KANSAS CITY, KANSAS — Based on the recommendation of the Independent Review Board of the Archdiocese after an independent investigation into the allegations regarding Mr. Phil Baniewicz, former president of Bishop Miege High School (Miege), concerning his ability to oversee a safe environment for minors and vulnerable adults, Archbishop Shawn McKnight has determined that Mr. Baniewicz is not suitable for ecclesiastical employment, appointment, volunteer service, or ministry involving minors or other vulnerable persons within the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas.

“The protection of minors and persons in vulnerable situations is fundamental to the mission of our church,” Archbishop Shawn McKnight said. “As believers and followers of Jesus Christ, we have a sacred responsibility to safeguard the innate human dignity of every person and to hold one another, especially those who exercise authority and power in the Church, to the high moral standards of our faith.”

The Archbishop’s decision is based upon an independent investigation and the canonical assessment made after the investigation concluded, and was promulgated via a formal canonical, or church, decree signed August 13, 2026.

On June 5, 2025, the Miege board of trustees placed Mr. Baniewicz on administrative leave due to concerns about his inability to oversee a safe environment. Simultaneously, Archbishop McKnight announced a thorough investigation into the matter.

On June 17, 2025, Mr. Baniewicz was restricted from all active ministry in the archdiocese and put on a safety plan due to a newly revealed allegation of inappropriate behavior with a minor.

On Aug. 6, 2025, the Miege board of trustees determined new leadership was in the best interest of the Miege community, and Mr. Baniewicz’s employment with Miege ended.

The independent investigation was led by a professional investigation firm that conducted a comprehensive process that included 68 interviews, review and analysis of extensive records and reports, and consultation with authorities from multiple jurisdictions. The process was initiated by the Archdiocese, which through outside legal counsel retained an independent investigation firm and also engaged the services of the Child Protection Center, an independent agency in Kansas City dedicated to providing forensic interviews for alleged victims of abuse or violence as minors. The Archdiocese cooperated with local law enforcement and the Kansas Department for Children and Families throughout the investigation.

The investigation examined 16 distinct allegations against Mr. Baniewicz spanning from approximately 1985 to 2025. It included a review of reports regarding his work as a youth minister in Mesa, Arizona, from 1985 to 1993; a senior officer of Life Teen, Inc, from 1993 to 2006; president of Maur Hill Mount Academy in Kansas from 2010 to 2023; and president of Miege from 2023 to 2025.

Mr. Baniewicz was given multiple opportunities to address the allegations. He was interviewed and submitted a written statement.

The investigation included interviews with the complainants, most of whom did not have an apparent connection to one another. The interviews exhibited a substantial degree of consistency regarding Mr. Baniewicz’s behavior.

The investigation disclosed serious concerns regarding Mr. Baniewicz’s conduct and determined a consistent pattern of imprudent professional conduct, repeated failures to maintain appropriate ministerial and professional boundaries with minors, deficient safeguarding practices, and conduct incompatible with the standards expected of those entrusted with ecclesiastical service involving children and vulnerable people.

To date, no criminal charges have been filed against Mr. Baniewicz. While the investigation did not establish the level of certainty required by Church law to initiate a canonical disciplinary process, it revealed a persistent and deeply concerning pattern of conduct that reached the level at which administrative action must be taken.

Therefore, exercising his responsibility to safeguard the faithful and provide for the good of the Church, Archbishop McKnight has decreed that Mr. Baniewicz is unsuitable for ecclesiastical employment, appointment, volunteer service, or ministry involving minors or vulnerable persons within the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, and his current safety plan will remain in place.

Anyone with information regarding misconduct by any church volunteer, employee, religious or clergy member — regardless of when it occurred — is encouraged to contact civil authorities first and then call or text the Archdiocese’s confidential report line at 913-276-8703 or report online at www.archkck.org/reportabuse.

For all media inquiries, please contact the Office of Communications at communications@archkck.org.

Update: Posted 6/18/2025

Phil Baniewicz restricted from all ministry in Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas

On June 17, 2025, the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas announced that Phil Baniewicz is restricted from all active ministry in the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas due to an allegation of inappropriate behavior with a minor. These restrictions are based on previously unknown information, which has not been released in public media, provided to the archdiocese after the June 6 announcement that he was placed on administrative leave at Bishop Miege High School. This information has been reported to civil authorities.

