NY's Ogdensburg diocese releases list of priests accused of sex abuse, joining national trend
By Julie McMahon jmcmahon@syracuse.com
OGDENSBURG, N.Y. -- The Diocese of Ogdensburg this week released the names of priests accused of child sex abuse, joining a trend nationwide.
The diocese named 28 priests, 16 of whom have died. Officials said all of the living priests had been removed or left ministry.
Those named were the subject of a finding "of reasonable grounds" that they had engaged in sexual misconduct with a minor or vulnerable adult, according to the diocese.
The Ogdensburg diocese joins 75 other dioceses across the country that have released the names of abusive priests, according to a count by the law firm Anderson & Associates, which represents victims nationwide.
A quick Google search shows that new dioceses every day are releasing names.
That leaves 120 dioceses or archdioceses in the U.S. that have refused to list the identities of sexually abusive priests.
With Ogdensburg's latest release, three dioceses in New York state continue to refuse to release the names.
In Syracuse, Bishop Robert Cunningham has said he will not release a list. Cunningham's policy is to confirm the names once a victim makes it public. According to a statement from the diocese, Cunningham has received requests from victims that their abusers not be named.
"To respect the wishes of all victims, Bishop Cunningham has provided the names to local authorities and has confirmed the names of those with a credible complaint of abuse of a minor if brought forth publicly by the victim," the statement said.
The New York State Attorney General is launched a probe in September into all eight dioceses in the state, seeking information about whether church officials knew about and covered up sexual abuse by clergy.
The investigation came after a nearly two-year grand jury investigation in Pennsylvania that led to a report detailing sex abuse by more than 300 priests over seven decades.
The following priests were named by the Ogdensburg diocese:
Fay Ager
Joseph Conti (deceased)
Joseph Degen (deceased)
Robert Duford (deceased)
John Fallon (deceased)
Ronald Farchette
Bruce Favreau
Edward Franklin (deceased)
Theodore Gillette (deceased)
John Hunt (deceased)
Edwin Kennedy (deceased)
John Kennedy (deceased)
Emile Lalonde (deceased)
James Larche
Roger Martin (deceased)
Gerald McGrath (deceased)
Roland Menard
Liam O'Doherty
Albert Plante (deceased)
Gerald Sharland (deceased)
Robert Shurtleff
Thomas Squires
George Tobin (deceased)
Michael Toth
Clark White
John Wiley (deceased)
David Wisniewski
Paul Worczak
14 New Child Abuse Cases Filed Against
Pittsburgh Catholic Diocese
Newest Post-Grand Jury Cases Bring New Evidence of Church's Concealment of Child Sexual Abuse
PITTSBURGH -- Today, Alan Perer filed new lawsuits on behalf of 14 plaintiffs, all of whom as children were sexually abused by priests.
The suits were filed in 12 complaints naming the Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh, Bishop David A. Zubik, and Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl as defendants.
These new cases are the largest number filed at one time since the release of the Pennsylvania Grand Jury Report that showed the Diocese's continuous and fraudulent concealment of critical information regarding child sexual abusers whom it employed as priests, school officials and child counselors.
The Grand Jury report shows that the intentionally concealed reports were made to the Diocese before, during and after the plaintiffs were being sexually abused.
The complaints filed by Perer name seven priests who already publicly appear in the Grand Jury report, along with three new individuals named by victims who have for the first time come forward. There is compelling evidence that the Diocese may also have intentionally concealed knowledge that these three individuals had engaged in sexually abusing children, as it had in so many other cases.
