Database of Publicly Accused

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Total Individuals: 39

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Fr. Edward B. Carley

Ordained: 1948
Status: Settled

Died: 01/25/1998
Diocese: Diocese of Wilmington DE and MD

Accused of abuse of boys in the 1950s-1980s. A parent complained in 1957; nothing done. Another complained in 1995. Suit filed in 1997; dismissed due to the statute of limitations. Name publicly released when one man settled for $65K in 2005. Retired in 1993; died in 1998. Name on list of abusive priests released by the Diocese 11/16/2006. More suits filed in 12/2006 and 7/2008. A 2006 suit settled in 4/2009 for $1.5M. The plaintiff died day after signing the settlement agreement. At least three other settlements in 2010 and 2011. Personnel files released in 2/2012.

Fr. Eugene F. Clarahan

Ordained: 1952
Status: Sued

Died: 05/26/1999
Diocese: Diocese of Wilmington DE and MD

Name released by Bishop Saltarelli on 1a 1/16/2006 list of abusive priests. At that time, a woman said she reported to his associate pastor in 1967 that Clarahan had abused a male friend of hers on a school trip. He did nothing and told her no one would believe her. Clarahan transferred to another parish in 1978 and then to MD in 1983. Removed from ministry in 1993. Died in 5/1999. Three separate suits filed in 10/2008 alleged abuse in the 1950s and 1960s. Two brothers filed suit in 12/2008. Personnel file released in 2/2012.

Fr. Paul Daleo

Order: OFM Cap
Ordained: 1977
Status: Settled

Diocese: Diocese of Wilmington DE and MD

Accused of molesting two youths. Confronted with allegations in 1993 and sent for treatment. Reassigned to an office job. Left the Order in 2003. One confidential settlement for $100K in 1995; another in 1996. Two new civil suits were filed in 2008 and two other accusers known. Living in Jersey City in 11/2008 and performing baptisms, funeral rites and weddings. Another civil suit was filed in 3/2009. Nine accusers settled in 11/2011 as part of a $7M total settlement. Reportedly in one case, Daleo abused a 4th grade boy in the 1970s, continuing for 4 years.

Fr. Francis G. DeLuca

Ordained: 1958
Status: Convicted

Diocese: Diocese of Wilmington DE and MD

Barred from ministry, sent for counseling and retired after multiple allegations in 1993 of abuse in the 1960s. Criminally charged in 10/2006 with abuse of a 12-13 year old youth in Syracuse, NY around 2000. Name on list released by the Diocese in 11/2006. Pleaded guilty 6/28/2007. Sentenced to 60 days in jail and 6 years probation in 9/2007. One suit settled in 2/2008. Multiple suits filed in 2008-2009. Laicized in 8/2008. Diocese filed bankruptcy 10/2009. Judge found for plaintiff in a civil trial in 11/2010. Damages awarded 12/2/2010. Personnel file released in 2/2012. Accused in a suit in 8/2019 of abusing a boy, age 10 or 11, in 1955 at Camp Tekakwitha in Lake Luzerne NY.

Fr. Douglas W. Dempster

Ordained: 1962
Status: Settled

Diocese: Diocese of Wilmington DE and MD

In late 1960s, Dempster was given the responsibility of investigating allegations against his close friend, Rev. Frank DeLuca. He told the complaining family to never speak of the matter again; the family thus thought the church was taking care of the matter. Name on list of abusive priests released by Bishop Saltarelli 11/16/2006. Dempster was removed from ministry in 1993. Claim settled. Suit filed against him personally. Last known to be living in MD. Personnel file released in 2/2012. Mentioned in the 4/5/2023 MD Attorney General's Report.

