omersukrugoksu/iStock(MANILA, Philippines) — An American priest has been arrested after being accused of sexually abusing multiple young boys while he was doing missionary work in the Philippines.
Now, U.S. authorities are calling for the public’s help in determining whether or not he had any victims stateside.
Rev. Kenneth Hendricks is in custody of police authorities in Manila now, and is facing federal charges in Ohio where he maintains a residence.
Ben Glassman, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, said that the case started when two Filipino boys reported alleged abuse to local authorities, prompting an investigation and subsequent accusations from other boys.
Glassman said that the accusers “told fairly similar stories.”
“Each of these victims got to know Father Hendricks through the course of his official work as a priest… he befriended them, he would invite them to his residence, often to take a bath or shower. That interaction would proceed to kissing… fondle their genitals… [and] ultimately have oral or anal sex with the victims,” Glassman said.
Steve Francis, the special agent in charge from U.S. Immigration and Custom Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, noted that five accusers are included in the affidavit but there are five others who have made claims against Hendricks that are being investigated currently.
“It’s horrifying,” Glassman said. “It is horrible, horrible abusive conduct. It is grooming children, young children who are interested in being involved in church activities and taking those kids and sexually abusing them.”
Hendricks is currently in custody in the Philippines and it is unclear if he has legal representation. Glassman said that the details of a possible extradition to the U.S. are being worked out in conjunction with Filipino authorities.
The Archdiocese of Cincinnati stressed their distance from the priest, releasing a statement that notes that Hendricks “is not nor has ever been a priest of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati.”
“To the best of our knowledge, he was ordained to the priesthood in the Philippines to serve in a diocese there. He has never had any assignment with the Archdiocese of Cincinnati,” the statement reads.
Mike Schafer, the director of communications for the archdiocese, noted that Hendricks was listed on the archdiocese’s website as part of his missionary work.
“Like dozens of other missionaries from southwest Ohio, Father Hendricks did receive financial support from time to time from our missions office,” Schafer said.
Glassman stressed that they were detailing the allegations against Hendricks in order to spread the word and see if there are any possible victims or witnesses in the U.S.
“We want to make sure if Father Hendricks committed sexual abuse of children here… that we can get them the proper treatment and counseling and we can hold him accountable,” he said.
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