BishopAccountability.org
 
 

Credibly Accused

By Bishop James S. Wall
Diocese of Gallup
Downloaded February 28, 2015
Partial Version Originally Posted December 15, 2014

http://www.dioceseofgallup.org/credibly-accused

Note: The links below in square brackets were not provided on the diocese's page. They are included here for the reader's convenience. On December 15, 2014, the diocese initially posted a version of the list without assignment histories for 11 of the 31 accused persons. Our cache of Gallup's initial page was collected on December 16, 2014. The diocese updated the page to provide those assignment histories, as well as a Spanish translation of the bishop's letter. The revision also corrects the entry for Carl Todaro, who was a seminarian, not a priest, as previously stated. Nine persons on the diocese's list were not previously known as accused: Baz, Coutu, Messier, Meurnier, Newton, Runnebaum, Schreiber, Todaro, and Viramontes. But the diocese's list does not include some accused persons whose allegations were already known publicly. See Some Names Not Included on Diocese Abuser List, by Elizabeth Hardin-Burrola, Gallup Independent, December 23, 2014.

[ Fr William Allison | Fr Michael Aten | Fr Michael Baca OFM | Fr George Baz | Fr John Boland | Fr James Burns | Mr Brett Candelaria | Fr Santino Casimano | Fr Charles Cichanowicz OFM | Fr David Clark CMF | Fr Timothy Conlon OSC | Fr Joseph Coutu | Fr John Degnan | Fr Clement Hageman | Fr Julian Hartig | Fr Robert J Kirsch | Fr Bruce MacArthur | Fr Douglas McNeill | Fr Rene Messier | Fr Lucien Meurnier | Fr Francis Murphy | Fr John Newton CPPS | Fr Jose Rodriguez | Fr William Roper CMF | Fr Conran Runnebaum OFM | Fr Raul Sanchez | Fr Lawrence Schreiber OFM | Fr John [T] Sullivan | Seminarian Carl Todaro | Fr David Enrique Viramontes | Fr Samuel Wilson ]

To the Laity, Religious and Clergy of the Diocese of Gallup

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ Jesus:

When I became the Bishop of the Diocese of Gallup, I committed to ensuring that the children in this Diocese and in the Parishes, Missions or Schools that operate within the Diocese were protected. The Diocese published names of those working within the Diocese against whom there were credible allegations of sexual abuse of a minor. In my ongoing commitment to protection of children and to further my goal of transparency within this Diocese, we have determined that there are additional priests against whom there have been credible allegations of child abuse who worked in various places within the Diocese. I have sent letters to each Parish, Mission or School within the territory of the Diocese of Gallup where each of the priests or others served advising them that there was a priest who was ministering in that Parish, Mission or School against whom we have determined there were credible allegations of sexual abuse of a minor.

As part of my ongoing commitment, we are now putting all the names, places and dates of service of credibly accused priests here on the Diocese’s website. This list will include the priests previously named as well as those who are being named now.

The publication of these additional names does not mean that our vigilance and continued investigation ends here. The investigations remain ongoing. The survivors who have come forward should be commended for their bravery and courage, and I express my deepest apologies for the actions of those who violated the trust of the survivors and the parishioners within the Diocese by committing these terrible acts. I reaffirm my commitment to protect our children and my commitment to continue to assist those who have been harmed.

If you or a loved one were harmed by the sexual misconduct of an employee or clergy within the Diocese of Gallup, we strongly encourage you to contact law enforcement. We also welcome you to contact the victim assistance coordinator at the Diocese, at 505-906-7357.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Bishop James S. Wall

The following is a list of clergy identified by the Diocese of Gallup as having credible allegations of sexual misconduct made against them.

Para los laicos, religiosos y el clero de la Diócesis de Gallup

Queridos hermanos y hermanas en Cristo Jesús:

Cuando me convertí en el Obispo de la Diócesis de Gallup, me comprometí a proteger a los niños de esta Diócesis y en las Parroquias, Misiones o Escuelas que operan dentro de la Diócesis. La Diócesis publicó los nombres de las personas que trabajan dentro de la Diócesis con acusaciones creíbles de abuso sexual de un menor. En mi continuo compromiso para proteger a los niños y promover mi objetivo de transparencia dentro de esta Diócesis, hemos determinado que hay sacerdotes adicionales con denuncias creíbles de abuso de niños en contra de ellos que trabajaron en varios lugares dentro de la Diócesis. He enviado cartas a cada Parroquia, Misión o Escuela dentro del territorio de la Diócesis de Gallup donde sirvieron estos sacerdotes, avisándoles que había un sacerdote que estaba ministrando en esa Parroquia, Misión o Escuela en contra de quien hemos determinado que habían acusaciones creíbles de abuso sexual de un menor.

Como parte de mi compromiso permanente, ahora estamos poniendo todos los nombres, lugares y fechas de servicio de los sacerdotes acusados creíblemente aquí en la página web de la Diócesis. Esta lista incluirá los sacerdotes anteriormente nombrados, así como los que están siendo nombrados ahora.

La publicación de estos nombres adicionales no significa que nuestra vigilancia y nuestros esfuerzos de investigación terminan aquí. Las investigaciones siguen en curso. Los sobrevivientes que se han presentado deben ser celebrados por su valentía y valor, y expreso mis más sinceras disculpas por las acciones de aquellos que violaron la confianza de los sobrevivientes y de los feligreses de la Diócesis con la comisión de estos actos terribles. Reafirmo mi compromiso de proteger a nuestros niños y mi compromiso de seguir ayudándoles a los que han sido dañados.

Si usted o un ser querido fue dañado por la mala conducta sexual de un empleado o el clero de la Diócesis de Gallup, le recomendamos ponerse en contacto con la policía. También les damos la bienvenida a comunicarse con el coordinador de asistencia a las víctimas en la Diócesis, al 505-906-7357.

Sinceramente suyo en Cristo,

Obispo James S. Wall

La siguiente es una lista de clero identificados por la Diócesis de Gallup que tienen denuncias creíbles de abusos sexuales hechos en contra de ellos.

Fr. William Allison (Deceased)

Assignments:
Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Holbrook AZ (1958)
Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Flagstaff AZ (08/1958 - 12/1961)

 

Fr. Michael Aten (Deceased)

Assignments:
St. Bonaventure Mission, Thoreau NM (06/01/1976)
St. Mary Parish, Pinetop AZ (03/1977 - 1978)
St. Joseph Parish, Winslow AZ (07/01/1978 - 01/01/1978)
St. John the Baptist Parish, St. Johns AZ (04/1979 - 07/1986)

 

Fr. Michael Baca, OFM (Deceased)

Assignments:
Immaculate Conception Parish, Cuba NM (1953)
St. Joseph the Worker Parish, San Fidel NM (1961)
Our Lady of Fatima Parish, Chinle AZ (1978)

 

Fr. George Baz (Deceased)

Assignment:
St. Joseph Parish, Winslow AZ (07/1968-09/1968)

 

Fr. John Boland

Assignments:
Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Holbrook AZ (1975)
St. Philip Parish, Church Rock NM (1977)
Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, Page AZ (1978)
Madre de Dios Parish, Winslow AZ (1980-1983)
St. Jerome Parish, Gallup NM
St. Mary Parish, Bloomfield NM (1987)
Sacred Heart School Chaplain, Farmington NM (1994)
Our Lady of Sorrows Parish, Cebolleta NM (1995)
Our Lady of Light Mission, Cubero NM (1995)
St. Joseph the Worker School Chaplain, San Fidel NM (1995)
St. Paul Parish, Crownpoint NM (1999)
Risen Savior Mission, Bluewater NM (1999)
Immaculate Conception Parish, Cuba NM (2002)

 

Fr. James Burns (Deceased)

Assignments:
Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Flagstaff AZ (07/1962 - 1963)
Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish, Flagstaff AZ (1963)
Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Holbrook AZ (08/01/64)
St. Lawrence Parish, Humbolt AZ (12/01/65)
St. Peter Parish, Springerville AZ (07/01/1968 - 1972)
St. Mary of the Angels Parish, Pinetop AZ (09/05/1974 - 1981)
St. Anthony Parish, McNary AZ (05/01/1975 - 1981)
Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, Page AZ (02/01/1981) St. Joseph Parish, Winslow AZ (07/1982 - 1989)
St. Mary's Parish, Bloomfield NM (11/01/90)
St. Rose Parish, Blanco NM (12/1990 - 06/1993)

 

Brett Candelaria (Lay CCD Teacher)

Assignment:
Holy Trinity Parish, Flora Vista, NM (1991-1992)

 

Fr. Santino Casimano (Deceased)

Assignments:
St. Paul Parish, Crownpoint NM (1975 - 1976)

 

Fr. Charles Cichanowicz, OFM

Assignments:
St. Michaels Parish, St. Michaels AZ (1980)
Christ the King Parish, Shiprock NM (1983)

 

Fr. David Clark, CMF (Deceased)

Assignment:
Sacred Heart, Prescott AZ (06/1960 - 07/1960)

 

Fr. Timothy Conlon [OSC]

Assignments:
St. John the Baptist Parish, St. Johns AZ (11/2011 - 12/2013)
San Rafael Parish, Concho AZ (11/2011 - 12/2013)

 

Fr. Joseph Coutu

Assignments:
St. Mary Parish, Farmington NM (05/1981 - 12/1981)
Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Holbrook AZ (12/1981 - 1983)
Sacred Heart Cathedral, Gallup NM (1983 - 06/1984)

 

Fr. John Degnan (Deceased)

Assignments:
St. Mary, Kingman AZ (1951)
St. Cecilia, Clarksdale AZ (1952 - 1961)
St. Ann, Ash Fork AZ (1952 - 1961)
Madre de Dios Parish, Winslow AZ (06/1961 - 09/1961)

 

Fr. Clement Hageman (Deceased)

Assignments:
Mission Center for Navajo Indians, Smith Lake and Thoreau NM (1939)
Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Holbrook AZ (08/1942 - 11/1952)
St. Mary's Parish, Kingsman AZ (01/1953 - 11/1963)
St. Lawrence Parish, Humboldt AZ (08/01/64)
Madre de Dios Parish, Winslow AZ (08/1965 - 07/1975)

 

Fr. Julian Hartig (Deceased)

Assignments:
St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Gallup NM (1955)
St. Francis of Assisi Mission, Lumberton NM (1961 - 1964)

 

Fr. Robert J. Kirsch (De[c]eased)

Assignments:
Our Lady of Guadalupe, Flagstaff AZ (1957)
Santo Nino de Atocha Parish, Aragon NM (1958 - 1959)
St. Francis, Seligman AZ (1959 - 1962)
Madre de Dios Parish, Winslow AZ (1963 - 1964)

 

Fr. Bruce MacArthur (Deceased)

Assignment:
Ex-Priest of Sioux Falls who volunteered at shelters in Gallup, NM (2003)

 

Fr. Douglas McNeill

Assignments:
St. Joseph and Madre de Dios Parishes, Winslow AZ (1969 - 1970)
Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Holbrook AZ (1969, 1970-1971)
Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Holbrook AZ and Office of Religious Education (1973 - 1974)
St. Bonaventure Mission, Thoreau NM (1974 - 1994)

 

Fr. Rene Messier (Deceased)

Assignments:
St. Mary Mediatrix of all Graces, Yarnell AZ (1961-1963)
St. Anne, Ashfork AZ (1963)

 

Fr. Lucien Meurnier (Deceased)

Assignment:
St. Joseph Parish, Winslow AZ (08/1972 - 06/1973)

 

Fr. Francis Murphy (Deceased)

Assignments:
Retired to live in Cuba, NM (no faculties given) (1995 - ?)

 

Fr. John Newton, CPPS (Deceased)

Assignments:
St. Joseph Parish, Winslow AZ (10/1955 - 1957)
St. Peter Parish, Springerville AZ (05/1957 - 1959)

 

Fr. Jose Rodriguez

Assignments:
Santo Niño Parish, Aragon NM (1975)
St. Joseph Parish, Winslow AZ (09/01/1975 - 02/1976)
Good Shepherd Mission, Pinehaven NM (1976)
St. Jerome Parish, Gallup NM (1976 - 12/01/1977)
St. John the Baptist Parish, St. Johns AZ (12/01/1977 - 12/01/1978)
St. Peter Parish, Springerville AZ (12/01/1978 - 06/01/1979)
St. Rita Parish, Show Low AZ (06/01/1979 - 07/01/1988)
San Rafael Parish, San Rafael NM (06/01/1988 - 12/01/1988)
Good Shepherd Mission, Pinehaven NM (12/01/1988 - 1990)
St. Patrick's Mission, Chichiltah NM (12/01/1988 - 1990)
Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Holbrook AZ (06/01/1990 - 1992)
St. Mary Parish, Farmington NM (03/01/1992 - 1994)
Our Lady of the Snows Parish, Snowflake AZ (06/01/1994 - 2000)
Our Lady of the Assumption Parish, Overgaard AZ (06/20/05)

 

Fr. William Roper, CMF (Deceased)

Assignment:
Sacred Heart, Prescott AZ (1964-1965)

 

Fr. Conran Runnebaum, OFM (Deceased)

Assignments:
St. Teresa of Avila Parish, Grants NM (06/29/55 - 07/1958)
Sacred Heart Parish, Farmington NM (07/1958 - 07/1964)
St. Joseph the Worker Parish, San Fidel NM (07/1964 - 1973)
Sacred Heart Parish, Farmington NM (07/1975 - 1978)

 

Fr. Raul Sanchez

Assignments:
Madre de Dios Parish, Winslow AZ (07/1975 - 10/1976)
Chancellor, Gallup Diocese (1979 - 11/1986)

 

Fr. Lawrence Schreiber, OFM

Assignments:
St. Isabel Parish, Lukachukai AZ (1961 - 1962)
St. Michaels Parish, St. Michaels AZ (1962 - 1963)
Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Parish, Ft. Defiance AZ (1963 - 1968)
Christ the King Parish, Shiprock NM (1968 - 1969)
St. Jude Parish, Tuba City AZ (1969 - 1976)
Christ the King Parish, Shiprock NM (1977 - 1981)
St. Isabel Parish, Lukachukai AZ (1981 - 1983)
St. Michaels Parish, St. Michaels AZ (1983 - 1986)
Sacred Heart Parish, Farmington NM (1986 - 1990)
Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Parish, Ft. Defiance AZ (1990 - 1991)

 

Fr. John [T.] Sullivan (Deceased)

Assignments:
Madre de Dios Parish, Winslow AZ (07/1961 - 1962)
St. Francis Parish, Seligman AZ (1963 - 1964)
St. Mary's Parish, Kingman AZ (1965 - 1968)

 

Carl Todaro (Former Seminarian - incorrectly listed as a priest)

Assignment:
Mount St. Mary's of the West Seminary (1951 - 1952)

 

Fr. David Enrique Viramontes (Deceased)

Assignments:
Santo Niño de Atocha Parish, Aragon NM (06/1957 - 06/1958)
Our Lady of Guadalupe, Flagstaff AZ (06/1958 - 07/1959)
St. Joseph Parish, Winslow AZ (07/1959 - 07/1960)
Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Holbrook AZ (07/1960 - 01/1961)
St. Pius X, Flagstaff AZ (01/1961)

 

Fr. Samuel Wilson (Deceased)

Assignments:
Church of the Nativity, Flagstaff AZ (1952)
Santo Niño de Atocha Parish, Aragon NM (08/1952 - 1957)
Church of the Nativity, Flagstaff AZ (1958)
St. John the Baptist Parish, St. Johns AZ (10/1958 - 1960)
Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Holbrook AZ (1961)
St. Cecelia Parish, Clarkdale AZ (07/1961 - 1962)
Immaculate Conception, Cottonwood AZ (07/1961 - 1962)
St. Francis Cabrini, Camp Verde AZ (1962 - 1964)
St. Lawrence, Humboldt AZ (1963 - 1964)
St. Joseph, Mayer AZ (1963 - 1964)
Madre de Dios Parish, Winslow AZ (08/1964 - 12/1965)
Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Flagstaff AZ (09/1968 - 1969)
Tolani Lake Indian, Leupp AZ (1970 - 1971)
San Rafael Parish, San Rafael NM (1972)
Our Lady of Sorrows Mission, Cebolleta NM (1973)
St. Rita Parish, Show Low AZ (1974 - 1975)
St. Catherine Parish, Cibecue AZ (1976 - 1979)
St. Anthony Parish, McNary AZ (1980)
RMCH and GIMC Hospitals; McKinley Manor, Gallup NM (1985-1986)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 
 


 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 




.

 
 

Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.