Database of Publicly Accused

Parish priest, hospital chaplain, spiritual director and dean of Cardinal Muench minor seminary. By 1970 Amiott no longer carried the title Rev. News of the era shows him as an assistant professor at ND State University and seen as an expert in guidance counseling. He married in 5/1970. At some point he is said to have divorced. He moved to VA where he worked as a clinical psychologist and, in 1985, he became an Episcopalian priest. Per his obituary, Amiott returned to MA, where he was born and raised, in 1996. He died 6/15/2014. Named publicly as accused by the Fargo Diocese on its 1/2/2020 list of those with substantiated allegations against them. Per the list, Amiott was removed from ministry and laicized.

Parish priest, pastor; educator. Named publicly as accused by the Diocese on its list 1/2/2020. Allegations were reported after Becwar's death and substantiated. Died 9/5/1991.

Named publicly as accused by the Diocese on its list 1/2/2020. Allegations substantiated. Per a 1975 St. Francis Xavier in Anamoose ND parish history, Belleau arrived there in 1947, resigned in 1956 due to 'ill health,' and retired to Montreal. He died in 1973.

Transferred to Crosby ND in 1999; Dukart told the parish then of his history of sexual abuse. He had sexually abused three boys decades prior. The parish council met with Bishop Zipfel, who would not remove him and seemed to be saying that Dukart had been in therapy and had been cured. Many parishioners left the parish, returning only after Dukart was removed in 3/2002. Included on the Diocese's list 1/2/2020. Allegations were substantiated. Included in the ND Attorney General's investigation which concluded in 1/2021. There were no criminal charges due to the statute of limitations. Abuse allegedly occurred in the 1970s, involving two children. Dukart was living in 2021 in Dickinson, near a preschool.

Named publicly as accused by the Diocese on its list 1/2/2020. Allegations substantiated. Faculties permanently removed 4/17/2002. Died 4/3/2006.

Suspended in 5/2017 after complaints of 'inappropriate activities' with youth in Wyndmere. Was at the time of his suspension pastor of parishes in Wyndmere and Milnor. Feltman reportedly would hug girls, his hand touching their breasts or buttocks. Law enforcement investigated, no charges brought. Suspended pending the Diocese's investigation. Feltman denied wrongdoing. State's attorney investigated, saying in 8/2017 that Feltman's behavior was inappropriate but not a sex offense, so he would not be charged. Assigned in 2/2018 as chaplain to Sacred Heart Convent in Fargo. In 5/2023 was working as a fill-in priest at Blessed Sacrament in West Fargo and was a housemate of the parish pastor. The diocesan website in 6/2025 shows Feltman as a chaplain, without specifying.

Admitted in 2/2002 to sexual misconduct with children. At the time he was being treated in a hospital for a "serious illness" of an unknown nature and had attempted suicide twice within four days. He named names of families. The bishop suspended his faculties and police investigated. By 5/2002 Fischer had recanted his confession. No victims came forward and the prosecutor said no charges would be filed. May have admitted to and recanted a similar story 10 years prior. Per the Diocese's website in 3/2012 Fischer was a priest in residence at St. Mary's Cathedral. The website in 2/2026 shows Fischer as retired and still in residence at the Cathedral.

A man filed suit in 12/2009 in federal court alleging that Fr. Frank, a priest assigned to St. Joseph Church and School in Mandan ND, abused and raped him on multiple occasions between 1955-1957, when he was an altar boy. Frank died in 2002.

Named publicly as accused by the Diocese on its list 1/2/2020. Removed from ministry. Married in 6/1986 and raised a family. Laicized. Lived in Hilliard OH, where he died in 2010.

Named publicly as the subject of substantiated allegations by the Fargo diocese on its list 1/2/2020. Died 1/26/2005. Per his obituary, Gonnelly was assigned in 1952 to St. Michael's and St. Ann's Indian missions. He was a musician, seminary teacher, and magician, performing for youth at summer camp and missions. Beginning in 1979 Gonnelly was Chief Judge and Marriage Tribunal Director for the Sioux Falls diocese. He was recalled to Blue Cloud Abbey in 1988. For several years prior to his death he lived with the Servants of the Paraclete in Jemez Springs, NM, then with same order in St. Louis.

