of conduct raises significant questions about whether the Diocese met its responsibility to protect parishioners. Importantly, a diocese’s duty to act does not vanish simply because a report comes without complete details. When allegations of sexual assault by a priest are reported, church leaders are expected to take proactive steps to investigate and implement safeguards. Failing to do so places others at risk and can expose the Diocese to civil liability.
Civil lawsuits may allege that church leaders failed to supervise, kept someone in ministry despite concerns, or ignored complaints. These suits give survivors a way to seek financial compensation for the harm they endured while also holding churches accountable for their failures.
Andreozzi + Foote: Representing Survivors
At Andreozzi + Foote, we focus exclusively on representing survivors of sexual abuse in civil cases against powerful institutions like the Catholic Church.
If you or a loved one were harmed by Fr. Andrew Showers or another religious leader, our trauma-informed attorneys are here to listen and help. Whether you’re considering a civil lawsuit or just want to understand your legal options, contact us today for a free consultation.
