Diocese of Raleigh NC

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Terry McKiernan February 26, 2021

16 Accused in This Diocese

Fr. Andre Anthony Corbin

Ordained: 1961
Status: Convicted

Died: 05/13/2008
Diocese: Diocese of Raleigh NC

Criminally charged in 1988 with abusing a boy in 1966 when parish was in the Raleigh diocese. Sentenced to three years in jail; served about 60 days. Probation for five years, ordered to St Luke Institute for treatment. Dressed young boys in loin cloths to depict crucified Christ. Charlotte diocese removed faculties in 1988. Also named in a 12/2003 suit in Springfield MA; settled in 8/2004. Died in a fire 5/14/2008, age 79. On the Raleigh diocese's list in 10/2018, which notes a report in 1988 of abuse in 1966. Was put on sick leave 1962-1964 after one year at Our Lady of Guadalupe in Newton Grove NC and missions. Remaining NC assignments were the Charlotte diocese after it was formed. On leave 1970-1993; whereabouts unknown. In 2002 the Springfield MA diocese had been planning to assign Corbin as a supply priest, but did not when the allegation was received that became the 12/2003 suit. Died in 2008. On the Fall River MA diocese' list in 1/2021. On Springfield MA list 6/2/2021.

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Fr. Peter Martin Denges

Ordained: 1927
Status: Accused

Died: 07/27/1985
Diocese: Diocese of Raleigh NC

Monsignor. Named publicly by the Raleigh diocese on its list in 10/2018 as accused with a 'semblance of truth'. The list notes that an allegation was received in 2005 of abuse in 1950; Denges was then pastor of St. John the Baptist in Roanoke Rapids NC with missions and stations in Halifax, Littleton, and Weldon; Denges was also Dean of the Eastern Deanery. In 1951, Denges was made pastor of St. Anthony of Padua in Southern Pines and Dean of the Raleigh Deanery. In 1929-1949 he ran Camp Denges in Abell MD in the Washington archdiocese with his brother, Msgr. Joseph F. Denges. Msgr. Peter M. Denges died on 7/27/1985.

Sources:

Diocese of Raleigh List accessed 12.17.18

Fr. Hugh A. Dolan

Ordained: 1934
Status: Accused

Died: 09/26/1981
Diocese: Diocese of Raleigh NC

Named publicly as accused 'with a semblance of truth' by the Raleigh diocese on its list in 10/2018. The list notes a report in 2004 to the Diocese of abuse in 1964, when Msgr. Dolan was pastor of St. Pius X Parish in Greensboro NC (now in the Charlotte diocese), where accused priest John J. Hyland was accused in 2002 of abuse also in 1964. Dolan founded S.t Pius X and was pastor there 1960-1975. Msgr. Dolan was born in 1906 in Ireland and died on 9/26/1981. Dolan's name is included on the Charlotte diocese's list 12/29/2019 (middle initial incorrectly as J.)

Assignments:

Diocese of Charlotte Assignment Record 12.29.19

Sources:

Diocese of Raleigh List accessed 12.17.18

Fr. Stephen M. Garrity

Order: SJ
Ordained: 1970
Status: Accused

Died: 09/17/2014
Diocese: Diocese of Raleigh NC

Removed by the Jesuits in 2007 from Holy Cross in Durham, NC after admitting to inappropriate sexual contact with five young adults, ages 18-23, in the early 1980s while in Baltimore and Philadelphia. Received therapy. In 1/2013, the Order told the Raleigh diocese of a credible complaint of abuse of a minor from the 1970s while assigned to St. Joseph's Prep in Philadelphia. Sent to a monitored community. Died in 2014. Name included on the Maryland Province Jesuits list 12/17/2018, which notes multiple allegations. On the Scranton diocese's list 12/22/2018. Added to the Baltimore archdiocese's list in 2/2019. On the Raleigh diocese's list in 10/2018, which notes abuse in 1970 reported in 2018. Mentioned in the 4/5/2023 MD Attorney General's Report.

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Fr. Giacomo Ghisalberti

Ordained: 1970
Status: Accused

Died: 10/19/2020
Diocese: Diocese of Raleigh NC

From Italy. Named publicly as accused by the Raleigh diocese on its list in 10/2018. The list notes that sexual abuse occurring in 1977 was reported in 2004; further, Ghisalberti was suspended, and a Vatican petition was in progress. He died 10/19/2020. Per his obituary, Ghisalberti started his priesthood in the Diocese of Greensburg PA, moving in 1975 to the Raleigh diocese. He earned a Law degree in 1981 and practiced law while pastor of Christ the King in Riegelwood. He had been married for 32 years at the time of his death.