Parish priest. Held chancery positions, including as a long-time Tribunal official. Named publicly as accused by the Diocese on its list 1/2/2020. Allegations were substantiated and Gustin's faculties were permanently removed 6/18/2002. He died 12/27/2006.

Ordained for the Omaha archdiocese. Became a military chaplain in 1944, serving in Europe and Korea. Returned to IA in 1952. The 1953 Official Catholic Directory shows Hagarty as Absent on Sick Leave. By 1961 he was assigned to the Diocese of Fargo. The 1963-1969 volumes of the Directory also show Hagarty as Absent on Sick Leave, after which he is no longer indexed; news archives show him as in active ministry in late 1962 in Albuquerque NM. Named publicly as accused by the Fargo diocese on its list 1/2/2020. Allegations substantiated. Deceased.

Named publicly as accused by the Diocese on its list 1/2/2020. Died 7/3/1979. Allegations were reported after Haspert's death. Substantiated.

Accused publicly in 6/2019 by a woman of sexually abusing her over a three-month period when she was a teenager in the 1970s, at St. Anthony of Padua parish. She said she told the Diocese in the spring of 2018. Per the Diocese, Herron was retired and working as a hospital chaplain outside the diocese when the allegation was received. He was suspended pending civil and canonical investigations. On 6/18/2020 the Diocese announced that Herron would be banned from public ministry.

Parish priest, pastor, high school teacher. Ecumenical Director for the diocese 1979-1983, Chancellor 1980-1985. Hospital chaplain. Army National Guard chaplain in Washington D.C. 1993-2003. Died 11/21/2004. Named publicly as accused by the Diocese on its list 1/2/2020. Allegations substantiated. Hill's faculties were  permanently removed 1/6/2003.

From Germany. Arrived in the U.S. in 1933 to study for the priesthood. Ordained for the Diocese of Fargo in 1942. Named publicly as accused by the Diocese on its list 1/2/2020. Allegations substantiated. Jene died in 1971.

From Tanzania. Attended the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, OH. Assigned to three Fargo diocese parishes when placed leave in 4/2019 during an investigation of an "interaction" with a minor while assigned to Sts. Anne and Joachim in Fargo. Investigators said an incident occurred when Katanga lived in Towner, in McHenry County, and involved a 6-year-old girl; as of 8/2019 McHenry County prosecution was possible. Two incidents involving the girl allegedly occurred in Fargo, but the Cass County Attorney's Office determined in 8/2019 that there would be no criminal charges there due to lack of evidence and no witnesses. The Diocese was to investigate after the completion of the McHenry County investigation. The state A.G. announced in 11/2019 that there would be no charges, due to insufficient evidence.

Named publicly as accused by the Diocese on its list 1/2/2020. Allegations substantiated. Faculties permanently removed 3/11/2004. Died 11/28/2010.

Named publicly as accused by the Diocese on its list 1/2/2020. Allegations substantiated. Died 3/15/2006.

Named publicly as accused by the Diocese on its list 1/2/2020. Allegations were reported after McGovern's death. Substantiated. Died 7/22/1988.

Ordained for the Diocese of Bismarck. "Fr. Mac." Military chaplain at Ft. Shafter in HI 1974-1977. A man filed a lawsuit in 2011 in HI against McNeely and the Bismarck diocese alleging sexual abuse by McNeely when he was an altar boy. Per the suit, McNeely forced the boy to perform oral sex on him. Settled in 4/2013. McNeely worked at Holy Family Catholic Academy in Honolulu 1987-2001 and then in Las Vegas. He was retired and living in MI in 2012.  A new suit was filed in HI 10/2012. In 2013 a woman claimed he sexually abused her late husband as a child in ND in the 1960s. McNeely's name was included on the Bismarck diocese's list 1/2/2020. Allegations substantiated. He died 7/29/2017.