Br. Robert Drelich

Order: OSFS
Status: Settled

Diocese: Diocese of Wilmington DE and MD

The Oblates of St. Francis de Sales in DE and PA announced a settlement on 8/4/2011 with 40 victims of sexual abuse who filed suits in DE. Plaintiffs to share in $24.8M settlement as well as 150 victims who settled earlier with the Wilmington diocese. One of the terms was that the Order release names of 12 Oblates with substantiated allegations of abuse. Drelich is one of the 12. Removed from ministry in 2010. Living in 2011 in a monitored location in MD.

Fr. Edward F. Dudzinski, Jr.

Ordained: 1978
Status: Settled

Diocese: Diocese of Wilmington DE and MD

The Diocese knew prior to ordination about Dudzinski's behavior with boys. Accused in 1985 of abusing a boy; placed on leave. The boy sued in 1989; settled with the Diocese. Dudzinski was sent for treatment. Put on probation by the VA Board of Counseling 10/10/2002 for boundary violations with two boys he was counseling. Ordered 5/16/2003 to surrender his counseling license after the Board learned of the 1989 suit. Named in a 11/2008 civil suit by the family of a youth who died by suicide in 1987. Laicized. Another suit filed in 5/2009.

Fr. Gerald M. Dunne

Order: OSFS
Ordained: 1977
Status: Sued

Diocese: Diocese of Wilmington DE and MD

Placed on leave by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia after a lawsuit was filed in 6/2009 in Delaware alleging abuse of a youth approximately 30 years prior at Salesianum High School in Wilmington. Dunne had passed both the Archdiocesan and Order's screening procedures. He denied the allegation.

Fr. Richard N. Grant

Order: OSFS
Ordained: 1968
Status: Settled

Died: 02/4/1993
Diocese: Diocese of Wilmington DE and MD

Accused in a suit filed in 4/2009 of repeated sexual abuse of a high school boy in 1982-1984, starting when the boy was 16. The principal of the school, James W. O'Neill (accused by another student), apparently knew about the abuse. Grant reportedly became a parish priest in FL in 1992 and died of AIDS in 1993. Name released as part of the Oblates' $24.8M settlement with 40 individuals in 8/2011. Assigned at one time to Salesianum School.

Fr. Peter P. Harney

Ordained: 1953
Status: Sued

Died: 04/16/2000
Diocese: Diocese of Wilmington DE and MD

From Ireland. Graduated from St. Mary's Seminary in Baltimore. Spent his entire career in MD and DE. Retired in 12/1974. Died 04/16/2000. Apparently was named in a civil suit filed in DE in 2009; his personnel file was to be released in 11/2009 by the Wilmington diocese as part of the diocese's bankruptcy filing. File released in 2/2012.

Fr. John X. Harvey

Order: OSFS
Ordained: 1957
Status: Settled

Died: 09/29/1971
Diocese: Diocese of Wilmington DE and MD

The Oblates of St. Francis de Sales in DE and PA announced a settlement on 8/4/2011 with 40 victims of sexual abuse who filed suits in DE. The plaintiffs were to share in the $24.8M settlement as well as 150 victims who settled earlier with the Wilmington diocese. One of the terms was that the Order release names of 12 Oblates with substantiated allegations of abuse. Harvey was one of the 12. He died in 1971. of Assignments included Salesianum School.

Fr. John F. Heckel

Order: OSFS
Ordained: 1944
Status: Settled

Died: 06/21/2002
Diocese: Diocese of Wilmington DE and MD

Assigned to St. Anthony of Padua in Wilmington 1960-1961. Accused of abuse by one person at Salesianum High School in 1969 in a suit filed 6/15/2009. Died 6/21/2002. The Order in DE and PA announced a settlement in 8/4/2011 with 40 victims of who filed suits in DE. The plaintiffs were to share in the $24.8M settlement along with 150 victims who settled earlier with Wilmington Diocese. One of the terms was that the Order release names of 12 Oblates with substantiated allegations of abuse. Heckel (spelled Heckle) was on the list.

