Database of Publicly Accused

Incardinated into the Knoxville diocese in 9/1988. Retired. Removed in 4/2010 when a criminal complaint was filed in NC by a man who said Casey abused him as a child for 5 years, beginning in 1975 while at St. Dominic's in Kingsport; accuser said abuse also occurred during a trip to NC. Casey acknowledged the abuse. Arrested in 4/2010 on NC charges. Pleaded guilty in 7/2010. Sentenced to three years in prison, suspended to 24 months probation. Charged also in VA and TN. Found guilty in 7/2011 in TN. Sentenced 11/2011 to 35-40 years. Appeal denied in 6/2012. Appealed conviction to TN Supreme Court as of 3/27/2014; denied as of 6/23/2014. Laicization announced 2/7/2013. Appealed in 2015 to have DA General's office recused from case; failed 10/30/2015. Petitioned to have conviction set aside; denied in 5/2017. Included on the Nashville diocese's list 11/2/2018. On Knoxville list 3/6/2020.

First named publicly as accused on the Nashville diocese's list 11/2/2018. Incardinated into the Memphis diocese in 1971. Cleary died 11/10/1997. Included on the Knoxville diocese's list as of 3/6/2020; the diocese was established in 1988 from the Diocese of Nashville.

First named publicly as accused on the Nashville diocese's list 11/2/2018. Noted to have been incardinated into the Memphis diocese in 1972. Davis died 10/26/2011. On the Knoxville diocese's list as of 3/6/2020; the diocese was established in 1988 from the Diocese of Nashville.

Per news in 2002, Dickman was accused of abusing at least two students at Father Ryan High School, where he was principal. One man complained in 1991 about his brother's abuse and was told that Dickman had been removed from a prior school in 1987 after an earlier allegation. Dickman left the priesthood in 1991 and moved to FL. He denied all allegations. On diocese's list 11/2/2018.

Accused in a lawsuit filed in 9/06 of the sexual abuse of a male high school freshman, beginning in 1985 and continuing for several years. Suit dismissed by appeals court on SOL in 9/08. Complaints from other parishes as well. May have been as many as 15 victims. Dupree was removed from ministry and is believed to have been living in TX, possibly Texarkana. Laicized 3/31/06.

Extern priest from Colombia. Removed from Franciscan order 1985 for sexual abuse of a boy in Bolivia. Accepted by Dominicans, who were aware of his history. Sued 2004. Accused of abuse of a boy. Also charged in 2004 with sexually abusing a 10-year-old boy in 1999 and continuing until 2002 in St. Louis and Chicago. Believed to have returned to Colombia. Dismissed from Dominicans in 2001. Laicized in 2017. Some reports state he was transferred to St. Louis after abuse in Memphis. Others state that he came from St. Louis. Civil suit settled 2/09 for $2M from diocese and order. Included in the Memphis diocese's report 2/28/20.

The Diocese of Nashville  knew in at least 1959 of Emala's behavior with boys. (The Memphis diocese was created from Nashville in 1970.) In the 1960s parents were told by a diocesan official to keep their boys away from him. Given an ultimatum in 1968 to leave TN on an extended leave of absence or retire and leave TN. Emala went on leave and to Baltimore MD. Memphis told Baltimore that Emala was a priest in good standing and he was assigned in 1972 to a parish. Removed in 1975 from the Baltimore assignment after allegations of child sexual abuse. Requested faculties in the Diocese of Wilmington DE, with recommendation from Memphis Bishop Dozier (who was later credibly accused of child sexual abuse). Request denied. Allowed part-time work in the Diocese of Harrisburg PA in 1978, although faculties had not been granted. Complaints in 1985 of his behavior with boys. Removed. Prior to 1988 Emala presented himself as a priest for 20 years in East Baltimore, despite having no faculties. Involved as a chaplain with many organizations and counseled children, mostly boys. Multiple individuals alleged sexual abuse, including rape, by him in the 1970s-1980s. At least one boy was as young as age 7. At least one settlement. Included on 9/2002 Baltimore list. Died 2/20/2008 in Baltimore. Name included on Harrisburg diocese's list 8/1/2018, noted to have been seen kissing a minor on the lips in the early 1980s. On Knoxville's list as of 3/6/2020. (Knoxville diocese was created from Nashville in 1988.) Included in the 4/5/2023 MD Attorney General's Report.

Assigned to St. Philip's in Franklin in 1/2024 when placed on leave pending the investigation of a report that he had improperly touched a teenage boy. The boy had come forward in 11/2023. Indicted in 2/2024.