The 12 filed complaints name the following 14 plaintiffs and detail extensive instances of sexual abuse (with case docket numbers)
Trent Brash, who was about 15 years old when sexually assaulted by John Hoehl at Quigley High School, starting about 1979. (GD- 18-014961)
John Chepponis, who was about 8 years old when he was first sexually assaulted by Francis Siler at St Catherine Parish, starting about 1977. (GD- 18- 014963)
David Newman, who was about 8 years old when he was first sexually abused by William O'Malley at St. Canice parish, starting about 1974. (GD- 18- 014957)
Mark Pearce, who was about 12 years old when he was first abused by George Zirwas at St. Michael parish, starting about 1982. (GD- 18- 014959)
James Quigley, who was about 12 years old when he was first abused by George Leech at St Bartholomew parish, starting about 1960. (GD- 18- 014958)
Richard Welsh, who was about 8 years old when first abused by Edward Huff at the parish of North American Martyrs, starting about 1978. (GD- 18- 014959)
Michael Dojcak, who was about 14 years old when first abused by Raymond R. Rhoden at St. Francis of Assisi parish, starting about 1983. (GD- 18- 014960)
Jerry Schwrickrath, who was about 16 years old when first abused by Ernest Paone at Madonna of Jerusalem parish, starting about 1964. (GD- 18- 014965)
Kirk Rice, who was about 10 years old when first abused by John Unger at Sacred Heart Elementary School, starting about 1969. (GD- 18- 014962)
Alan Corso, who was about 15 years old when first abused by Peter Pilarski at Resurrection parish, starting about 1966. (GD- 18- 014969)
John Doe 1, who was about 11 years old when first abused by William O'Malley at St. Francis de Sales parish, starting about 1980. (GD- 18- 014957)
John Doe 2, who was about 15 years old when first abused by Francis Siler at St. Margaret parish, starting about 1980. (GD- 18- 014955)
Marianne Bezjian (nee Kole), who was about 11 years old when first sexually assaulted by Lawrence O'Connell at St. Gabriel parish, starting about 1960. (GD- 18- 014964)
Kristine Marks (nee Kole), who was about 7 years old when first sexually assaulted by Lawrence O'Connell at St. Gabriel parish, starting about 1961. (GD- 18- 0149644
The names of three priests who were not disclosed in the Grand Jury report but are named in the complaints are George Leech, Peter Pilarski and John Unger.
The Pittsburgh Diocese was fully responsible for the placement, employment and maintenance of these priests at every one of these incidents of child sexual abuse.
Because of systematic fraudulent concealment and conspiracy to conceal by the Diocese, the sexual abuse histories of these priests were hidden from the public and from these plaintiffs and their respective families, until the Grand Jury report made the continuing pattern of the fraud public.
Had these facts and this evidence been known, civil suits versus the Diocese could have been pursued within the statute of limitations. The active and on-going concealment of critical evidence provides a basis to extend the statute of limitations in all these cases.
The cases seek expansion of the statute of limitations for past victims of abuse under existing Pennsylvania legal principles and accepted public policy.
Complaints were filed in the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, and the defendants duly notified.
Six sex abuse survivors announce lawsuit
against U.S. bishops
Clergy child sex abuse condemned in 306 AD
Attorney Jeffrey Anderson holds a placard reflecting U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops leadership since 2004,
during a Nov. 14 press conference in Baltimore. Photo: CNS/Kevin J. Parks, Catholic Review
The lawsuit seeks "court ordered disclosure of identities of all offenders and their histories known only to the bishops
As the U.S. bishops entered the last public part of their 2018 fall general assembly, centred largely on the clergy sex abuse crisis, six clergy sex abuse survivors announced Nov. 14 a lawsuit against the prelates' main organisation, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
In a news conference near the hotel where the bishops were holding their annual fall meeting in Baltimore, Minnesota lawyer Jeff Anderson gathered three survivors from California, Minnesota and Pennsylvania to talk about the suit filed in federal district court in Minnesota late Nov. 13.
The firm said in a news release that the lawsuit seeks "court ordered disclosure of identities of all offenders and their histories known only to the bishops who continue to keep this information secret."
Also on Nov. 13, a separate suit – a class-action lawsuit – was filed against the Vatican and the USCCB in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. That suit is being handled by attorneys from two firms based in Beaumont, Texas, and by two New York lawyers.
