WAUSAU, Wi. (WAOW) — A former priest in the Wausau area has been accused of sexual misconduct.
Pastor Mark Pierce has resigned from his post at St. Michael and the Resurrection Church, collectively known as the East Side Parish, after the allegations were made.
The pastor’s letter, dating back to May 2017, includes a short biography written by Pierce introducing himself to the parish. He explains his path to becoming a priest. He says he was ordained in 1981 and went on to serve as associate priests at Chippewa Falls and Stevens Point, then Newman University Parish at UW-Stevens Point, Roncelli Newman Parish at UW-La Crosse, and now his became the pastor of the Parish of Notre Dame of Chippewa Falls.
Details of the allegations have not yet been released, but a representative for the Network of Survivors of Abuse by Priests (SNAP) said victims need justice.
SNAP communications manager Mike McDonnell said: “So when they see that statute of limitations, they won’t have the outlet they really deserve.”
McDonnell called the state statute obsolete. He pointed out that their organization finds that most people don’t go public about abuse until they’re in their 50s.
