Austin Priest Accused Of Inappropriate Touching During Last Rites

SOUTH AUSTIN, TEXAS — A Catholic priest has been arrested after being accused of sexually assaulting a woman in hospice care while he delivered last rites, police said Wednesday.

Gerold Langsch, 75, was invited to a woman's home along the 8800 block of South 1st Street to deliver last rites in October 2018, a police officer said during a press briefing. The woman reportedly was in hospice care due to complications from diabetes.

It was during his visit that the priest inappropriately touched the woman after she was anointed with holy water, it is alleged. The incident dates to Oct. 5, but was only recently brought to light after the woman's outcry. The victim is still alive, but delays in her reporting the incident were exacerbated given medical issues she faces, the officer told reporters.

Langsch faces a misdemeanor assault by contact charge in connection with an incident, police said, with bond set at $15,000. The priest was installed as pastor of St. Paul's Catholic Church, 10000 David Moore Dr., before his March 13 arrest. According to the St. Paul's Catholic Church website, Langsch was named pastor in November 2015.

Related story: Austin Catholic Diocese Releases Names Of Accused Priests

KXAN obtained a statement from the Diocese of Austin related to the incident: "In February, Rev. Langsch's religious superiors and the Diocese of Austin received an unrelated report that he had failed to maintain proper boundaries with an adult," the statement reads. "That report did not involve any physical contact. Rev. Langsch was removed as pastor of St. Paul Parish in Austin based on that report. He is no longer able to serve as a priest in the Diocese of Austin."

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