Mr. Baniewicz is prohibited from engaging in youth ministry and volunteer work in any Catholic parish, school, institution or event in the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas. He is to refrain from representing the Church in any official, volunteer, ministerial, or leadership role. This includes participation in Life Teen, a Catholic youth ministry. In addition, Mr. Baniewicz has signed an archdiocesan safety plan which states he agrees not to contact anyone known to have made an accusation of abuse or misconduct against him, or who may be a witness known to him.

This action has been taken “in the interest of promoting the common good, protecting the vulnerable, and pursuing the truth of the matters being investigated,” Archbishop McKnight stated.

The restrictions are imposed for the duration of the ongoing preliminary investigation and through any subsequent process conducted in the Church’s judicial system.

These precautionary measures are no indication of guilt or wrongdoing.

The archdiocese will provide no further information regarding the investigation until it is concluded.

In keeping with archdiocesan protocols, the archdiocesan Office for Protection and Care is prepared and eager to listen to those with concerns, using a trauma-informed approach. Please call or text our hotline number at 913-276-8703 or visit archkck.org/reportabuse. Report any abuse to civil authorities first by calling the Kansas Protection Report Center at 1-800-922-5330.

“Each of us has a responsibility to ensure a safe environment that protects the dignity of our vulnerable sisters and brothers, especially children and youth,” Archbishop McKnight said. “I am grateful for all who ensure our schools and parishes are healthy and holy environments where people can flourish. Please continue to pray for those impacted by this situation, especially those who have experienced harm. May Mary, Mother of the Church, protect and guide us as we strive to follow her son.”

Important Statement from Archbishop Shawn McKnight Regarding Bishop Miege High School: Posted 6/7/25

Archbishop Shawn McKnight has issued the following statement regarding the president of Bishop Miege High School, Phil Baniewicz:

“The executive committee of Bishop Miege High School’s (BMHS) Board of Trustees has placed Phil Baniewicz on administrative leave, effective June 5, 2025. I support this action of the executive committee for the well-being of the school. Due to recent reports concerning his ability to oversee a safe environment for BMHS, a thorough investigation has been initiated. 

“The executive committee of the board of BMHS has appointed Joe Schramp as interim president. 

“As this is a confidential personnel matter, no further information will be provided until the investigation is concluded.

“Our commitment is to make our schools and parishes places where every child feels safe, supported, and valued. This necessitates not only immediate action when concerns arise but also a continuous evaluation of our policies to ensure we are doing everything possible to prevent harm. Through our efforts of accountability and transparency, we aim to foster trust and to respect the dignity of every person.

“In keeping with our protocols, our Office for Protection and Care is prepared and eager to listen to you, using a trauma-informed approach. Please call or text our hotline number at 913-276-8703 or visit archkck.org/reportabuse. 

“I ask you to join me in prayers for all involved in this situation: our students, their families, Mr. Baniewicz, our school community and our archdiocesan community. 

“Thank you for your prayers and for your witness of faith. May Mary, Mother of Church, protect us and guide us as we strive to follow her son, Jesus.” 

Allegation Announcement: Fr. John “Fidelis” Forrester, OSB

With deep sorrow for the suffering of victims and survivors of abuse, the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas (“Archdiocese”) and St. Benedict’s Abbey (“Abbey”), announce that Father John “Fidelis” Forrester, OSB, has recently been the subject of substantiated allegations of sexual abuse of a minor that occurred in this Archdiocese; he was previously found to have substantiated allegations outside of the Archdiocese. After a thorough investigation, these allegations were found credible. Fr. Forrester has been added to the Archdiocesan list of clerics with substantiated allegations of sexual abuse of minors. 

Fr. Forrester served in the following parishes/schools during his parish ministry in the Archdiocese:

• Camp St. Maur Hill, Atchison

• Maur Hill-Mount Academy, Atchison

• Mount St. Scholastica Academy, Atchison

• Ursuline Academy, Paola

• St. Peter and St. Paul, Seneca

In addition, he served at these dioceses:

• Archdiocese of Seattle, Washington

• Diocese of Davenport, Iowa

The Archdiocese Substantiated Clergy Offenders listing on the website has been updated and can be found here: Substantiated Clergy Offenders – Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas (archkck.org).

The Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas and St. Benedict’s Abbey take all allegations of misconduct by church personnel very seriously and work to respond to survivors’ needs with urgency, respect, and compassion. We encourage anyone with knowledge about any misconduct by a church volunteer, employee, religious or clergy member — regardless of when the abuse may have occurred — to contact civil authorities first, and then call or text the Archdiocese’s confidential report line at 913-276-8703 or online at www.archkck.org/reportabuse. 

Allegation Announcement:  Donald Redmond, OSB

With deep sorrow for the suffering of victims and survivors of abuse, the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas (“Archdiocese”) and St. Benedict’s Abbey (“Abbey”), Atchison, announce that Father Donald Redmond, OSB, has recently been the subject of substantiated allegations of abuse.  After a thorough investigation, these allegations were found credible. Fr. Redmond was previously published on this list, but additionally, he has substantiated allegations of abuse against an adult. 

Fr. Redmond served in the following parishes/schools during his parish ministry in the Archdiocese:

• St. Peter and St. Paul, Seneca

• St. Lawrence Catholic Campus Center, Lawrence

• Benedictine College, Atchison

• Sacred Heart Parish, Atchison

• St. James Parish, Wetmore

• Sacred Heart Parish, Sabetha

• St. Augustine Parish, Fidelity

In addition, he served in the Diocese of Davenport, Iowa.  

The Archdiocese Substantiated Clergy Offenders listing on the website has been updated and can be found here: Substantiated Clergy Offenders – Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas (archkck.org).

The Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas and St. Benedict’s Abbey take all allegations of misconduct by church personnel very seriously and work to respond to survivors’ needs with urgency, respect, and compassion. We encourage anyone with knowledge about any misconduct by a church volunteer, employee, religious or clergy member — regardless of when the abuse may have occurred — to contact civil authorities first, and then call or text the Archdiocese’s confidential report line at 913-276-8703 or online at www.archkck.org/reportabuse. 

In May 2021, St. Benedict’s Abbey and Benedictine College released a statement confirming that Fr. Simon Baker, OSB, had been relieved of his responsibilities at Benedictine College. St. Benedict’s Abbey also placed Fr. Simon on ministerial leave after he self-reported that he had crossed physical and emotional boundaries with a graduate student at Benedictine College. Fr. Simon subsequently entered an intensive vocational treatment and rehabilitation program.

St. Benedict’s Abbey also immediately opened an investigation by a third-party investigator to conduct an extensive independent inquiry into Fr. Simon’s conduct, in addition to other allegations that had surfaced concerning other boundary violations with adult women.  The investigation confirmed Fr. Simon had, in fact, crossed physical and emotional boundaries with adult women. At the conclusion of the investigation, it was determined that Fr. Simon had failed to maintain appropriate ministerial boundaries and had engaged in inappropriate and unacceptable behavior.  It was also determined that Fr. Simon had not committed any civil or canonical crimes.

In early 2024, St. Benedict’s Abbey initiated its formal “Restorative Process” to give members of the community opportunities to address any personal or emotional harm they had suffered as a result of Fr. Simon’s behavior. The primary objective of the Restorative Process is to do the work necessary to try to heal any personal or emotional wounds and to work to repair any harm done to relationships. The formal Restorative Process is ongoing.

St. Benedict’s Abbey sincerely apologizes to everyone who has been affected by Fr. Simon’s behavior. St. Benedict’s Abbey is grateful for the courage of all individuals who came forward with allegations or who have been willing to participate in the Restorative Process.

Fr. Simon has worked very hard to atone for his behavior and to heal the hurt he caused those affected by his actions. He has been honest and forthright in acknowledging the wrongs he has committed, has participated in intensive therapy, and has demonstrated commitment to his monastic and priestly vocations.  Two separate independent clinical evaluations have determined that Fr. Simon has demonstrated meaningful growth and understands the strict physical and emotional boundaries necessary to be an effective minister. The clinical evaluations have also concluded that Fr. Simon is prepared to return to ministry. Fr. Simon is currently assigned to another Benedictine monastery in an appropriate ministry and will eventually return to St. Benedict’s Abbey, though not to any ministerial position at Benedictine College.

St. Benedict’s Abbey’s overriding priority is always the safety and proper treatment of all members of the Church. St. Benedict’s Abbey maintains an open invitation to all who wish to participate in the confidential Restorative Process. If you are interested, please contact 913-360-7860.

The Church also maintains a hotline for individuals to confidentially report any allegations that may touch upon the safety or proper treatment of its members. Please contact 913-276-8703 to report any allegations.