The suit filed in Minnesota by Anderson names Joseph Mclean of Minnesota, Paul Dunn of New York, Phillip DiWilliams of Pennsylvania, Darin Buckman of Illinois, and Mark Pinkosh and Troy Franks of California as plaintiffs.
The lawsuit alleges that the USCCB concealed "the known histories and identities from the public, parishioners and law enforcement of clergy accused of sexually abusing children across the country."
The USCCB did not release a response but typically wouldn't respond to a lawsuit.
McClean, one of the survivors at the news conference in Baltimore, said he chose to join the lawsuit because he wants the bishops to "come clean."
"I'm here to protect kids" and to give victims the opportunity to heal, said McClean, who said his abusing priests brushed his pelvis against him during a retreat and kissed McClean when he was 17. Years later, after taking legal action to obtain documents about the priest, he said he discovered that he had done the same to others but was never stopped.
Attorney Anderson said there were others out there like that priest, and they pose a "danger that is real and imminent." That's why the lawsuit demands full disclosure of all known offenders in the 196 dioceses across the country, including the 120 dioceses that have not released a list of clergy who may have offended, he said during the news conference.
The church "maintains" a public hazard, said Anderson, who also announced a lawsuit against the Vatican in early October and has taken similar legal action over the years against dioceses around the country.
Also present in the room was a man Anderson identified as Deacon Bob Sondag of Peoria, Illinois, who said he served as a victim assistance coordinator and said "the checks and balances put in place in the 2002 Dallas charter have been compromised," referring to the "Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People," a set of procedures adopted by the bishops to address the sex abuse crisis.
"At times, it seems that protecting the institution is a higher goal than caring for the victims," said Sondag, reading from a statement.
Asked whether it was opportunistic to be unveiling the lawsuit in Baltimore while the bishops were meeting, Anderson said, "Yes, it is opportunistic," but added that it was an opportunity taken in the interest of protecting children.
The class-action suit filed in court in the District of Columbia was announced in Beaumont. It too was filed on behalf of six plaintiffs claiming they were abused by clergy as minors: Timothy B. Lennon, of Arizona; Mark S. Belenchia, of Mississippi; Alfred L. Antonsen Jr., of Illinois; Joseph Piscitelli, of California; Shaun A. Dougherty, of Pennsylvania; and Mark Crawford, of New Jersey.
None of the alleged abuse occurred in Texas, but the Beaumont lawyers said in a statement they "have handled major class action lawsuits for victims throughout the United States over the last 25 years."
Condemnation of clergy sex abuse action by
"the Council of Elvira in Spain" in A.D. 306
The 80-page suit alleges the plaintiffs "were victims of the endemic, systemic, rampant and pervasive rape and sexual abuse perpetrated by Roman Catholic Church cardinals, bishops, monsignors, priests, sisters, lay leaders, members of Catholic religious orders, educators, and other personnel, members, agents and representatives while serving in active ministry -- with the knowledge of the defendants."
It adds that "child sexual abuse committed by the Catholic Clergy has been going on for centuries," citing condemnation of clergy sex abuse action by "the Council of Elvira in Spain" in A.D. 306.
The lawyers say the suit also is a "RICO" case, referring to the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, a 1970 law originally designed to target organized crime.
According to the filing the suit seeks "compensatory damages" -- it does not name a sum -- or in lieu of those damages, the plaintiffs want other monies, such as "restitution, economic damages, punitive damages."
Another alleged victim says he reached confidential agreement for church sex abuse
By Kimberly Curth
NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) -In a Fox 8 exclusive, we learn about another confidential agreement reached between the Archdiocese of New Orleans and a man who says a deacon repeatedly raped him at the youth home, Hope Haven, in the early 1970s.
“The pain never goes away," said the alleged victim.
