There are calls from some local Catholics in Mason, Ohio, for a pastor to resign following a report by the Scripps News Cincinnati investigative team detailing how he ordered evidence of alleged child pornography to be destroyed and waited six years before reporting it to the police while serving as a pastor at another church.
In a letter to the St. Susanna community dated July 12, Father Barry Stechschulte acknowledged the distress caused by the report, stating, “I instructed the hard drive to be destroyed. I realize that not reporting it was a terrible mistake, which I regret.”
While the investigative report focused on former priest Tony Cutcher, it also highlighted Stechschulte’s role in delaying public knowledge of the situation. Stechschulte sought forgiveness from parishioners during a sermon on July 14.
Despite Stechschulte’s apology, many parishioners expressed deep hurt on the St. Susanna Facebook page, calling for new leadership and accountability.
Concerned St. Susanna School parents have reached out to Scripps News Cincinnati anonymously, fearing retribution, as they believe their concerns are being ignored by the Archdiocese of Cincinnati.
As of now, the Archdiocese has no plans to change Stechschulte’s role as pastor at St. Susanna, sparking further outrage among some community members.
Teresa Dinwiddie-Herrmann, co-founder of Ohioans for Child Protection, voiced concerns over the lack of action taken and the need for better laws to protect children in such situations.
READ THE FULL INVESTIGATION: An Interview with An Accused Priest: A scorched hard drive, texts with a boy, and a missing report.
