A Madison Catholic priest is now officially out of the collar, even as he fights a slate of child sex crime charges in Waupaca County. The Diocese of Madison told parishioners on June 25, 2026, that Father Andrew J. Showers has been released from the clerical state after the Vatican granted his own petition. He can no longer celebrate Mass or function as a priest while his criminal case, tied to an undercover sting and later child‑pornography counts, remains pending. Bishop Donald Hying asked Catholics to keep everyone involved in their prayers as the civil case plays out in court.
Vatican Grants Release, Diocese Says
In a June 25 letter to the faithful, Bishop Hying wrote that he had “received notification from the Holy See that Andrew Showers has been released from the rights, duties, and obligations of the clerical state,” according to the Diocese of Madison. The letter explains that Showers had asked Rome for a dispensation from the clerical state and that “that petition was granted by Pope Leo XIV.” The notice adds that he is no longer permitted to wear clerical attire or perform any sacramental ministry. Hying told parishioners he would continue to provide updates on the case as legal developments allow.
Case Began With Undercover Clintonville Sting
Authorities say the criminal investigation started after Showers engaged in online conversations with someone he believed to be a 14‑year‑old. Clintonville officers arrested him on August 24, 2025, when he arrived to meet what turned out to be an undercover officer, according to reporting by WBAY. Investigators later carried out search warrants and examined digital evidence, which they say led to additional avenues in the probe.
New Counts And Court Timeline
Waupaca County prosecutors added two counts of possession of child pornography in March 2026 after investigators allegedly found explicit images on a phone linked to Showers, according to court filings and coverage by NBC 26. The following month, Showers waived a preliminary hearing and a judge entered a not‑guilty plea on his behalf, WMTV reported. Prosecutors say the broader case now involves multiple felony counts, which remain before the Waupaca County courts.
Diocese Discloses Earlier Parental Complaint
Months before the criminal charges, a parent had already raised concerns about Showers’ conduct. In an August 2025 news release, the diocese said a parent reported in December 2021 that Showers asked a middle‑school child about pornography and masturbation during confession. The Lodi Police Department reviewed the report and concluded it did not amount to a crime, according to the diocese. Church officials later apologized for failing to mention that earlier complaint in their first public statements about the case and said Showers had been restricted from ministry while investigators did their work, steps detailed by the Diocese of Madison.
What Comes Next
Showers has pleaded not guilty to the criminal charges and remains under the authority of the Waupaca County courts. Court records indicate the case is still active and that future hearings will be scheduled by the judge, according to reporting by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. The Diocese of Madison has said it will continue to release information as the legal process unfolds and as it is permitted to do so.
Bishop Asks For Prayers
In his letter announcing the loss of clerical status, Bishop Hying urged Catholics to “pray for all those affected” and said he commends Showers to the “Most Sacred Heart of Jesus,” language echoed in media accounts of the announcement. WTAQ and other outlets noted the bishop’s appeal for prayer as both the criminal case and the Church’s response continue to develop.