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Fr. Albert J. Gondek

Order: OSFS
Ordained: 1966
Status: Sued

Died: 08/16/2022
Diocese: Diocese of Raleigh NC

Member of the Wilmington-Philadelphia Province of Oblates of St. Francis de Sales. Known to have worked in the DE, PA, NC, FL dioceses. A 30-year-old man told the Raleigh diocese in 1993 that Gondek sexually assaulted him during confession in Wilmington, NC. The Order said it had Gondek undergo counseling. He was kept in ministry. The man wrote to the Charlotte diocese years later, after Gondek's transfer there. He was pastor of a Lexington, NC parish beginning in 1998. In 10/2007 a man alleged that Gondek molested him as a teen at a MD summer camp in 1960, when Gondek was a seminarian. He was placed on leave, then reinstated in 12/2007 after being cleared by Church investigators. In 12/2015 he was again suspended after a man said Gondek sexually abused him at age 18 five years prior, along with others who were minors. A criminal investigation was initiated. Included on the Raleigh diocese's list in 10/2018; not included on the on Raleigh's list updated in 3/2021. Gondek died 8/16/2022.

Assignments:

The Dispatch 12.20.15

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Fr. Jaime Guzman

Donate Photo

Order: SJ
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Raleigh NC

Named publicly as accused by the Raleigh diocese on its list in 10/2018. Included in 12/2018 on the Jesuits' Maryland Province list. Worked in the Raleigh diocese 2005-2006; alleged abuse occurred elsewhere. Spent 2004-2005 and 2006-2008 in the Jesuit Community in Wernersville PA. May be the same Rev. Jaime Guzman Astaburuaga, SJ, from the Archdiocese of Santiago, Chile, found guilty in 2012 by the Vatican of sexually abusing students at Colegio San Ignacio El Bosque, where he was chaplain 1984-1994.

Assignments:

Jesuits Maryland Province List 12.17.18

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Fr. Louis Hanneman

Donate Photo

Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Raleigh NC

Named publicly as accused by the Raleigh diocese on its list in 10/2018, which notes an allegation received in 2002 of sexual abuse occurring in 1972. Per the list, Hanneman was assigned in the Raleigh diocese and was also accused of sexually abusing a minor outside of the diocese.

Sources:

Diocese of Raleigh List accessed 12.17.18

Fr. John J. Hyland

Ordained: 1942
Status: Accused

Died: 11/23/1975
Diocese: Diocese of Raleigh NC

Hyland was named publicly as accused by the Raleigh diocese on its list in 10/2018. Allegations were reported to the Diocese around 2002, of abuse in 1964. The Raleigh list notes that there were also "subsequent reports of abuse." At the time of the reported abuse, Hyland was in residence at St. Pius X Parish in Greensboro, where he was listed in the Directory as assigned until 1973. Then he was listed as retired until he died on 11/23/1975. The parish school had 312 students in 1963-1964 and 302 in 1972-1973. Greensboro became part of the Charlotte diocese when it was erected from the Raleigh diocese in 1971. Before then, the Raleigh diocese comprised all of NC. Per the Charlotte list 12/29/2019, there was an allegation in 2002 of the sexual abuse of a girl 1964-1966 at St. Pius X in Greensboro.

Assignments:

Diocese of Charlotte Assignment Record 12.29.19

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Fr. James E. McSweeney

Ordained: 1950
Status: Settled

Died: 03/28/1999
Diocese: Diocese of Raleigh NC

Monsignor. Former chancellor and vicar general. Accused in 2004 of molesting a boy for three years, beginning when the boy was 11 in 1970. The abuse allegedly occurred on trips, in the rectory, and in a car. McSweeney died in 1999. He was a financial expert who had amassed nearly $1M at the time of his death. A claim was settled for $120K in 3/2004. There is one other known accuser. Per the bishop, claims were credible. Included on the Diocese's list in 10/2018.

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Fr. Kenneth R. Parker

Ordained: 1965
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Raleigh NC

Ordained for the Diocese of Raleigh. Worked in parishes that later became part of the Diocese of Charlotte when it was formed in 1971. The Raleigh diocese learned 11/13/2009 of an allegation that Parker sexually abused a minor in 1982. Parker retired in 1993 and continued to provide limited ministry. He denied the allegations. His faculties were removed 1/19/2010 after a review board investigation. Included on the Raleigh diocese's list in 10/2018. On the Charlotte diocese's list 12/29/2019.

Assignments:

Diocese of Charlotte Assignment Record 12.29.19

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Fr. Francis Andrew Perry, III

Ordained: 1998
Status: Charged

Diocese: Diocese of Raleigh NC

"Drew." Ordained at age 53 in 1998. Placed on leave in 4/2002 for lying on application, after the Diocese learned that he had been accused of the sexual abuse of a 4-year-old female relative when he was a teenager in 1961. In 1987 Perry was criminally charged in FL with lewd conduct with a boy; Perry was an adolescent psychiatric counselor at Rivendell in Vero Beach, and the boy was a patient. The boy told his mother about the incident and she called the Sheriff's Department. A Sheriff's detective recorded a telephone conversation with the boy and Perry in which Perry made self-incriminating statements. The charges were dropped in 1988 just before trial when the boy refused to testify. Perry admitted to abusing the girl. He appealed to the Vatican for review of his case. Name was included on the Diocese's list in 10/2018.

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Fr. John Aquinas Powers

Donate Photo

Order: OP
Ordained: 1952
Status: Accused

Died: 10/19/2010
Diocese: Diocese of Raleigh NC

Named publicly as accused by the Dominicans' St. Joseph Province on its list in late 2018, which notes that Powers became a part of the Province of St. Martin de Porres when it was formed in 1979. An allegation was established in 2009. Powers died 10/19/2010. Per his obituary, Powers was a Marine chaplain in China, Japan and Pacific Islands 1955-1959. He worked in a variety of parish and special assignments 1960-1996, including in Ohio, Michigan, New York, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, North and South Carolina and New Orleans. Included on the Raleigh diocese's list in 10/2018, for allegations around 2002 of abuse in 1966 in the Raleigh diocese. On the Providence diocese's list 7/1/2019 of credibly accused. On the Columbus diocese's list 12/13/2019. On the Fall River diocese's list in 1/2021 of credibly accused.

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Fr. John L. Richardson

Ordained: 1954
Status: Accused

Died: 03/31/2021
Diocese: Diocese of Raleigh NC

Named publicly as accused by the Diocese on its list in 10/2018. The list notes a report in 1988 of abuse occurring in 1967. Richardson was removed from ministry. He died in NC 3/31/2021 and was buried in his native Norwood MA.

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Fr. Raymond Francisco Schulte

Order: OSB
Ordained: 1979
Status: Sued

Diocese: Diocese of Raleigh NC

Per the Abbey Abuse Disclosure Project, one alleged victim made a statement in 9/2002 that Schulte sexually molested him in 10/1988. Schulte was also accused of knowing about abuse by Dunstan Moorse and John Kelly. He was supposedly living a restricted lifestyle at St. John's but traveled frequently, including to Italy. Named in a lawsuit in 5/18/2010 by two brothers claiming abuse in 1984-1986. The suit settled in 3/2011 with other claims against the Abbey. A new suit was filed in Puerto Rico in 4/2011. Schulte's name was included on the Abbey's list 12/9/2013 and the St. Cloud Abbey's list 1/3/2014. On the Raleigh diocese's list in 10/2018, which notes a report in 1992 of abuse in 1985 in the Raleigh diocese.

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Fr. Edgar Sepulveda

Ordained: 1989
Status: Indicted

Diocese: Diocese of Raleigh NC

From Colombia. Removed in 9/2009 after allegations that he sexually abuse a 16-year-old boy in 5/2009 in Brunswick County, NC. The situation was not made public until Sepulveda was arrested on 1/8/2010 and charged with two counts of sex crimes against a juvenile. He denied the allegations. Sepulveda was a former pastor of Maria Reina Parish in Mt. Olive, Santa Teresa Mission in Beulaville, and Santa Clara Mission in Magnolia. Prosecutors dropped criminal charges as of 7/2012. Included on the Raleigh diocese's list in 10/2018. Noted to be suspended, and that a Vatican trial was in progress. Laicized by 2/7/2020.

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