Fr. Harold F. Hermley

Order: OSFS
Ordained: 1957
Status: Settled

Died: 02/10/1983
Diocese: Diocese of Wilmington DE and MD

Taught at Bishop Ireton High School in Alexandria, VA 1964-1967; removed after possible allegations. Transferred to Philadelphia in 1972. Accused in a 4/2009 civil suit of abusing a boy 1970-1973, while the boy was a student at Salesianum School and during overnight visits to NJ and Philadelphia. The Order in DE and PA announced a $24.8M settlement 8/4/2011 with 40 victims who filed suits in DE. One of the terms was the release of the names of 12 Oblates with substantiated allegations of abuse. Hermley was on the list. He died in 1983.

Fr. William E. Irwin

Ordained: 1964
Status: Accused

Died: 11/21/2005
Diocese: Diocese of Wilmington DE and MD

In 4/2002 an anonymous caller accused Irwin of child abuse years prior. Irwin reported the call to diocesan officials; he was removed from active ministry. He was semi-retired at the time the allegations were made. Police said the was not enough information to justify an official investigation. Per a 1/2003 article, Irwin had officially resigned from his position and could no longer function as a priest. Worked in MD 1976-1986 before returning to Wilmington. Died in 2005. Records released in 2/2012.

Fr. Dennis Killion

Order: OSFS
Ordained: 1980
Status: Settled

Diocese: Diocese of Wilmington DE and MD

Removed in 8/2008 when civil suit(s) alleged abuse of four boys at Salesianum High in Wilmington in the mid-1980s. Two reported abuse at the time; Order did nothing. Worked in MD and in Ft. Meyers FL at Bishop Verot High 2006-2008. Had just been assigned to St. Bedethe Venerable in Holland PA when allegations were made. More suits were filed in 9/2008-4/2010. All claims with the Diocese settled in 2/2011. Two men settled with the Oblates in 2/2011 for $700K each. Name released as part of the Order's 8/2011 $24.8M settlement with 40 individuals.

Fr. Alfred John Lind, Jr.

Ordained: 1960
Status: Settled

Died: 02/10/1997
Diocese: Diocese of Wilmington DE and MD

"Jack." Accused of abuse of two boys in their early teens between 1963-1965. The first boy Lind allegedly abused was at St. Catherine of Siena. The second boy was allegedly abused after Lind was transferred in 1965. Removed from active ministry in 1966. Died in 1997. One man received a $68K settlement in 2004. The Diocese was negotiating with the second man in 2005. Named on the Diocese's 1/2006 list of abusive priests. Named in a civil suit by a man in 1/2009. Personnel files released in 2/2012 show Lind to have been sexually compulsive with boys and men, and that other priests and superiors in the diocese were aware.

Fr. Leonard J. Mackiewicz

Ordained: 1957
Status: Sued

Died: 03/7/1994
Diocese: Diocese of Wilmington DE and MD

Removed from minstry in 1987. Died in 3/1994. Accused in a civil suit filed in 10/1994 of sexually abusing a youth in 1987. Name included on a list of credibly accused priests released by Bishop Saltarelli on 11/16/2006. A woman filed a civil suit in 8/2008 alleging abuse in 1966 when she was 13. The suit also alleges that there were nine other victims, including two minor males. A man filed a separate suit in 8/2008, claiming abuse in 1970. Two suits were filed in 9/2008. Personnel files released in 2/2012.

Fr. Kenneth J. Martin

Ordained: 1989
Status: Guilty plea

Diocese: Diocese of Wilmington DE and MD

Worked in MD, DE, CA, WDC. Arrested in 2001 on charges of sexually abusing a boy while a teacher at Loyola Blakefield High School in Towson, MD, beginning in 1977 when the boy was 16. The abuse went on for over two-and-a-half years. Martin worked at the school 1970-1986, prior to ordination. Pleaded guilty. Sentenced under a plea agreement to "probation before judgment" for five years, and not required to register as a sex offender. On list of accused priests released by Wilmington Bishop Saltarelli 11/16/2006. Also on list released by Baltimore Archdiocese in 9/2002. "Formally barred" by Vatican in 9/2008. Worked for entity owned by the Chicago Archdiocese for several years after sentence. Wilmington gave cash payments until 11/2009. Blocked release of personnel files in 12/2012. Pension reinstated by court in 12/2012. Another former Loyola Blakefied student reported in 2018 that Martin groomed him as a student in the early 1970s. Included in the 4/5/2023 MD Attorney General's Report.

