DIOCESE: PRIEST WHO COMMITTED SUICIDE HAD 'EXEMPLARY' RECORD
Monday, February 13th, 2006 -- 9:28 AM
An area priest who committed suicide last week had an ?exemplary record? according to the Catholic Diocese of La Crosse.Reverend Steven Baures of Thorp was found hanged to death in the rectory of Notre Dame Catholic Church in Chippewa Falls.
The 55-year-old, who had served as the priest at churches in Greenwood and Willard before moving to other parishes, left a cryptic note saying he ?felt like a bother? and was ?afraid mental illness is real?. Ben Nguyen (Win), spokesperson for the Diocese, tells Central Wisconsin Broadcasting News that Baures suffered from both physical and mental health ?difficulties?.
In an area of small towns, rumors spread fast, and Nguyen (Win) recognizes the similarities between this case, and the case of Father Ryan Erickson, who hanged himself in a church in Hurley after being investigated for a double-homicide in Hudson. Nguyen says there is nothing in Rev. Baures file indicating any kind of wrong-doing.
"He was exemplary priest," Nguyen. "There was absolutely nothing like that at all - in fact, those were the types of conditions that really worn on him."
Out of respect for privacy, Nguyen (Win) said he could not comment on the types of health issues Rev. Baures suffered, but said they ?were not out of the ordinary?.
Rev. Baures? life was celebrated on Thursday. Bishop Jerome Listecki served as the celebrant at the service.
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