James Kendrick Williams (born September 5, 1936, also known as J. Kendrick Williams) is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who was bishop of Diocese of Lexington in Kentucky from 1988 to 2002. Williams previously served as an auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Covington in Kentucky.
Williams resigned as bishop of Lexington in 2002 after three men accused him of child sexual abuse. As of November 2023, the Vatican has not released any comment on the investigation.
On May 25, 1963. Williams was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Louisville at the Cathedral of the Assumption in Louisville, Kentucky by Bishop Charles Maloney. After his ordination, Williams served as associate director of the archdiocesan Office of Religious Education, the vicar of education for four parishes, president of the Town and Country Apostolic Council, director of the Rural Office of Religious Education, director of the Archdiocesan Planning Office, director of the Clergy Personnel Commission, and associate pastor of several parishes.[1] In 1983, Williams was appointed pastor of Holy Trinity Parish in Louisville.[1]
On January 14, 1988, John Paul II named Williams as the first bishop of Lexington. He was installed on March 2, 1988.[1]
In 2002, Williams and the Archdiocese of Louisville faced three lawsuits from men who claimed that Williams abused them as minors when he was a priest serving in the archdiocese. Williams denied all the allegations.[2][3]
James W. Bennett of Louisville stated that Williams fondled and kissed him after mass in 1981 when Bennett was a 12-year-old altar server at Our Lady Parish in Louisville.
David Hall of New Haven, Kentucky, stated that Williams fondled him in 1969 at St. Catherine High School during confession.
Thomas C. Probus stated that Williams emotionally abused him by promoting masturbation during counseling at several locations at Holy Trinity Parish in Louisville around 1981.[2]
Resignation
After the accusations from Louisville, Williams went on leave as Bishop of Lexington, following the diocese policy. On June 11, 2002, John Paul II accepted Williams' resignation as bishop of Lexington without giving any reasons for it.[3][4] On February 14, 2019, the Archdiocese of Louisville revealed that the accusations against Williams had been sent to the Vatican for investigation.[5]
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