Fr. John M. McDevitt

Order: OSFS
Ordained: 1966
Status: Settled

Died: 10/3/1999
Diocese: Diocese of Wilmington DE and MD

"Jack." Accused in a 4/2009 civil suit of abusing a student at Salesianum School in Wilmington during the student's junior year 1985-1986. The plaintiff also alleged abuse by Dennis Killion. Worked in DE, PA and NJ. Died in 10/1999. In 6/2009, a nephew of Cardinal John J. O'Connor of NY filed suit in DE alleging abuse by McDevitt in Philadelphia in the early 1990s. This was after the Order had already removed McDevitt from a school. Name released as part of the Order's 8/2011 $24.8M settlement with 40 individuals. Name included on the Harrisburg diocese's 8/1/2018 list, accused after his death of having kissed a child. Included in the PA Grand Jury Report 8/13/2018.

Fr. Harold V. McGovern

Order: OSFS
Ordained: 1970
Status: Settled

Diocese: Diocese of Wilmington DE and MD

Oblates of St. Francis de Sales in De and PA announced settlement 8/4/2011 with 40 victims who filed suits in DE. Plaintiffs to share in $24.8M settlement as will 150 who settled earlier with the Wilmington diocese. One of the terms was that Order release names of 12 Oblates with substantiated allegations of abuse. McGovern is one of the 12. Assigned in MD, WDC, DE, PA, NC. Was pastor and sole priest at Holy Cross church in Kennersville in the Charlotte NC diocese 1980-1986. Not indexed in the Directory in the year before and the year after this assignment.  Assigned to a training program in 1988 in Mexico and Uraguay; two years prior and after the training program are shown as unassigned. Involved with missions in Ecuador in 2006. Removed from ministry in 2008. In 2011 was living at DeSales House in Wilmington DE. On Charlotte diocese's list 12/29/2019. Added to the Raleigh diocese's list in 3/2021.

Fr. Joseph A. McGovern

Ordained: 1979
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Wilmington DE and MD

Removed from ministry in 1986. Sent to Philadelphia to study. Began saying mass without permission and was asked to leave. Included in the 2005 Philadelphia Grand Jury Report. Name also included on the list of credibly accused released by Bishop Saltarelli 11/16/2006. Last known to be living in Philadelphia. Wilmington continued to pay his pension and health benefits. Personnel file released in 2/2012.

Fr. Timothy F. Mullen

Order: OPraem
Ordained: 1973
Status: Sued

Died: 01/29/2004
Diocese: Diocese of Wilmington DE and MD

Taught at Bishop Neumann Academy for 11 years, transferring in 1981 to Archmere Academy, where he became Headmaster in 2003. Died 1/29/2004. Accused in a 2007 lawsuit of being a "sexual predator" whom the Norbertines "chose to move ... around over the years rather than defrock [him], report [him] to the civil authorities or warn the general public." Court papers in DE bankruptcy said he participated in the gang rape of a youth who later died by suicide.

Fr. Francis L. Norris

Order: OSFS
Ordained: 1956
Status: Settled

Died: 03/24/1985
Diocese: Diocese of Wilmington DE and MD

A lawsuit filed 11/30/2007 claimed Norris attempted to rape a boy attending Salesianum School 1962. The suit alleged that the School, Order and Diocese had prior knowledge of abuse by Norris. He died in 1985. In 4/2009 three more plaintiffs filed suit claiming abuse at Salesianum. The case against the Diocese settled 10/30/2009. A jury found the Order liable in 11/2009 but awarded no damages. New trial ordered 2/22/2011. Name released as part of the Order's  $24.8M settlement with 40 individuals in 8/2011 .

