James Kendrick Williams

James Kendrick Williams (born September 5, 1936, also known as J. Kendrick Williams) is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who was bishop of Diocese of Lexington in Kentucky from 1988 to 2002. Williams previously served as an auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Covington in Kentucky.

Williams resigned as bishop of Lexington in 2002 after three men accused him of child sexual abuse.

Biography

Early life Williams was born on September 5, 1936, in Athertonville, Kentucky. He attended Old Kentucky Home High School in Bardstown, Kentucky, then went to St. Mary College in St. Mary, Kentucky, and St. Mary School of Theology at South Union, Kentucky.

Priesthood On May 25, 1963. Williams was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Louisville at the Cathedral of the Assumption in Louisville, Kentucky, by Bishop Charles Maloney. After his ordination, Williams served as associate director of the archdiocesan Office of Religious Education, the vicar of education for four parishes, president of the Town and Country Apostolic Council, director of the Rural Office of Religious Education, director of the Archdiocesan Planning Office, director of the Clergy Personnel Commission, and associate pastor of several parishes. In 2019, the Archdiocese of Louisville revealed that the accusations against Williams had been sent to the Vatican for investigation.