RE: Deceased Lay Man Added to Abuser List

The Diocese of Davenport Review Board recommended today the addition of one deceased lay man to the list of credible allegations of abuse posted on the Diocesan website, www.davenportdiocese.org.  The case of abuse was reported during the bankruptcy process.

The Review Board recommended to Bishop Amos that a report of abuse of a male minor by lay man Walter Phipps was credible.  Phipps was a football coach at Our Lady of Lourdes school in Bettendorf between 1973 and 1975.  Phipps was arrested in 1987 in an unrelated case and was convicted of sexual abuse in the third degree.  He was sentenced to ten years in prison.  Phipps died on May 16, 2010.

With regard to a second report of abuse perpetrated by a lay man, the Review Board recommended that additional investigation be performed by James Sweeney before a credibility decision is made.
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