Survivors say Columbus Diocese list of accused priests is incomplete

By Tom Bosco
ABC 6l News
March 20, 2019

https://bit.ly/2U1wRZs

The Catholic Diocese of Columbus released its list of priests credibly accused of sexual abuse earlier this month, but a survivors' advocacy group said the list is incomplete. The group Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, or SNAP, said there are at least seven clergy members who should be on the list.

The names have been made public before and include two that have been the subject of news coverage in the last few years.

Joel Wright was in seminary, studying to become a priest in north Columbus when he was arrested in 2016 as he tried to travel to Mexico to have sex with infants. Fr. James Csaszar of New Albany and Perry County before that, killed himself in 2016, a month after he was accused of having an inappropriate relationship with a teen.

The other names may be more obscure but have been revealed in the past. Here are their names and where they served in the diocese:

• Fr. James Gates, Holy Rosary, 1994-2002;
• Fr. John Walsh, SS. Simon and Jude, 1960s;
• Fr Fintan Shaffer, Little Brothers of the Good Shepherd, 1980s;
• Br. Robert Hayden, Little Brothers of the Good Shepherd, 1980s;
• Fr. Walter Horan, Zanesville, 1940s.

Judy Jones, Midwest director for SNAP said it is important that the diocese publicly recognize them.

“They were located here, and they could have abused here," she said. "There could be victims out there right now who were abused by these clerics.”

A spokesperson for the diocese said church leaders will update the list when new information becomes available to them. They did not provide anyone to interview today.