Priest With Wisconsin Ties Accused Of Groping During Last Rites

WAUKESHA, WI — A Catholic priest with ties to a religious order based in Waukesha has been arrested after being accused of sexually assaulting a woman in hospice care while he delivered last rites, police said.

According to a story that originally appeared in Austin Patch, Gerold Langsch, 75, was invited to a woman's home to deliver last rites in October 2018.

According to media reports, a court document filed in Hill County, Texas stated that Langsch used a bottle of holy water to anoint the woman’s chest. He is accused of using separate bottle of lotion and began to apply it to her chest. The report stated said Langsch massaged the woman’s breast and pinched her nipple.

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 Nov. 2015. According to reports, Langsch is associated with the Schoenstatt Fathers movement in Waukesha for the last 43 years.

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."

Original reporting by Tony Cantu, Patch Staff