Named publicly as credibly accused by the Memphis diocese on its list 2/28/20. Ordained for the Diocese of Natchez, granted dispensation from the clerical state in 10/73 then reinstated for Memphis in 7/78. Suspended from ministry 8/13/85. Laicized in 2006.

Died in 4/02. Named as abuser in a 10/08 civil suit against the Diocese. Accuser alleged that Guthrie abused him in the 1970s when he was a youth. Trial court failed in 4/09 to dismiss based on Diocese's claim of statute of limitations; Diocese appealed. Appeals court dismissed the suit based on SOL in 5/10. TN Supreme Court ruled in 2/12 that the plaintiff's claims were not barred by SOL and discovery could continue in lower court.

Accused by at least 100 people of abuse while assigned to Fr. Ryan High School in TN. Assigned 1964-1965 to Catholic High School in Little Rock, AR. Transferred to KY around 1967 "for treatment." Died 6/7/1979. One man told the diocese in 1996 that he was abused at age 15 in 1961 by Haas. Diocese gave him $5,700 in exchange for a release and a confidentiality agreement. Another came forward in 1999 alleging abuse in 1963. On the Diocese of Little Rock AR list 9/10/2018. On Nashville's list 11/2/2018. In the Memphis diocese's report 2/28/2020, which notes that Haas was dismissed from the priesthood 5/24/1977. Included on the Owensboro diocese's list 4/12/2019. On the Knoxville diocese's list as of 3/6/2020; the diocese was established in 1988 from the Diocese of Nashville.

Documents released in 4/2010 show that in 2002 the Vicar General of the Memphis diocese found credible an allegation that Kantner had abused a teenage boy over several years in the late 1970s. In 2004 the Bishop wrote a letter of recommendation that allowed Kantner to work on a mission trip to Mexico; the Bishop admitted later that he may have put children in harm's way. Kantner denied abuse. He worked in the Allentown diocese 2001 and 2002, 2003 and 2004 and was back in Memphis in 2005. In 2006 a former seminarian complained that Kantner had subjected him to aggressive behavior and sexual advances years prior. The Diocese called  the allegations "inconclusive." Kept in ministry, sent to counseling. Kantner died 2/17/2013. Included in the Diocese's 2020 report of those with credible allegations against them of the sexual abuse of minors.

Removed from ministry 11/21/2001. Indicted by Grand Jury in 4/02 on charges of "unlawful sexual contact" with a teenage boy at a Knoxville health club. Pled innocent in 6/02. Trial set for 3/03. LaPrad himself told the diocese in 11/01 and was placed on leave. He did not deny that the incident took place but alleged that he believed it to be consensual. Trial delayed when accuser was deployed with the National Guard. Per the diocese in 11/18, the case never went to trial. LaPrad died 7/8/14. On diocese's list 3/6/20.

Accused in 1996 of the sexual molestation of an altar boy in Nashville in late the 1950s. Removed by his Order in 1997 and placed in a restricted setting. The Order also facilitated a meeting between the accuser and Lott, who said he was an alcoholic and could not remember any abuse. Died 5/22/2011. Name included on the Nashville diocese's list 11/2/2018. On the Birmingham diocese's list 12/14/2018.

Monsignor Francis Xavier Mankel. Helped found the Knoxville diocese; was its first chancellor and vicar general. Pastor of Sacred Heart Cathedral 1987-97. Accused in a 7/19 lawsuit of repeatedly sexually abusing a Sacred Heart altar boy for two-and-a-half years, beginning in 1991 when the boy was in fourth grade. The boy was allegedly "offered up" to other priests for sex, including admitted abuser Bishop Anthony O'Connell, at least twice. Mankel died in 2017. Mankel's accuser filed a police report in 2018 and met with Bishop Stika, who said there was no credible evidence. The suit also accused a Sacred Heart music teacher, William Michael Lovelace, of attempting inappropriate touch. The diocese settled with Mankel's accuser in 12/19 while still denying the validity of the claim.

Admitted to raping three boys in the early 1980s. Settlement in 1985. Forced out of priesthood in  1989. Went on to work at the Davidson County Juvenile Court. May have abused 20-30 youths. Began to abuse again in the early 1990s. Convicted in 1999 of abuse of a boy, age 12, in 1995. Sentenced to 25 years in prison. Two civil suits were filed claiming abuse in 1995. More suits were filed in 9/2006 and 3/2007. Settlement of $1.1M related to abuse of two. Included on the Nashville diocese's list 11/2/2018. Died in prison 12/30/2018, age 74. On the Knoxville diocese's list as of 3/6/2020.

