College president resigns after sexual misconduct charge surfaces

Published: 2003-10-08

NEW ORLEANS (CNS) -- Jesuit Father Bernard P. Knoth resigned as president of Loyola University New Orleans Oct. 7 after his Jesuit superior decided that a complaint alleging sexual misconduct in the 1980s was credible and removed him from ministry. Named acting president was Jesuit Father William J. Byron, former president of The Catholic University of America and a former dean of arts and sciences at the New Orleans university. He will serve until a permanent successor is named. Father Knoth denied "any inappropriate conduct" in a statement announcing his resignation. The alleged misconduct was said to have taken place in 1986 at Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School, a private co-educational Catholic high school in Indianapolis where Father Knoth served as principal from 1983 to 1988.

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