Decades have gone by, but he will tell you time doesn’t heal all wounds. “I have nightmares and no amount of money is ever going to cure me. When you rape and molest somebody at 12 nothing will ever take that away,” he said.
We’re not using his name to protect his privacy. He says former Deacon James Lockwood, repeatedly raped him after he was placed at Hope Haven when he was a boy. “I was placed there in 1973 by my mother who couldn’t afford to take care of me and I went there thinking they were going to take care of me,” the alleged victim said.
Wednesday, he provided us with documentation of a 2010 settlement with the Archdiocese of New Orleans for $80,000. “He molested me, sodomized me, he took me to several churches and he put me on the altar and he sodomized me,” the alleged victim said. “People will say why didn’t you say anything well I was scared to death to say anything and who’s going to believe a 12 year old.”
He gave us a copy of a letter that Archbishop Gregory Aymond apparently signed in 2010; saying in part, ”please find a check for the amount described in the confidentiality agreement as well as a copy of the settlement. Most importantly, I assure you of my prayerful support in this time of healing.”
“I met with him. I told him the story, what gruesome details, and he contacted me later and offered me $40,000 and I said i don’t think that’s a drop in the bucket of what I am going to need so then we settled on $80,000 which is still a drop in the bucket," said the alleged victim.
Lockwood is still alive and on the list of names the Archdiocese of New Orleans released of clergy members credibly accused of child sex abuse. Lockwood was removed from ministry in 1978. But, is only listed as having pastoral assignments at Center of Jesus the Lord in New Orleans and Our Lady of Prompt Succor in Chalmette. We asked the Archdiocese about that. They say their files do not indicate Lockwood had a pastoral assignment at Hope Haven. Instead, the Archdiocese says they have information to indicate he worked at Hope Haven as a volunteer social worker.
“He was on there and it just made me sick to think they’ve let this go on all these years. We’re talking about 30 years, it’s been going on and they still haven’t arrested this man," said the alleged victim.
Earlier this month, we tracked Lockwood down on the phone. He said he wasn’t sure why his name was on the list. He was accused in the late 1970s of aggravated crimes against nature involving two 11-year-old boys. But, he claims his case was settled years ago after it went to the State Supreme Court twice.
"Eventually, my case was terminated and the file sealed. I was given a good report and I've been working ever since, I mean up to 2014," said Lockwood.
The alleged victim says he wants Lockwood taken off the streets."He’s still out there and I’m afraid, the reason I’m coming forward is, I’m afraid he’s doing it to other people," he said.
We reached out to the Archdiocese of New Orleans about Lockwood and the alleged victim’s claims. We did not disclose his identity. But, in a statement the Archdiocese said it has “pledged its full cooperation with any investigations. Without you disclosing the victim’s name, we think it is an individual who has reached out to us. At the victim’s specific request, our legal counsel sent a letter to the District Attorneys in Orleans and Jefferson Parish providing the name and contact information of the victim and informing the DA that this victim is eager to cooperate in an investigation and prosecution of Mr. Lockwood.”
Convicted in child porn case, rogue priest still preaches
as he crafts his own narrative
Brandie Kessler and Dylan Segelbaum, York Daily Record
The Catholic church kicked him out. He is among 301 "predator priests" named by a grand jury. But he still leads a Catholic church in York County.
A York Daily Record/Sunday News investigation shows how he has tried to discredit the conviction. He tells supporters various stories about why he was convicted of a crime.
Harry Spencer realized that he was home.
He’d grown uncomfortable with the direction of the Catholic Church, particularly since Vatican II. The doctrines had changed. The Mass had changed. So had all the traditions and rituals.
Then, about seven years ago, Spencer started going to what would become St. Michael the Archangel Roman Catholic Church in Lower Windsor Township. It offers a traditional Latin Mass. The Rev. Virgil Tetherow, also known as Father Gabriel, leads the church.