Sued in 2004. Accused of abuse of twin brothers at Bishop Byrne High School in 1980, prior to priesthood. Removed in 8/04, reinstated in early 2005. Remained active priest until 8/06 when he suddenly resigned from all "pastoral or public ministry" according to a diocesan spokesman. Civil suit settlement announced 8/07. Another man came forward to say he and Mickey "were a couple" when the man was in high school in the 1990s and Mickey was the school's chaplain. The Review Board determined in another case that Mickey engaged in grooming behavior with a boy. Also, Mickey knew of abuse by Rev. Juan Carlos Duran and did nothing.

Accused of sexually abusing boys with Revs. Janssen, Geerts, and Bass during trips to the Davenport IA diocese. Also accused of abusing boys in the Nashville diocese, in places that would later become parts of the Dioceses of Memphis and Knoxville. Worked in the St. Paul-Minneapolis archdiocese at a retreat center. Died 10/11/2016. In 2018 a man stated publicly that he was abused in IA as a child by Murphy and three other priests.  Murphy's name is included on the Nashville diocese's list 11/2/2018. On Knoxville's list as of 3/6/2020.

First named publicly as accused on the Nashville diocese's list 11/2/2018. Dismissed from the diocese in 1965. The list mistakenly stated that Reilly had died. It list was corrected and re-released 11/8/2018. Name included on the Savannah diocese's list 11/8/2018. Noted to have worked there 1964-1965 and to have been laicized in 1965. On the Diocese of Knoxville's list as of 3/6/2020. Included in the 3/24/2023 GA PAC Report (with a wrong ordination year). Allegation from a man in 2002 to the Savannah diocese that Reilly sexually abused him and two other altar boys while assigned to Sacred Heart in Warner Robins, GA in the early 1960s. Reilly allegedly would take the boys out on a lake in a boat, and would give them wine at the church and molest them.

Principal of Knoxville Catholic High School. Confronted by parents of three children in 1984. Per the  Diocese and Richards, they paid the parents a settlement. Sent for treatment. Left the priesthood in 1989. Richards and Edward McKeown abused many of the same boys. Richards confessed to molesting 25 boys. No legal action due to the statute of limitations. Living in FL at last report. In a deposition, he admitted to sexual relationships with two priests. Included on the Nashville diocese's list 11/21/2018, which notes he was "dismissed from the priesthood of the diocese" 3/1/1989. On Knoxville diocese's list as of 3/6/2020.

First named publicly as accused on the diocese's list 11/2/2018. Retired 2/10/1995. Died 2/8/2008. At a meeting in 1994 with his accuser, Bishop Kmiec and the diocesan chancellor, Rudisill admitted that he had molested his accuser when she was 12 years old in the 1950s. The abuse occurred in a closet at a Catholic school gymnasium. Rudisill's name was included in 11/2018 on the Nashville diocese's list, and on the Knoxville diocese's list as of 3/6/2020.

Incardinated into the Memphis diocese in 1971. Diocese's first Catholic Youth Office Director 1971-1973. Retired under pressure from the Diocese in 1986 due to "rumors." Allegations made to the Diocese in 2002 about misconduct dating back to the 1970s. Review board found allegations to be "more likely than not" and placed him on leave in 11/2004. Named in at least six civil suits filed between 2005 and 2008 regarding events that allegedly took place when St. Charles was assigned to Church of the Ascension or Our Lady of Sorrows. At least 17 known accusers. One suit was  dismissed in 3/2009. Three to four settled. Died in 12/2009. On the Nashville diocese's list 11/2/2018. Included in the Memphis diocese's report 2/28/2020. On the Knoxville diocese's list as of 3/6/2020.

First named publicly as accused on the Nashville diocese's list 11/2/2018. Walenga died 11/27/1983. Included on the Nashville diocese's list as of 3/6/2020. (Knoxville was created from Nashville in 1988.)

Monsignor. Parish priest, community volunteer, "very active" with the Boys Scouts. Died in 2001. Sexual abuse of boys by Wiggs was reported to the diocese in 2002, 2013 and 2019. The diocese kept it quiet. In 2023 a 56-year-old man stated publicly that Wiggs became involved with him and other boys when he was age 8, giving them gifts, taking them to racquetball and to a lake to waterski, sometimes overnight. The man said Wiggs would get naked with boys in a hot tub, massage them with baby oil and show them pornographic movies. When he was in seventh grade, he said Wiggs raped him with his finger, so he distanced himself from the priest. He said his brother, who died at age 50 in 2021, was also abused and had a "troubled" life.