Holy Spirit Catholic High School is a

private Private or privates may refer to: Music * " In Private", by Dusty Springfield from the 1990 album ''Reputation'' * Private (band), a Denmark-based band * "Private" (Ryōko Hirosue song), from the 1999 album ''Private'', written and also recorde ...

Roman Catholic Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy *Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD *Roman people, the people of ancient Rome *'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a lette ...

K-12 school in

Tuscaloosa, Alabama Tuscaloosa ( ) is a city in and the seat of Tuscaloosa County in west-central Alabama, United States, on the Black Warrior River where the Gulf Coastal and Piedmont plains meet. Alabama's fifth-largest city, it had an estimated population of 1 ...

. It is located within the

Roman Catholic Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama The Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Catholic Church that encompasses the northern 39 counties of the U.S. state of Alabama. It was erected on December 9, 1969, when it was split from wh ...

Background

The school was dedicated in 1963; predecessor schools date back to 1863. The high school division was added in 1995 and the first class graduated in 1999.

Sexual Misconduct Allegations

2009 Criminal Investigation

In November 2009, Tuscaloosa police arrested Holy Spirit's assistant football coach, Chip Ervin, for sexual misconduct with a 17-year-old student of the school and for the distribution of drugs to a minor. The investigation, led by Sgt. Michael Caisson of the juvenile division, focused on crimes that Ervin committed during the fall semester of 2008. Ervin pleaded guilty to the charges. Sr. Elaine Sebera, a member of the

Sisters of Mercy The Sisters of Mercy is a religious institute of Catholic women founded in 1831 in Dublin, Ireland, by Catherine McAuley. As of 2019, the institute had about 6200 sisters worldwide, organized into a number of independent congregations. They a ...

and school principal at the time of the investigation, directed reporters' questions to diocesan officials who also declined to comment.

2018 Diocesan Review

Bishop Robert Baker, about a year before his canonically required retirement, published a list of all priests the church deemed credibly accused of sexual misconduct in the Diocese of Birmingham.

Accused Priests

* Charles Cross * John "Jack Ventura ** Formerly served in the

Diocese of Paterson The Diocese of Paterson is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Catholic Church in the United States that encompasses Passaic, Morris, and Sussex counties in northern New Jersey. Most of this territory lies to the west of t ...

, New Jersey. See priest shuffling and

incardination Incardination is the formal term in the Catholic Church for a clergyman being under a bishop or other ecclesiastical superior. It is also sometimes used to refer to laity who may transfer to another part of the church. Examples include transfers ...

. * Charles Bordenca * Kevin Cooke * Roger Lott * Jonathan "John" Franklin The Holy Spirit website does not provide a list of former priests who have served the school. However, there are no known claims against priests of that parish.

Athletics

Holy Spirit offers volleyball,football, cross country, basketball, softball, baseball, track, cheerleading, bowling, golf, and tennis.

Football Cancellation

Holy Spirit suspended its varsity football program in 2019 citing low student interest and a lack of funding. According to AHSAA rules, the athletic program will not be allowed to have a varsity team until the 2022 school year.

Football Reinstatement

As of 2022 Holy Spirit has reinstated their varsity football team.

References

External links

School Website
{{authority control High schools in Tuscaloosa, Alabama Private K–12 schools in Alabama Catholic elementary schools in the United States Catholic secondary schools in Alabama Educational institutions established in 1963 1963 establishments in Alabama Roman Catholic Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama