Dozens of Montana Priests Accused of Sex Abuse Were Moved to New Posts, Report Shows

By Matt Hoffman
Billings Gazette
December 8, 2018

https://billingsgazette.com/news/crime/dozens-of-montana-priests-accused-of-sex-abuse-were-moved/article_46643358-2f62-54e3-854e-817b18fec83c.html

St. Patrick Co-Cathedral in downtown Billings.

A new report outlining abuse accusations against Jesuit priests includes dozens of priests who worked in Montana churches, missions and schools — and shows that at least 11 priests were accused while working in the state.

Many of the accusations are against priests already identified in bankruptcy reports for the Great Falls/Billings and Helena dioceses. But the Jesuit Order report includes dates of alleged abuse and new "credible claims" against priests. It also includes work history information that confirms priests were frequently shuffled between postings, including after alleged abuse.

"The People of God demand and deserve transparency," Scott Santarosa, the leader of a Jesuit Order province covering 10 western states including Montana, wrote in an online open letter. "We hope that this act of accountability will help victims and their families in the healing process."

Friday's report shows the results of an internal investigation. Santarosa's letter said the province will have a consultant and former FBI executive review files in 2019, and any priests with new credible allegations will be identified. The Jesuit Order is a branch of the Roman Catholic Church with about 17,000 priests and brothers.

Several priests on the lists worked in Montana and were accused of abuse at Montana postings. All of the accusations were for sexual abuse of a minor.

For example, James P. Hurley was accused of abuse during the late 1950s and from 1966 to 1967 in allegations reported in 2009. He worked at St. Paul's Mission in Hays from 1962 to 1964, Loyola High School in Missoula from 1964 to 1965 and from 1967 to 1973, and St. Ignatius Mission from 1965 to 1967.

Altogether, he worked at 17 different postings, often for no more than a few years. The Gazette is including in this article only where priests worked in Montana; full work histories are listed in the report. Hurley died in 1998.