Diocese of Puno, Peru – BishopAccountability.org

Search results for Diocese of Puno, Peru

2 Accused in this Diocese

Fr. Patrick Henry

Ordained: 1981
Status: Accused

Henry was placed on leave in 6/2007 after a complaint that he sexually abused a boy, age 14-15, at Boys Town in 1972, prior to ordination. Henry worked at Boys Town in the late 1960s-into the 1970s. The archdiocesan review board deemed the allegation credible. The case was forwarded to the Vatican. Henry also worked in the Omaha Diocese 1981-1984, in Bolivia 1984-1989, again in Omaha 1990-1992, and then in Peru, where he worked with Aymara Indians near Lake Titicaca. He transferred to the Diocese of Cleveland in 1994, where he was incardinated in 1997. Included on the Omaha archdiocese's list 11/30/1018. It notes a report to Cleveland in 2008 of abuse 1970s-1980s. Laicized, per the Cleveland diocese's list in 6/2019. Per the NE A.G.'s report in 11/2021, there are six known victims, all boys, ages 12-16.

Assignments:

BA.org Assignment Record

Sources:

P. Jozef Van Den Ouweland

Status: Accused

Died: 3/21/2025
Diocese: Diocese of Puno, Peru

"Padre Jef." From Belgium. According to some reports, Van Den Ouweland arrived in South America in 1984 and in Ichuña in 1990. He was head of a school in Ichuña, Moquegua in May 2010 when media outlets in Belgium reported that he had allegedly raped at least three children in the 1990s in Belgium. The Belgian newspaper De Morgen reported that in 2005, a lay-led commission set up by the Belgian church to investigate abuse allegations had written to Puno bishop Jorge Carrión to warn him that Van Den Ouweland was believed to be a child rapist. The lay commissioners were seeking Carrión's "guarantee" that the bishop was protecting the children in Padre Jef's school. The Belgian commission reportedly received no response. Van Den Ouweland remained active in the Puno diocese until May 2010, when his alleged crimes were revealed in Belgium. De Morgen further reported that the diocese of Antwerp, Belgium had paid one of Van Den Ouweland's alleged victims €106,000 in exchange for his silence. (The Bishop of Antwerp later told the victim, in regards to the payment, "I hope you know how to be grateful.")

On May 17, 2010, in the wake of Belgian media coverage, Van Den Ouweland left Peru for Belgium, likely summoned by the Antwerp bishop.

Van Den Ouweland died March 21, 2025. According to his obituary published in Peru, "His legacy extends beyond the religious sphere; he was a true driving force for development and education.... . Thanks to his efforts, hundreds of young people gained access to opportunities.... . " There was no mention of the allegations or outcome of the case. Van Den Ouweland had apparently returned at some point to Peru, where his funeral and burial took place.

Sources:

Dossier pedopriester heropend, De Morgen (Belgium), 05.11.2010
Bij de heilige pedofilius2, De Morgen (Belgium), 05.08.2010
Sacerdote belga acusado de violaciones en su país ejerce en Perú, La Tercera, 05.15.2010
Cura belga acusado de pedofilia abandonó el Perú, Educacionenred.pe, 05.18.2010
Le prêtre belge soupçonné de pédophilie a quitté le Pérou, RTBF, 05.18.2010
Un Mundo Con Curas Pero Sin Periodistas, La Republica, 05.19.2010
In memoriade quien en vida fue: Josef Eugeen Van Den Ouweland, Facebook, 02.21.2025
Moquegua en luto por muerte del padre Jef, Diario Viral, 03.21.2025

Our Database of Publicly Accused does not state or imply that individuals facing allegations are guilty of a crime or liable for civil claims. The reports contained in the database are merely allegations. The U.S. legal system presumes that a person accused of or charged with a crime is innocent until proven guilty. Similarly, individuals who may be defendants in civil actions are presumed not to be liable for such claims unless a plaintiff proves otherwise. Admissions of guilt or liability are not typically a part of civil or private settlements. For more information, see our posting policy.