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| Diocese Releases Names of Valley Priests Accused of Abuse
By Miguel Roberts
The Brownsville Herald
January 31, 2019
https://www.brownsvilleherald.com/news/local/diocese-releases-list-of-valley-priest-accused-of-abuse/article_17da3ea2-259a-11e9-a721-e7a1f48c11b0.html
Staff report
This is the list released by the Diocese of Brownsville.
Bishop Daniel E. Flores says of the seven bishops, 711 priests and 171 deacons who have served in the Diocese of Brownsville since it was established in 1965, 14 clergy were identified (13 priests and one permanent deacon).
The bishop says none of the clergy listed are in active ministry in the Diocese of Brownsville.
List of Clergy with Credible Allegation of Sexual Abuse of a Minor before the Year 2002
Humberto Acosta
Born: February 7, 1949
Ordained: May 30, 1974
Left diocese in 1994. Allegation fully disclosed to receiving Military Ordinary in Venezuela.
Assignments: St. Mary, Mother of the Church, Brownsville; St. Joseph Church, Edinburg; St. Anthony Church, Harlingen; Our Lady of Mercy Church, Mercedes; St. Margaret Mary Church, Pharr
Lee DaCosta
Born: June 29, 1937
Ordained: April 23, 1973
Retired in 2012. Faculties removed in 2019 after review team identified him as a priest who had a credible allegation of sexual abuse of a minor.
Assignments: Sacred Heart Church, Edinburg; Sacred Heart Church, Escobares; St. Theresa Mission Church, Faysville; St. Anthony Church, Harlingen; Holy Family Church, La Grulla; St. Joseph the Worker Church, McAllen; Sacred Heart Church, McAllen; St. Joseph the Worker Mission Church, San Carlos; St. Anne Mission Church, San Manuel; Immaculate Conception Church, Rio Grande City; Our Lady, Queen of the Universe Church, San Benito; St. Joan of Arc Church, Weslaco; San Martin Porres Church, Weslaco; St. Pius X Church, Weslaco
George B. Dyer, O.P.
(deceased)
Born: January 6, 1935
Ordained: June 9, 1961 for the Dominican Friars
He returned to the Dominican Friars in 1983.
Died: 2013
Assignments: St. Luke Church, Brownsville; Campus Ministry, Brownsville and Edinburg
Armando Escobedo
Born: June 8, 1936
Ordained: June 6, 1964
Removed from ministry in 2002.
Assignments: Christ the King Church, Brownsville; St. Luke Church, Brownsville; St. Francis Xavier Cabrini Church, Laredo; Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, Lyford; Our Lady of Mercy Church, Mercedes; Our Lady of St. John of the Fields Church, Mission; St. Anthony Church, Raymondville
Terrence Fowler
Born: March 18, 1961
Ordained: June 4, 1988
Faculties removed in 1998. Laicization in process.
Assignments: St. Joseph Church, Alamo; Christ the King Church, Brownsville; St. Luke Church, Brownsville; Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, Harlingen; Our Lady, Queen of the Universe Church, San Benito
Frank Gomez
(deceased)
Born: October 28, 1928
Ordained: May 27, 1961
Died: May 20, 2014
Faculties removed in 1994.
Assignments: St. Joseph Church, Alamo; Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, Brownsville; St. Francis Xavier Cabrini Church, Laredo; St. Francis Xavier Church, La Feria; Sacred Heart Church, Mercedes; St. Theresa Church, San Benito; St. Mary Church, Santa Rosa; San Martin de Porres Church, Weslaco;
James Jeffrey
(deceased)
Born: June 15, 1933
Ordained: May 30, 1959 for the Diocese of Fargo, North Dakota
Died: May 28, 2017
A priest who was on loan to Diocese of Brownsville. Faculties removed in 1988 and he returned to home diocese.
Assignments: Christ the King Church, Brownsville; St. Francis Xavier Church, La Feria
Basil Onyia
Born: May 22, 1966
Ordained: July 13, 1996 for the Diocese of Aba in Nigeria
On loan from the Diocese of Aba from 1999 to 2001.
Removed from ministry in 2001. He fled the country after he was reported to civil authorities.
Laicized: 2016
Assignments: Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, Harlingen; Basilica of Our Lady of San Juan del Valle-National Shrine, San Juan
Benedicto Ortiz
(deceased)
Born: September 1, 1930
Ordained: April 13, 1957 for the Diocese of Areciba in Puerto Rico
Incardinated to the Diocese of Brownsville: June 1, 1974
Died: May 14, 2011
Credible abuse report received in 2016.
Assignments: Good Shepherd Church, Brownsville; Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, Brownsville; St. Anthony Church, Harlingen; Our Lady of Sorrows Church, McAllen; St. Anne, Mother of Mary Church, Pharr; Knapp Memorial Methodist Hospital, Weslaco; and HCA Rio Grande Regional Hospital, McAllen
Salvador Rangel, MSF
(deceased)
Born: August 6, 1947
Ordained: September 1, 1973
Died: May 18, 2002
Removed from ministry in 1977, returned to his religious community
Assignments: St. Joseph Church, Donna; Our Lady of Assumption Church, Harlingen; Valley Baptist Medical Center, Harlingen
Ivan M. Rovira
Born: March 26, 1945
Ordained: May 30, 1971 for the Diocese of Rockford
Incardinated to Diocese of Brownsville: June 6, 1977
Faculties removed in 2002.
Assignments: Holy Family Church, Brownsville; St. Mary, Mother of the Church, Brownsville; Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, Brownsville; St. Joseph Church, Edinburg; Our Lady of Sorrows Church, McAllen; St. Joseph & St. Peter Seminary, Mission; St.Pius X Church, Weslaco
Salomon (David) Sandoval
(deceased)
Born: October 16, 1950
Ordained: June 30, 1979
Died: Date unknown
Removed from ministry in the Diocese of Brownsville 1986. Allegation fully disclosed to receiving bishop in Ciudad Victoria.
Assignments: Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, Brownsville; St. Joseph Church, Edinburg; Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Church, Mission; San Martin de Porres Church, Weslaco
Marti G. Zuber
Born: May 11, 1950
Ordained: June 26, 1976
Removed from ministry in 1993. Laicization in process.
Assignments: St. Joseph Church, Edinburg; Campus Ministry, Edinburg; St. Anthony Church, Harlingen; St. Joseph Church the Worker, McAllen; Holy Spirit Church, McAllen; Immaculate Conception Church, McCook; Holy Spirit Church, Progreso; St. Anthony Church, Raymondville; San Martin de Porres Church, Weslaco;
List of Clergy with Credible Allegation of Sexual Abuse of a Minor after the Year 2002
Ronaldo Mitchell Chavez
Born: August 13, 1973
Ordained to permanent diaconate: December 18, 2010
He was removed from active ministry in 2012. Pled guilty and sentenced to seven years in prison.
Assignments: San Cristobal Magallanes & Companions Church, Mission
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