Fr. John Francis O’Brien

Order: CFC
Ordained: 1962
Status: Sued

Died: 01/7/2003
Diocese: Diocese of Wilmington DE and MD

Parish priest and pastor, diocesan CYO director, Young Catholic Adults director, dean, coordinator of deaneries, Priests' Council secretary, diocesan Pastoral Council member. Died in 1/2003. Accused in a 6/2009 civil suit of abusing one anonymous plaintiff in the early 1960s. The Diocese said there had been no previous complaints. Personnel file was to be released in 11/2009. New lawsuit filed in 6/2010 alleges abuse in the 1960s.

Fr. James W. O’Neill

Order: OSFS
Ordained: 1967
Status: Settled

Diocese: Diocese of Wilmington DE and MD

Removed from ministry in 2003. Accused in a 2004 DE lawsuit of abuse of a youth 1976-1985. Moved to Philadelphia in 1985 after complaint. Working in Charlotte, NC when the suit was filed. In 12/2006, a court ruled that the suit could go forward but not on the original claim from 1985. O'Neill did not appear for a deposition because he was working in South Africa. He admitted the abuse. The Order settled in 3/2008. The Diocese settled in 5/2008. O'Neill's name was released as part of the Order's 8/2011 $24.8M settlement with 40 individuals. Was living in a monitored setting. Included on the Charlotte diocese's list 12/29/2019.

Fr. Henry A. Paul

Order: OSFS
Ordained: 1941
Status: Settled

Died: 02/17/1982
Diocese: Diocese of Wilmington DE and MD

The Order in DE and PA announced a settlement on 8/4/2011 with 40 victims of sexual abuse who filed suits in DE. Plaintiffs to share in a $24.8M settlement and 150 victims who settled earlier with the Wilmington Diocese. One of terms was that Order release the names of 12 Oblates with substantiated allegations of abuse. Paul was one. Assignments included Salesianum School in DE;  also worked in Dioceses of Erie, Allentown, Buffalo, and the Archdioceses of Philadelphia and New York. Named in the 8/14/2018 PA Grand Jury Report. Report in 4/1979 to the Allentown Diocese that Paul was molesting little girls at Sacred Heart in New Philadelphia. Another allegation was made a few months later, that Paul molested a young girl. Left the diocese, assigned to St. Joachim in Philadelphia. Died in 1982.

Fr. William J. Porter

Ordained: 1975
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Wilmington DE and MD

Parish priest, pastor, high school teacher and principal. The Diocese announced on 7/25/2019 that Porter was removed from ministry and his faculties suspended due to an allegation it received on 3/1/2019 of sexual misconduct with a teenager 38 years prior. Per the diocese, the state police closed its investigation 7/19/2019 due to the statute of limitations. The abuse allegedly occurred at Our Lady of Fatima in New Castle. Wilmington police were continuing to investigate similar allegations.

Fr. Walter D. Power

Ordained: 1952
Status: Sued

Died: 11/16/1998
Diocese: Diocese of Wilmington DE and MD

Name first released on list of credibly accused by Bishop Saltarelli 11/16/2006. Retired in 1983; died in 1998. Named in a civil suit filed in 9/2008 in DE by a man who alleged abuse as a boy at Saint Helena Church in Wilmington in the 1950s. The suit says diocesan officials knew of Power's history and transferred him to MD in about 1957. Also named in a 9/2008 suit in DE by a man who alleged abuse in MD 1952-1954. A new suit filed in 6/2010 claimed abuse in the 1970s. Personnel files released in 2/2012.

