Coach allegedly made false abuse allegations to Phila. archdiocese

Last updated on: July 18, 2012 at 6:10 am by CNA Daily News

Coach allegedly made false abuse allegations to Phila. archdiocese 2012-07-18T06:10:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Philadelphia, Pa., Jul 18, 2012 / 12:10 am (CNA).- A former Lansdale Catholic High School lacrosse coach has been arrested and charged after allegedly making false claims of sexual abuse in anonymous e-mails to the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

“The cost to the men subjected to the false accusations is impossible to measure,” the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office said in a July 17 statement, announcing Timothy Udinski's arrest on charges of harassment and stalking.

On June 21, Udinski told detectives that he sent the archdiocese seven anonymous fabricated reports, targeting officials associated with the Catholic school where he had coached boys' lacrosse. He said he made the false reports he was “furious” and “mad at the school for the way I was treated.”

According to the Distict Attorney's office, Udinski himself “was the target of unfounded accusations” of an unspecified nature. He was dismissed from his coaching duties after a series of heated arguments with players and staff.

After his dismissal, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia received an Oct. 19 e-mail stating that Lansdale Catholic's head football coach had sexually propositioned a team member. The message accused the school's principal of failing to take action against the football coach.

In March 2012, two anonymous messages were sent to the archdiocese claiming that the high school's current lacrosse coach was involved in a case of sexual assault. A further message warned that the media would be informed of this allegation.

Later that month, a series of anonymous e-mails were sent to the archdiocese and local media outlets, containing allegations against the school.

Lansdale Catholic's lacrosse coach was accused of luring the underage team members with alcohol. The anonymous e-mails included calls for the principal's resignation and a jail sentence for the lacrosse coach.

Under questioning by detectives, Udinski said all of the allegations were untrue.

The admission came after an extensive investigation of the complaints, involving 97 interviews, 10 court orders and search warrants, and at least 184 hours of detective work.

The archdiocese says it took the accusations seriously, following up with civil authorities after receiving them.

“Each of these allegations, as is our practice, was immediately reported to law enforcement,” the Archdiocese of Philadelphia said in an announcement on Tuesday, thanking District Attorney Risa Ferman along with detectives “who spent countless hours working on these cases.”

A preliminary hearing in Udinski's case will be held July 27.

Previous Post

July 17, 2012

Cardinal Dolan sees US as 'mission territory'

Next Post

July 18, 2012 Catholics United launches pro-life attack on Romney

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

True or False: Esther became queen through a beauty contest.

Select your answer to see how you score.

TRUE FALSE