Named publicly as accused by the Bismarck diocese on its list 1/2/2020. Died 12/16/1997. Added to the La Crosse diocese's list 2/5/2020, where was assigned at some point to St. Rose Convent. Included 2/7/2020 on the Diocese of Wichita's list, where he worked 1948-1951. Added in 6/2020 to the St. Cloud diocese's list, where he was pastor of St. Lawrence in Rush Lake 1966-1985. On the Cincinnati archdiocese's list in 2/2022. Meyer died 12/16/1997.

Assumption Abbey Benedictine in Richardton. Included in the ND Attorney General's investigation which concluded in 1/2021. Muggli allegedly sexually abused a minor, ages 13-17, beginning in 1971. The A.G. found probable cause to prosecute, but prosecution was not possible due to the statute of limitations. The investigation found that the Abbey and Diocese received a report in 1991 of the allegations against Muggli. Per the Abbey, Muggli has since been on a "safety plan," working in the Abbey's business office and not in ministry.

Named publicly as accused by the Diocese on its list 1/2/2020. Allegations substantiated. Faculties permanently removed 2/20/1984, reportedly due to Nelson's defying the bishops by insisting on pre-Vatican ways in terms of liturgy and not following canon law. He died 8/13/1988.

Ordained for Diocese of Bismarck, where he worked 1960-1999. Fill-in for the Archdiocese of St. Paul-Minneapolis near Forest Lake 1999-2004, despite Bismarck's removal of faculties in 2002. First named publicly as accused by the St. Paul- Minneapolis archdiocese on its list 10/23/2014, for abuse in the Bismarck diocese. Living in Forest Lake, MN. Faculties removed in 2005 by St. Paul-Minneapolis. Ordered by the Vatican to a life of prayer and penance. St. Paul-Minneapolis said it was not aware of any substantiated claim in the archdiocese. Included on the Bismarck diocese's list 1/2/2020, which notes faculties permanently removed 4/13/2010. Allegedly abused boys In the late 1960s or early 1970s, along with Rev. Armour Roberts, after giving them alcohol. Owens had brought the three boys, who were high school freshmen, to visit Roberts in Leipzig. Owens died in 10/2020.

From Poland, where he was ordained in 1953. Worked in the Netherlands before moving to the U.S. in 1968. Moved in 1972 from the Diocese of Trenton NJ to the Diocese of Bismarck ND. In 1984 a young man told a priest that he had been sexually molested by Patejko in 1976 in ND. Patejko had been moved in 1981 to the Diocese of Austin TX. In 1994 Fargo quietly settled with the alleged victim. Patejko returned to Poland in 1993 and died in 1996. His accuser said he knew of at least two other victims. Included on the Fargo diocese's list 1/2/2020 of those accused of the sexual abuse of a minor. Allegations substantiated.

Personnel file showed numerous allegations in 1960s and 1970s. Pommier left the Bismarck diocese in 1977 without permission of the bishop. Began working in Seattle at some point until 1985 when his faculties were removed by the archbishop. His Bismarck faculties were removed in 1990. May have later worked in MT. The Diocese announced in 3/2008 that the Vatican had laicized Pommier for "ecclesiastical crimes against youth." Lived in WA until his death 1/28/2012. At least four settlements. Name included on the Seattle archdiocese's list 1/15/2016. On Bismarck's list of those with substantiated allegations 1/2/2020.

Rausch was a Christian Brother (FSC) prior to being ordained for the permanent diaconate in 1993. He was a high school teacher and principal beginning in 1966 in Westchester IL, Stevens Point WI, St. Paul MN, Minneapolis MN, Randolph MN, Winona MN, Fargo ND. In 1985 he was appointed executive assistant to Fargo's Bishop James Sullivan. Named publicly as accused by the Diocese of Fargo on its list 1/2/2020. Allegations substantiated. Removed from ministry.

Parish priest, pastor; teacher; chaplain at the ND Industrial School in Mandan. Named publicly as accused by the Diocese on its list 1/2/2020. Allegations substantiated. Faculties permanently removed 4/16/2002. Died 3/11/2007.

