Andrew Showers appears before Waupaca County court via Zoom, September 30, 2025. (Waupaca County Court/Zoom)
(WTAQ-WLUK) — A Northeast Wisconsin priest accused of child sex crimes will no longer be recognized as a religious leader in the Catholic church, the Diocese of Madison said Thursday.
Andrew Showers, 38, is facing multiple charges, including child pornography, attempted second-degree sexual assault of a child, attempted child enticement and attempting to use a computer to facilitate a child sex crime. Showers has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
A letter from Bishop Donald Hying, read that Showers petitioned for a dispensation from his priestly obligations. Pope Leo XIV granted that petition.
With the petition being granted, Hying said Showers has been released from all rights, duties and obligations of the clerical state.
According to WMTV, Showers cannot be referred to as “Father” or “Reverend,” he cannot wear the Roman collar that priests wear and he cannot perform any acts of ministry. This includes Mass and the Catholic Sacraments, including baptism and anointing of the sick.
Showers was arrested in August of 2025 after he allegedly tried to meet with who he believed was a 14-year-old girl, but “Abby” was actually an undercover Clintonville police officer.
Since becoming a priest in 2017, Showers served at two churches in Northeast Wisconsin. He was at All Saints in Berlin and Our Lady of the Lake in Green Lake in 2022 and 2023. Showers also served at parishes in Madison, Waunakee, Clinton and Wisconsin Dells.
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