Rev. Thomas King, CSC, ’65, ’81M.A., the rector of Zahm Hall from 1980 to 1997, sexually abused at least 15 students during his tenure at Notre Dame, according to an investigative report commissioned by the University in 2025 and released at the end of May. The investigation also confirmed abusive conduct by Rev. David Porterfield, CSC, ’65, ’78M.Div., who was rector of Sorin Hall from 1978 to 1983.
Concurrent with its announcement of the report’s findings, the University issued an enhanced policy for reporting misconduct by clergy and other persons in positions of trust. The investigation was conducted by Helen Cantwell, a partner at the law firm of Debevoise & Plimpton LLP and a former prosecutor in the Manhattan district attorney’s sex crimes unit.
“Over the course of its history, Notre Dame has confronted clergy abuse, and at critical points, invited members of its community to come forward to report allegations. While Notre Dame’s commitment to addressing clergy abuse has been clear, the University’s execution has been inconsistent,” the report states.
A few days after the report’s release, University President Rev. Robert A. Dowd, CSC, ’87, presided at a Mass at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart dedicated to healing and peace for survivors of sexual assault. He was accompanied by 24 concelebrating priests.
“As president and as a priest, I want to express my profound sorrow and my sincerest apologies to survivors of such abuse,” Dowd said in his homily.
“Let me speak directly to those of you who are survivors. Thank you for your courage in sharing your extremely painful experiences. I can scarcely imagine how difficult it was for you to do that. What happened to you is wrong: it’s totally inexcusable and it goes against everything we stand for here at Notre Dame. From the bottom of my heart, and on behalf of the entire University, I am sorry.
“I am so sorry for the abuse you experienced and I am so sorry it has taken this long for the truth to come to light. Know of our desire here at Notre Dame to do everything we can to support healing, and to do everything in our power to ensure that the abuse you endured never happens to anyone here on this campus ever again.”
King, while rector of Zahm, frequently took male students alone to the Rockne Memorial gymnasium, weighed them naked in a locker room on the pretext of concern for their health, and engaged in unwanted sexual contact with some of them, the investigation found.
King also taught at Holy Cross College, where he was on faculty until 2007. The report details King’s grooming behavior toward some Holy Cross students who were hoping to transfer to Notre Dame and believed King could help or hinder their transfer applications. The priest also worked at Catholic parishes in northern Indiana and southern Michigan until 2019.
The report details a pattern of sexual abuse by Porterfield, who left as Sorin’s rector after the University learned of an abuse allegation, but less than a year later was rehired as an assistant rector in Grace Hall and in 1985 served as an assistant director of admissions. He left Notre Dame in 1986 after the University received a report of his abusing a student in Grace.
Porterfield later served in various parishes in South Bend. After 2003, the Congregation of Holy Cross assigned him to religious superior roles at Holy Cross House and Fatima House, homes for retired clergy.
King is retired. Porterfield died in November 2025.
The inquiry, initiated last year at the request of Dowd and Board of Trustees Chair John Veihmeyer ’77, includes recommendations for strengthening the University’s approach to preventing and responding to any future misconduct.
In a joint statement, Dowd and Veihmeyer reaffirmed the University’s commitment to the safety and well-being of everyone in the campus community. They announced the University is taking immediate action, including:
- Enacting a policy governing the tracking of reports of sex-based misconduct or violence against students by any individuals in positions of trust at the University.
- Establishing a joint process with the Congregation for sharing information about reports, received by the University or the Congregation, of misconduct by priests and religious.
- Reaffirming a robust commitment to reporting transparency, educational programs and support systems for abuse survivors, and expanding the educational programming annually delivered to the community regarding sex-based misconduct and violence prevention, reporting and response.
- Requiring regular reports to the Board of Trustees on the handling of all reports of sexual misconduct.
The full text of the report is available here.