TEXAS
BishopAccountability.org
Summary of Case: Dennis L. Peterson was a priest of the Diocese of Galveston-Houston, ordained in 1973. He served in a number of Houston parishes as an assistant and, for a time, was pastor of one. A master’s level social worker, Peterson founded the Houston Community Youth Center prior to ordination, in 1969. He was long-time director of Diocesan Youth Services and chaplain of of the Harris County Juvenile Detention Center. He also served on the diocesan Priests Personnel Committee.
In 1999 Peterson was placed on leave after he was accused of having sexually abused four children. One accuser claimed his abuse began in 1987 when he was age 14, and that it continued over a 10-year period. His parents had taken the boy to Peterson for counseling related to previous abuse by a Catholic Boy Scout leader. The other three were siblings – three boys and a girl – who said Peterson was a family friend in the 1970s and that he would wrestle with them in their living room and give them “wedgies.” They said they were afraid because Peterson was a deputy constable and had a large collection of guns. All of Peterson’s accusers said he plied them with alcohol and drugs.
Peterson’s accusers sued, but were unsuccessful because the statute of limitations required those claiming abuse as minors to file suit before age 20. Peterson died in July 2007.
Ordained: May 5, 1973
Died: July 12, 2007
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