“I have never met a priest that I’ve felt more comfortable with in his religiosity and his ability to teach the religion of the Roman Catholic faith,” Spencer said. “I love my religion. And Father Tetherow is a true Catholic priest.”
But that is not what the Catholic church says.
In fact, Tetherow “is not recognized as a priest, is prohibited from presenting himself as clergy and is not associated with the Diocese of Harrisburg,” said Mike Barley, a spokesman for the diocese, who encouraged the faithful to not attend Tetherow's services.
Tetherow, 54, is among 301 “predator priests” named in the recent landmark grand jury report that details widespread sexual abuse in six Catholic dioceses in Pennsylvania. He was arrested in 2005 after police found child pornography on two computers and he later pleaded guilty to criminal use of a communication facility.
In a statement provided to the grand jury, he maintains his conviction isn't what it seems and that the grand jury report distorts the public record. He’s never been accused of physical sexual abuse of children.
Child pornography IS physical abuse of children - it's just watching someone else do it.
Many of the clergy named in the almost 900-page report are dead. But Tetherow, who declined to be interviewed, is still actively running a church — and there’s nothing, and apparently no one, that can prevent him from doing so.
A York Daily Record/Sunday News investigation based on dozens of interviews, Right-to-Know Law requests, court records and secret canonical letters reveals how he’s been able to weave a narrative to discredit the conviction and keep loyal followers in his flock.
The story is well-written but a little graphic and disgusting, but if you want to read it please go to the York Daily Record.
Michigan Catholic Diocese publishes list of priests accused of sexual abuse
By Justin P. Hicks jhicks3@mlive.com
GAYLORD, MI -- The Catholic Diocese of Gaylord has created an online list of priests and deacons who have been "credibly accused" of sexual abuse of a minor dating back to 1971.
As of Thursday, Nov. 15, the list featured 10 clergy. Eight of the priests are deceased. The two living priests -- Ronald Gronowski and James Holtz -- have been "permanently removed from public ministry."
The release of the list comes amid a state investigation of sexual abuse by priests being led by the Michigan attorney general's office. In August 2018, the state agency began investigating the handling of allegations dating back to 1950.
The diocese said it has previously released information about the allegations of sexual abuse of minors involving priests or deacons, but chose to publish and maintain the list because it "may be helpful to the healing process for victim-survivors," and to continue efforts for increased transparency.
A "credible and substantiated allegation," as used by the diocese, is an accusation that, after an investigation and review of available information, appears more likely true than not and has been accepted as credible by the bishop, according to the diocese.
The diocese says the most recent credible incident of sexual abuse of a minor involving clergy in the Diocese of Gaylord is alleged to have occurred three decades ago.
The investigation will also include any allegations related to the cover up of sexual abuse or assault.
Similar state investigations are underway in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, New Mexico, Missouri, Illinois, Nebraska, and Florida.
The list:
Patrick Barrett -- Permanently removed from public ministry in 2002. Died in 2006.
Ronald Gronowski -- Permanently removed from public ministry in 2002.
Lionel Harnish -- Removed from ministry 1986. Died in 2007.
James Holtz -- Permanently removed from public ministry in 2002.
Benedict Marciulionis -- Removed from ministry in 1981. Died in 2000.
Raymond Pilarski -- Permanently removed from public ministry in 2006. Died in 2017.
Terrence Raymond -- Left priesthood in 1985. Died in 1986.
Robert Gordon Smith -- Died in 1990.
Laurus Rhode -- Removed from diocese and returned to Order of Friars Minor (OFM) religious order in 1993. Died in 1995.
Leo Olschaysken -- Removed from diocese and returned to O. Praem religious order in 1974. Deceased.
Gronowski resigned from churches in Lake City and Manton in 2002 because of a 1995 allegation of sexual misconduct during the 1970s, according to a report by the Midland Daily News.
