Juneau Catholic diocese names seven local clergymen ‘credibly’ accused of sexual misconduct

JUNEAU (AK)
Juneau Empire

August 21, 2019

By Ben Hohenstatt

The Diocese of Juneau released the results of an Independent Commission’s review of sexual misconduct allegations since the diocese was established in 1951.

The report identifies seven local clergymen — six priests and one religious brother — that the commission found had been “credibly alleged” to have engaged with sexual misconduct involving minors and vulnerable adults.

The Independent Commission was established by the Diocese of Juneau in December 2018 to review files regarding allegations of sexual misconduct since the diocese was established nearly 70 years ago in 1951.

Those named in the report include:

• Francis A. Cowgill, who died in 2000, and is alleged to have committed sexual misconduct involving minors from 1956 to 1964. Cowgill was assigned to Pius X School in Skagway and Sacred Heart Church in Haines from 1952 to 1959, Holy Family Cathedral in Anchorage from 1959 to 1964 and St. Mary Church in Kodiak from 1964 to 1966.

• Javier Gutierrez, who was dismissed from the clerical state in 2018, and is alleged to have committed sexual misconduct involving minors and vulnerable adults in the 1980s. Gutierrez was assigned to Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Juneau from 1982 to 1984 and in 1986, Holy Name Church in Ketchikan from 1984 to 1986, St. Peter’s Church in Douglas in 1986 and St. Therese of the Child of Jesus Church in Skagway and Sacred Heart Church in Haines from 1986 to 1988.

• Patrick Hurley, who returned to his religious order — Order of St. Benedict — in 1985, and is alleged to have committed sexual misconduct involving minors from 1984 to 1985. Hurley was assigned to Holy Name Church in Ketchikan in 1983, Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary from 1984 to 1985 and St. Therese of the Child of Jesus Church in Skagway from 1984 to 1985.

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