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Father Jerome Kaywell, pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Punta Gorda, Florida, has been removed from his ministry due to an investigation, resulting from an allegation of sexual misconduct (2013-4), with someone who was a minor. Bishop Frank J. Dewane of Venice, Florida, wrote a letter on Jan. 26 to parishioners (see below). At 17, Kaywell joined a Franciscan monastery. Five years later, he left the religious environment and spent 12 years experiencing pursuing a musical career. It was after releasing his first album in 1975 while he was still a seminary musical director, that he left religious life to perform in a band with his brother and later moved to California, where he was involved in youth ministry and professional songwriting for advertising and television for more than a decade.
"I had always intended to return" to the religious life, Kaywell said. In 1984, Kaywell left Hollywood. After five months of soul-searching, he knew God was calling him to the priesthood. A life-threatening battle with stage four lymphoma prevented him twice. In 1985 he was involved in the Grammy-winning gospel album “Let My People Go” with The Winans. When all treatment options were exhausted and he was given three months to live, Kaywell became a protocol patient at Stanford University. With his cancer in remission, he resumed his priesthood studies in 1989 and was ordained in 1991. In 1991, after earning a master's degree in theology and another in divinity, he was ordained as a Roman Catholic priest. Two years later, Father Kaywell began producing benefit concerts and touring with his music. He served as an associate priest at churches in Fort Myers and Naples before being assigned, in January 2004, to Sacred Heart in Punta Gorda -- a church of about 2,400 families.
FULL TEXT Letter of Bishhop Dewane: Dear Parishioners of Sacred Heart Parish:
The Diocese of Venice has received notification from a law firm of an allegation of sexual misconduct by Reverend Jerome Kaywell, with someone who was a minor at the time. The incident allegedly occurred in the Winter of 2013/2014. Father Kaywell denies that the allegation is true and maintains he is innocent. In accordance with the Diocesan Policy for the Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults, upon learning of the allegation, I have placed Father Kaywell on administrative leave pending a preliminary investigation. Anyone who believes that he or she has been the victim of sexual misconduct by someone serving in ministry for the Diocese of Venice, or any organization, should contact law enforcement officials. The Diocese of Venice provides a Victim Assistance Coordinator, who can be reached at 941-416-6114. As your Bishop, I wish to again state that the Diocese of Venice remains committed to doing all that can reasonably be done to protect children and vulnerable adults. We pray for the relief of the pain and suffering experienced by all victims. We pray that the Lord of Truth and Light will guide us all in His ways! Further, these are very painful times for Father Kaywell, all involved in the allegation and also for all of you, as well as the clergy and myself. Let us remain united in prayer.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
+ Frank . Dewane Bishop of the Diocese of Venice in Florida
https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/2007/11/10/music-and-faith-drive-life-of-priest/28589751007/ and OSV News
Image Youtube Screenshot of album cover titled "Very Jerry: Intimate self-revealing songs" by Father Jerome Kaywell, pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Punta Gorda, Florida.
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