Douglas County charges are expected against a priest who formerly worked at St. Lawrence Catholic Campus Center, which serves Catholics at Kansas University.

On Thursday, the Rev. Dennis Schmitz was charged in Nemaha County with taking indecent liberties with a child. The charge alleges illegal acts that include lewd fondling of a child under 15.

Archbishop James P. Keleher of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, said Friday he anticipated charges next would be filed in Douglas County.

But Dist. Atty. Christine Kenney said she had not decided whether to file charges against Schmitz. Kenney declined to say when she might decide.

Schmitz worked at the St. Lawrence center until last year. He recruited college-age men as candidates for the priesthood.

The Rev. Vince Krische, director of the campus center, couldn’t be reached for comment Friday.

Catholic priests in Lawrence who had been holding out hope their colleague would be cleared were shocked at the news of his surrender to Nemaha County authorities.

“I don’t know what to think right now,” said the Rev. Charles Polifka, pastor at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, 1229 Vt. “I’m just feeling in shock by it.”

The Rev. James Shaughnessy, pastor of Corpus Christi Catholic Church, 6001 W. 15th St., said he knew little about Schmitz’s situation other than what he had seen in news accounts.

“I am surprised  shocked,” he said.

The Rev. Ray Burger of Holy Family Parish in Eudora said he had virtually no information about Schmitz.

Schmitz, 41, of Marysville, turned himself in to Nemaha County Sheriff’s officers and was released on $50,000 bond. His first court appearance is scheduled for Wednesday.

Schmitz had been pastor of two parishes in small northeast Kansas communities  St. Gregory in Marysville and St. Malachy in Beattie. He was relieved of those duties and placed on indefinite leave May 2 after allegations against him were made public by the archdiocese.

“We feel awful for this young person, and for anyone who ever may have been abused by a trusted adult,” Keleher said Friday. “The archdiocese will continue cooperating with civil authorities to determine the validity of these claims against Father Dennis Schmitz.”

As for Shaughnessy, he said his parishioners were tired of hearing about the sexual abuse crisis facing the church.

“Mostly they don’t want to hear any more,” he said. “Most of them are just shutting down.”

Keleher has named Burger to lead a special response, evaluation and review team to look at allegations of sexual misconduct that may have taken place decades ago.

“I’m in a very small parish, and I know there’s never been any contact here between Father Schmitz and these people,” Burger said.