"I cannot express how profoundly sorry I am for any anguish this person has suffered from my actions," Gronowski said in a letter to parishioners announcing his resignation, according to the report. "Nor can words share the depth of my sadness and grief for any embarrassment and pain caused to my own family, my brother priests, the diocese and our beloved Catholic Church."
Herein, once again, is the problem. He apologizes to everyone except God! There is almost never any mention of God, or His Son Jesus Christ, in the statements of regret from those clergy who actually do, or did, regret their horrific evil actions perpetrated on children. Their sins were against children, but primarily against God. Their actions destroyed the innocence of children, violating their sacredness, and almost completely destroyed their faith in God. Yet, they cannot seem to see their actions in that light. But the Day will come when they will.
Holtz resigned as pastor of the parishes of St. Mary of the Woods in Kalkaska and St. Aloysius in Fife Lake in 2002, according to a report by the Traverse City Record Eagle. He was accused of sexual abuse of a minor in the early 1980s.
Since 2002, the Gaylord diocese said it has fully implemented the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People and Essential Norms established by the United Stated Conference of Catholic Bishops. Included in the charter are things like mandatory background checks for employees and volunteers who work with minors, as well as training for adults and children to help identify warning signs, maintain appropriate boundaries and what to do should abuse be suspected.
An independent annual audit is completed each year which evaluates the diocese's compliance with the charter. The diocese said it has been found in compliance every year since 2002 when the charter was established.
In 2017, a 44-year-old priest within the diocese was found not guilty of first- and third-degree criminal sexual conduct. He spent five months in jail after being accused of sexual assault against a fellow priest.
The Diocese of Gaylord includes the 21 most northern counties of the Lower Peninsula. The area includes 75 parishes and nearly 54,000 Catholics.
To report allegations of sexual abuse of a minor by clergy -- past or current -- individuals are encouraged to contact U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Victim Assistance Coordinator Larry LaCross at 989-705-9010.
In Michigan many professionals, including clergy, teachers, doctors and counselors, are mandated reporters. These individuals are required by law to make an oral report immediately to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) if they have reasonable cause to suspect a child is being neglected or abused in any way.
Further, the Diocese of Gaylord said in its online post that it encourages anyone who suspects a child is being abused or neglected to report the matter to local authorities. The MDHHS maintains a 24-hour statewide reporting hotline at 855-444-3911.
UK Diocese in Birmingham 'wouldn't give names of alleged abusers' to own safeguarding team
IICSA
The Birmingham Diocese was the only one in the country not to pass on names of alleged abusers to the Catholic Church's own safeguarding organisation, an inquiry has heard.
The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse is this week looking at the way the Birmingham Archdiocese handled reports of abuse.
Giving evidence, the former Director of the Catholic Office for the Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults (COPCA) Eileen Shearan told the panel that the diocese would not hand over names of priests who had been reported to them, despite it being COPCA procedure that they should.
The inquiry saw correspondence between the Children Protection Officer at the Diocese and COPCA.
In them the Officer, Jane Jones, said that the Church Commission in Birmingham did not think they should have to disclose names to get advice from COPCA and that they didn't believe it was procedure in other organisations to do this.
Eileen Shearan said she didn't believe this was the case.
There is a distinction between an individual case and a general request for help and support and information.. This was an individual case..It was, in my view, best practice that any information COPCA received should be available in order to be, to assist people making future inquiries so that they had full information about the level of risk in a particular case.
I do not agree at all that it was illegal to generate these records. It was our role and we were doing so in the interested of protecting children.
– EILEEN SHEARAN, FORMER DIRECTOR OF COPCA
Ms Shearan told the inquiry that when she left her post at COPCA in 2007, the issue of naming the alleged abusers had not been resolved.
She told the hearing that she did not think there were enough resources given by the Catholic Church to pay for safeguarding.
When questioned by the Inquiry's counsel, she said that she did not think that this showed a lack of prioritisation for safeguarding, but more that the church already thought they were paying enough towards it.
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