Named publicly as accused by the Diocese on its list 1/2/2020. Allegations substantiated. Roth died in 1992.

Educated overseas. Ordained for the Fargo diocese. Removed in 8/1998 after a complaint of sex abuse. Reportedly admitted to abusing three boys. Fled to the Philippines in 12/1998. Charged in 12/2002 in the U.S. with sexually abusing a boy 1995-1997 and another 1995-1998. Efforts to extradite Sayasaya to the U.S. for prosecution were initially unsuccessful. Laicization announced 12/2005. A Philippine Court of Appeals ordered him extradited to the U.S. in 4/2012. Arrested in Calamba City, Laguna province 11/19/2017; extradited in 12/2017. Pleaded not guilty 2/16/2018. Pleaded guilty to two counts 5/17/2018. Sentenced 10/1/2018 to 20 years in prison and required to register as a sex offender. Given credit for 360 days already spent. Included on the Fargo diocese's 1/2/2020 list of those with substantiated allegations against them. 

Given name Raymond Patrick Schwartz. Entered the order as a brother at St. Benedict's Abbey in Benet Lake WI; moved in 1956 to the novitiate at Blue Cloud Abbey in Marvin SD. Ordained in 1962. Worked on reservations in ND and SD. Parish priest, pastor. Named publicly as accused by the Fargo diocese on its list 1/2/2020. Allegations substantiated. Died in 2003.

Named publicly as accused by the Bismarck diocese on its list 1/2/2020. Allegations were substantiated and Simon's faculties were permanently removed 6/18/1985. Included on the Diocese of Crookston's list, where he worked 1977-1978. A news article in 1989 places Simon in San Luis Obispo, CA. He died 10/31/1991 in CA.

Named publicly as accused by the Diocese on its list 1/2/2020. Allegations substantiated. Removed from ministry in 1998. Died 1/28/2004.

Named publicly as accused by the Bismarck diocese on its list 1/2/2020. Allegations were made after his death. Substantiated. Died 3/16/1998. Added to the La Crosse diocese's list 2/5/2020, where he was assigned at some point to St. Francis Hospital. Added to the Kansas City-St Joseph diocese's list as of 4/2021, which notes one substantiated allegation. Included on the Cincinnati archdiocese's list in 2/2022.

Parish priest, pastor; Director of the Catholic Boys Camp at Lake Metigoshe 1949-1959 and of Camp Dominic Savio at Riverdale 1960-1983; Director of Emmaus Place Retirement Home for Priests from 1985. Talty died 8/22/1989. He was named publicly as accused by the Bismarck diocese on its list 1/2/2020. Allegation(s) substantiated.

Late vocation. Vasques had been a widower for 17 years when he was ordained in 1983. From San Francisco CA. Named publicly as accused by the Diocese on its list 1/2/2020. Removed from ministry. Allegations substantiated. Died in 1989.

Named publicly as accused by the Diocese on its list 1/2/2020. Allegations substantiated. Died in 1991.

Removed from ministry in 1992. A man filed a civil lawsuit the same year which alleged that Wild fondled him as a child in the rectory at St. Bernard's Church in Oriska in 1966. Two more men had filed suits by 11/1994. All three suits settled in 12/1994. Both the 1993 and 2002 Catholic Directories refer to Wild as "retired." Died 10/26/2008. Included on the Diocese's list 1/2/2020. Allegations substantiated.

Assigned in OH, IN, MI, NE, WI, ND. Died in OH 3/26/1988. Named publicly as accused by the Bismarck diocese on its list 1/2/2020. Allegations were made after his death. Substantiated.

Parish priest, pastor; teacher. Removed in 3/2002 from ministry because of 'misconduct' involving two children 31 years prior. Zastoupil had received years of counseling and reconciled with the families and victims. The counseling discontinued when the bishop determined it was no longer necessary. No criminal charges were filed. Died 7/2/2018. Included on the Diocese's list 1/2/2020.