Holy Cross College today released the findings of an independent investigation concerning allegations of inappropriate conduct and sexual abuse involving Rev. Thomas King, C.S.C., who served as a professor at Holy Cross from 1981 to 2007.

The College retained Barrett McNagny LLP and lead investigator Attorney Robert Keen in October 2025 to conduct the investigation after Holy Cross was notified by the University of Notre Dame of allegations involving Father King and Notre Dame’s decision to conduct its own external investigation. Holy Cross cooperated fully with Notre Dame’s investigation while commissioning a separate review focused on Father King’s tenure at Holy Cross College.

As part of its investigation, Barrett McNagny LLP reviewed College records and conducted interviews with current and former members of the Holy Cross faculty, administration, staff, and Board of Trustees. The College also made hundreds of documents available and assisted in coordinating interviews as part of Notre Dame’s investigation.

As set forth in the Notre Dame report, the Holy Cross investigation also found that a former Holy Cross student was credibly subjected to sexual abuse by Father King. This former Holy Cross student came forward to be interviewed by Barrett McNagy as part of the investigation. The College also notes that the Notre Dame report identified six witnesses who were former Holy Cross students who were credibly subject to Fr. King’s inappropriate conduct.

The Barrett McNagny investigation also examined information concerning Father King’s conduct during his years at Holy Cross, including behavior that was not recognized at the time as potential grooming behavior, and identified opportunities when his misconduct might have been discovered had stronger reporting, communication, and recordkeeping systems been in place.

In a joint letter to the Holy Cross community, President Marco J. Clark, Ed.D., past Board Chair John Gschwind, and current Board of Trustees Chair Rob Wolfle apologized to those who experienced abuse or misconduct and expressed gratitude to those who came forward to share their experiences.

“To those who experienced abuse or misconduct by Father King, we are deeply sorry. You deserved to be safe. You deserved to be treated with dignity. And when concerns were raised, you deserved to know they would be heard and acted upon.”

Holy Cross College is taking additional steps informed by the investigation, including:

  • Strengthened information sharing: Establishing a formal process with the U.S. Province of Priests and Brothers and the Midwest Province of Brothers and Priests of the Congregation of Holy Cross, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Ft. Wayne/South Bend, and the University of Notre Dame for the prompt sharing of appropriate information concerning reports of potential misconduct involving members of the Congregation who are or were formally affiliated with the College, with similar procedures involving other dioceses, religious orders, and religious organizations.
  • Enhanced documentation and oversight: Strengthening the College’s processes for documenting and tracking reports of potential misconduct and the actions taken in response, with ongoing oversight and reporting to the Board of Trustees.
  • Independent institutional responsibility: Reaffirming the College’s responsibility to independently assess and respond to reports, take appropriate protective or corrective action, and notify law enforcement, child protective services, or other authorities as required by law.
  • Continued education and training: Enhancing education for faculty, staff, and students regarding sexual misconduct, concerning behavior, and the avenues available for reporting concerns.

The full independent investigation is available here.

The complete letter from President Clark, past-Chair John Gschwind, and current Board Chair Wolfle, along with information about support and reporting resources, follows below:

Dear Members of the Holy Cross College Community,

Last fall, Holy Cross College learned of allegations of sexual abuse involving Rev. Thomas King, C.S.C. who served as a rector at the University of Notre Dame from 1980 to 1997 and as a professor at Holy Cross from 1981 to 2007. Upon learning of those allegations, the College committed to cooperating fully with the University of Notre Dame’s investigation and commissioned its own independent investigation focused specifically on Father King’s years at Holy Cross.

Today, following the completion of that work and its presentation to the Holy Cross College Board of Trustees, we are sharing the investigation with our community.

The College retained Barrett McNagny LLP to conduct an independent investigation. Its work included a review of College records and interviews with current and former members of the faculty, administration, staff, and Board of Trustees. Holy Cross also provided records and assisted with interviews as part of Notre Dame’s separate investigation.

As set forth in the Notre Dame report, the Holy Cross investigation also found that a former Holy Cross student was credibly subjected to sexual abuse by Father King. This former Holy Cross student came forward to be interviewed by Barrett McNagy as part of the investigation. The College also notes that the Notre Dame report identified six witnesses who were former Holy Cross students who were credibly subject to Fr. King’s inappropriate conduct. The complete independent investigation is available here.

Our mission calls us to educate and form people with the competence to see and the courage to act. That same standard must apply to the institution itself. We must be willing to see our history clearly, including those moments when members of our community were harmed or when opportunities to recognize that harm were missed. And we must have the courage to act on what we learn.

To those who experienced abuse or misconduct by Father King, we are deeply sorry. You deserved to be safe. You deserved to be treated with dignity. And when concerns were raised, you deserved to know they would be heard and acted upon.

We are grateful to the former student who came forward to share their experience, as well as to those who participated in this investigation and the investigation by the University of Notre Dame. We recognize the courage it takes to recount experiences of abuse, particularly many years after it occurred. Their willingness to speak has helped us better understand our past and our responsibilities today.

As painful as these findings are, our responsibility cannot end with acknowledging them. Holy Cross College is committed to the safety, dignity, and well-being of every member of our community and to responding promptly and appropriately to reports of potential misconduct.

Based upon what we have learned, we are strengthening the systems through which concerns are reported,
communicated, documented, and addressed.

The College is establishing a formal process with the Congregation of Holy Cross for promptly sharing appropriate information concerning reports of potential misconduct involving members of the Congregation who are or were employed by, assigned to, or otherwise formally affiliated with Holy Cross College. Similar procedures will govern appropriate information sharing when a report involves a member of another diocese, religious order, or religious organization.

At the same time, Holy Cross retains its own independent responsibility to assess and respond to every report, take appropriate action to protect members of our community, and notify law enforcement, child protective services or other civil authorities as required by law. We are also strengthening the documentation and tracking of reports and the actions taken in response, with ongoing oversight and at least annual reporting to the Board of Trustees.

We know this report will be difficult to read. For some members of our community, it may also bring forward painful experiences of their own. Please know that you are not alone, and our campus resources, such as Campus Ministry and Counseling Services, are here to walk with you and offer support.

For 60 years, generations of students, faculty, staff, Brothers of Holy Cross, and friends have built this College around a belief in the dignity of every person and the transformative power of a Holy Cross education. Confronting this part of our history is difficult, but doing so is necessary to remain faithful to that responsibility.

We ask you to join us in praying for those who were harmed and for their families and loved ones. May we approach this moment with humility, compassion, and a shared commitment to ensuring that Holy Cross is a community in which every person is known, valued, protected, and treated with dignity.

Ave Crux, Spes Unica,

Marco J. Clark, Ed.D.

President

Holy Cross College

Rob Wolfle

Chair, Board of Trustees

Holy Cross College

John Gschwind

Past Chair, Board of Trustees

Holy Cross College