SAN ANTONIO — A day after a Jesuit priest with ties to San Antonio was revealed, via a much larger list, to have been credibly accused of sexual assault of a minor, officials at a local school released a statement saying they are “unaware of any allegations” that may have arisen during his brief tenure there.
Francis Landwermeyer is one of three priests named in the Jesuits U.S. Central and Southern Province’s list to have San Antonio ties. While the organization said its releasing the 42 names “does not imply that the allegations are true and correct,” each of the three priests with Alamo City connections had multiple allegations against them.
All of them, however, have passed away. Landwermeyer died this year, having worked at Central Catholic High, among other local schools, many years ago. His estimated timeframe of alleged abuse was in the ‘60s and ‘70s, long before working at Central Catholic from 1991 to 1994.
“Be assured that the safety of our students entrusted to our care is our main priority,” Central Catholic President Paul Garro said in the statement released Saturday. “We are attentive in implementing our child protection protocol in regards to all staff (lay and religious). Nothing is more important than the well-being of our students.”
Garro goes on to cite resources for those who have experienced abuse at the school before reiterating student safety and abuse prevention as priorities for administrators.
“We must act and bring the light and goodness of our important mission through prudent prevention, immediate responsiveness, openness and action for the good of our school, our Church and the young men entrusted to our care,” he said.
Notably, the letter only refers to Landwermeyer's time at the school; it does not make note of whether officials were aware of accusation that may have arisen beforehand.
The other priests cited in the list with local ties, Alfonso Madrid and Austin Parks, died in 1982 and 2013, respectively.