Fr. James Edward Richardson

Ordained: 1965
Status: Reinstated

Died: 02/14/2014
Diocese: Diocese of Wilmington DE and MD

Placed on leave in 6/2009 after an allegation by an anonymous plaintiff in a newly filed civil suit. The plaintiff said he was abused by Richardson on two occasions in the 1960s. Richardson denied all allegations. Had worked since 1982 as a drug and alcohol counselor. In 1989 he was assigned to the Center for Pastoral Care. Part-time chaplain of St. Edmond's Academy. Faculties restored by the Diocese 11/19/2009 after its investigation could not find credible evidence. Died 2/14/2014.

Fr. Francis J. Rogers

Ordained: 1981
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Wilmington DE and MD

Accused in 1981 of abuse of a minor; kept in ministry, sent to counseling. Removed from ministry in 2003. Name included on list of accused priests released by Bishop Saltarelli 11/16/2006. Was fighting release of personnel file in 2/2012.

Fr. John A. Sarro

Ordained: 1979
Status: Charged

Died: 07/23/2018
Diocese: Diocese of Wilmington DE and MD

Credible allegation of abuse, stemming from the early 1980s while working in Papua New Guinea. Diocese said it learned of this in 1997; removed from ministry 1998. Name first released by Bishop Saltarelli 11/16/2006 on list of abusive priests. Living in a monitored religious community in Maryland. As of 11/2009 the Diocese was paying his pension and health benefits and $4,000/mo for assisted living expenses. Personnel file released in 2/2012. The bishop said the Diocese applied for laicization in 2009, but the Vatican did not approve. Sarro was criminally charged in 1/2018 with fondling and raping a girl under age 16 in the early 1990s, when he was pastor of St. Helena in Bellefonte. Sarro stated it "happened by accident." Pleaded not guilty 2/9/2018. Died 7/23/2018, six months before scheduled trial.

Fr. Patrick J. Shannon

Order: OSFS
Ordained: 1972
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Wilmington DE and MD

Accused in 11/2005 of sexual abuse in 1973 in the Wilmington diocese. Shannon's alleged victim said that the abuse occurred when he was age 16 and a camp counselor in training in MD. The Order found the allegation credible. Shannon was placed on leave and reportedly sent to the Oblates' retirement community in Childs, MD. HIs name was included on the Harrisburg diocese's 8/1/2018 list. Included in the PA Grand Jury Report 8/14/2019.

Fr. Carmen D. Vignola

Ordained: 1972
Status: Sued

Died: 03/14/1989
Diocese: Diocese of Wilmington DE and MD

Named publicly as credibly accused by the Diocese on its list 11/16/2006. Died in 1989. A civil suit filed in 10/2008 alleged abuse of a 14-year-old boy, beginning in the 1980s. Personnel records released 2/16/2012 as part of bankruptcy process.

Fr. Harry Dean Walker

Ordained: 1961
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Wilmington DE and MD

Accused for the first time in 2010 in a claim filed in Bankruptcy Court. A man alleged abuse by Walker when he was a 15-year-old parishioner of St. Francis de Sales parish in Salisbury MD in the 1960s. Per victim advocates, other accusers known. Walker left the Catholic priesthood in 1972. He went on to work as a youth minister beginning 1972-73 at a Wilmington Presbyterian church, then hired as Director of the Youth Action Center in Newark and youth pastor at Faith City. Prominent leader in Wilmington's Irish-American community. Continued to be often called "Rev." and/or referred to as "former Roman Catholic priest." Fighting release of personnel files in 2/2012. A list in 2/2012 of accused priests shows he was laicized.

Fr. Charles W. Wiggins

Ordained: 1985
Status: Sued

Diocese: Diocese of Wilmington DE and MD

Removed from ministry in 2003; living in Norwood, PA. Name included on list of credibly accused priests released by Bishop Saltarelli on 11/16/2006. A civil suit filed by a woman in 6/2009 alleged abuse in 1986 at St. Mark's High School. Suit dismissed in 5/2010 by court for failure to timely serve Wiggins. The Diocese was providing cash payments to Wiggins until 11/2009; wanted to continue health benefits pending resolution of Bankruptcy. Won argument to block release of personnel file.