UPDATE: August 27, 2025
The Diocese of Madison provides three important updates regarding the arrest of Fr. Andrew Showers.
First, on August 27, 2025, the Waupaca County District Attorney filed the criminal complaint against Fr. Andrew Showers with the following charges: Attempted Use of a Computer to Facilitate a Child Sex Crime, Attempted Child Enticement, and Attempted 2nd Degree Sexual Assault of Child. All three charges are connected to an online undercover investigation conducted by a police officer posing as a 14-year-old girl.
Second, Fr. Andrew Showers was released from custody after posting a cash bond. His initial court appearance is scheduled for September 30, 2025.
Third, continued review of diocesan files, email messages, and phone records revealed that a complaint about Fr. Showers was made by a parent in December of 2021. The parent expressed concern about pastoral questions asked to a middle-school child during the Sacrament of Confession. The parent also reported his concerns to the Lodi Police Department. The police met with the father and child, assessed that the incident did not rise to the level of a criminal act, and did not pursue the matter with the Diocese of Madison. We apologize that this parental complaint was not included in our initial release about Fr. Showers.
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August 25, 2025
The Diocese of Madison was notified on August 25, 2025 by the City of Madison Police Department that Fr. Andrew Showers, Parochial Vicar at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Madison, was taken into custody in Waupaca County on allegations of child enticement, use of a computer to facilitate a child sex crime, and attempted second degree sexual assault of a child. Formal charges will be determined by the Waupaca County District Attorney and released in a forthcoming criminal complaint. Diocesan representatives have communicated with law enforcement and are working in full cooperation with authorities in both Dane and Waupaca Counties.
Following Canon Law protocols, Fr. Showers will be completely restricted from all exercise of public ministry while the investigation is ongoing. There have been no previous allegations of misconduct connected to Fr. Showers.
Fr. Andrew Showers was ordained in 2017 and has served in the following assignments: Director of Office of Worship (2024-present); Parochial Vicar, Pastorate 22/Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Madison (2023-present); Priest in Residence, All Saints in Berlin and Our Lady of the Lake in Green Lake (2022-2023); Spanish Mass Assistance, St. John the Baptist in Waunakee (2022); Pastor, St. Stephen in Clinton (2020-2022); Parochial Vicar, St. Paul in Madison (2018-2020); and Parochial Vicar, St. Cecilia in Wisconsin Dells (Summer of 2017).
The Diocese of Madison has no further information at this time. Under Civil and Canon Law, Fr. Showers is
afforded a presumption of innocence in the pursuit of justice. Consistent with the diocese’s commitment to open and transparent communication, additional information will be shared as it becomes available, and the diocese will continue to cooperate fully with the civil authorities investigating these allegations.
We ask for prayers for all those involved. As always, any allegation of sexual misconduct should be brought to the attention of law enforcement officials. If allegations involve priests, deacons, or other church personnel, regardless of when they are said to have occurred, they should also be reported to the Diocese of Madison by way of the Sexual Misconduct Question and Reporting Line, 608-821-3162. The safety of children, youth, and the vulnerable remains our highest priority and we continue to work daily to maintain safety in all regards. All employees, teachers, and volunteers must pass background checks and we follow closely all diocesan policies regarding the protection of children. The diocesan policies regarding sexual abuse allegations, and instructions for making a report of sexual misconduct, are available on the diocesan website: https://madisondiocese.org/safe-environment