#USA #IN – The University of Notre Dame on May 28, 2026, released the findings of an external investigation that confirmed instances of sexual abuse and a pattern of predatory behavior by Father Thomas King, C.S.C., during his 17-year tenure as rector of Zahm Hall from 1980 to 1997.
Attorney Helen Cantwell of the New York law firm Debevoise & Plimpton LLP led the probe, which the university’s Board of Trustees commissioned in September 2025 at the request of President Fr. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C., and Board Chair John Veihmeyer. Cantwell, a former prosecutor in a district attorney’s sex crimes unit, conducted more than 100 interviews over nine months with alumni, faculty, staff, Holy Cross Congregation members, and others.
The 25-page report concluded that King engaged in sexual abuse of at least 15 male students from Notre Dame and nearby Holy Cross College. Investigators found that, under the guise of concern for students’ health and weight, King took students to the Rockne Memorial Gym locker room, directed them to undress fully, and weighed them naked or nearly naked. The report also documented cases of unwanted sexual touching or assault beyond the weighing incidents.
King, a member of the Congregation of Holy Cross, served as rector of the men’s residence hall while also teaching at Holy Cross College. The investigation determined that he continued similar predatory conduct during his time there. Victims reported the behavior to university officials over multiple years, but the response was often slow and inconsistent, despite Notre Dame’s public commitments to addressing clergy abuse.
The probe also identified instances of sexual abuse by another Holy Cross priest, Fr. David Porterfield, who served as rector of Sorin Hall from 1978 to 1983.
In a statement accompanying the report’s release, university leaders expressed deep disturbance over the findings and extended apologies to the victims. “We are deeply disturbed by these findings and wish to extend our deepest apologies to the victims for what they endured,” Dowd said. The university outlined next steps, including policy reforms such as improved tracking of misconduct reports, better information-sharing with the Congregation of Holy Cross, and expanded counselling support for affected former students.
The allegations first gained renewed attention in 2025, prompting the external review. King, who later served in parish assignments and retired in 2020, was not immediately reachable for comment in reports following the release.
The university made the full report available on its website and committed to further actions to strengthen prevention and response protocols. Holy Cross College previously launched its own independent investigation into King’s conduct during his faculty tenure there.
This case added to broader discussions about clergy sexual abuse at Catholic institutions, with advocates calling for continued transparency and support for survivors.
Image: The University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana.
