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Total Individuals: 46


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Fr. James Dunn

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Ordained: 1964
Status: Sued

Diocese: Diocese of Burlington VT

Named in a 2005 civil suit. Accused of abuse. Dunn was age 76 in 2006. It was believed the suit was still pending in 12/08. The 1966-69 volumes of the Official Catholic Directory (which reflect the years 1966-68), index James Dunn, s.P. (Servants of the Paraclete), and a James J. Dunn in the diocese during the same time period. James, s.P. first appears in the 1965 Directory, in Burlington. Both names disappear from the index after 1969.

Fr. Joseph H. Dussault

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Ordained: 1934
Status: Settled

Diocese: Diocese of Burlington VT

Civil suit against Dussault was revealed in 1/13, with claims of misconduct with an altar boy 1963-1967 while serving in Derby Line, along the Canadian border. Dussault retired in 1978 and died 12/11/87. Suit settled 1/13.

Bishop Louis E. Gelineau

Ordained: 1953
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Burlington VT

Accused in 1997 of taking an 11- or 12-year-old boy at St. Joseph's Orphanage in Burlington VT off by himself and pulling the boy's fly down in 1951. When the boy fled, Gelineau allegedly pursued him and tried to drown him. At the time, Gelineau was a seminarian assigned to the orphanage, scene of much physical and sexual abuse. In a 1997 deposition, Gelineau stated that he remembered the boy at the orphanage. In his deposition, Gelineau also denies having any sexual contact with an altar boy in 1993. Retired in 6/97.

Fr. John A. Lanoue

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Order: SSE
Ordained: 1940
Status: Sued

Died: 06/16/1980
Diocese: Diocese of Burlington VT

Named publicly as accused by the Edmundites on their list 8/7/19. It notes an allegation received in 1996, of abuse in Vermont in 1954. Taught history at St. Michael's College until 1975. Died 6/16/80. Suit filed in 1997, claiming that in 1955 Lanoue abused a boy who attended Holy Family Parish in Essex Junction. The boy's father allegedly confronted Lanoue in the presence of St. Michael's college president. Rev. Francis Moriarity, and Lanoue admitted the abuse.

Fr. Michael K. Madden

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Ordained: 1970
Status: Convicted

Diocese: Diocese of Burlington VT

Faculties revoked in 4/88. Resigned as pastor of St. Paul 's in Barton 7/12/88. Convicted in 1989 for lewd conduct with a boy. Authorities knew of other victims over a 20-year period. Sentenced to probation for five years. Violated probation at least six times. Ended up serving two years in prison. Civil trial 1994; ordered to pay victim $175K. A second suit filed 2003. Died 9/10/00, while vacationing in Austria. On the diocese's list of credibly accused 8/22/19.

Fr. James J. McShane

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Ordained: 1966
Status: Settled

Diocese: Diocese of Burlington VT

Boy Scouts chaplain 1967-93. Diocesan Youth Director and Chaplain at Camp Holy Cross 1976-82. In 1975 or 1976 counselors at Camp Holy Cross found 80 slides of naked boys in McShane's cabin. The camp director and two other men told then-Bishop John Marshall, who basically told them they were in the wrong for having been in the cabin. Placed on leave 2002. Sued. Accused of abuse of several youths, including at least one at the camp. One suit settled for $120,000 in 2004. One pending 2006. On the diocese's list 8/22/19.

Fr. Brian E. Mead

Ordained: 1969
Status: Settled

Diocese: Diocese of Burlington VT

First named publicly as accused in 10/18 by a news outlet. Per church documents, in 2002 the A.G. instructed the Diocese to give information about allegations 1950-2000. The diocese produced 21 names. Mead reportedly could have been charged with multiple counts of lewd and lascivious acts with a child, but the diocese did not act and the statute of limitations expired. In 1996 a man told Bishop Angell Mead sexually abused him for six years, beginning at age 11. Mead was kept in ministry. The man received a settlement with a confidentiality requirement. Mead was placed on leave in 5/02, resigned in 1/03 and his faculties revoked in 12/04. On the diocese's list of credibly accused 8/22/19.

Fr. John Milanese

Ordained: 1974
Status: Reinstated

Diocese: Diocese of Burlington VT

Placed on leave in 5/02 after an allegation that he abused an 8-year-old boy in the mid-1980s. Alleged victim was in jail in 5/02. Milanese denied the accusations and passed a polygraph test. Vermont's AG declined to file criminal charges. Church investigated and returned Milanese to active ministry as of 10/28/02. Retired in 9/19.

Fr. Stephen J. Nichols

Ordained: 1986
Status: Convicted

Diocese: Diocese of Burlington VT

Diocese received complaint in 2005; investigated internally over four months before reporting to police. Attorney General's office investigated. Placed on leave 4/3/06. Charged 9/06 with sexually molesting a male teen. Nichols claimed that the victim was the aggressor in the incident. Pled guilty 5/1/07; sentenced to 30 days jail and two years probation. Resigned as pastor 6/7/07. Laicized 1/23/15.

Fr. Edward O. Paquette, Jr.

Ordained: 1957
Status: Settled

Diocese: Diocese of Burlington VT

Ordained for Fall River; faculties removed 1963. Serial abuser of boys. Sent to treatment in IN, worked in Fort Wayne-South Bend diocese. After 7 years, accepted into Burlington diocese; sent to treatment 1974 and '78; faculties removed 1978; per internal memo diocese could no longer could keep lid on things. Allegations in MA, IN and VT, including of abuse of a hospitalized male teen quadriplegic. First VT suit settled for $965K in 4/06. Named in 3/07 suit. Jury awarded $8.7M to one plaintiff 5/08. One suit settled 7/08. Another tried to mistrial 8/08. Third trial 12/08 awarded $3.6M. Laicization announced 5/09. Fourth trial 10/09 awarded $2.2M. In 5/10, 19 of 26 cases settled. Three on appeal also settled. Living in Westfield MA in Springfield diocese at the time. Four more suits filed 2010. Eleven settled 1/13. On Ft. Wayne-South Bend IN diocese's 9/18/18 list. Suit filed 8/19. On Burlington diocese's list 8/22/19. On Fall River list in 1/21.

Fr. George A. Paulin

Ordained: 1970
Status: Settled

Diocese: Diocese of Burlington VT

Suspended and faculties revoked 5/25/02. Sued. Accused of abuse of a teenage boy in the 1980s. Reported to the diocese in 1987; no action. Resigned as pastor 1/1/03; later found playing organ for two other churches. Settlement in 2003. Another suit filed in 9/04. Diocese admitted in 8/06 that it found 27 years' worth of files on Paulin, which the church had previously said didn't exist. Settlement with second plaintiff in 4/07 for $135K. Another claim settled in 2008. Included on the Springfield MA diocese's list. (From Greenfield, MA.)

Fr. Daniel F. Roberts

Ordained: 1945
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Burlington VT

Named publicly as credibly accused by the diocese on its list 8/22/19. Allegation first received in 2002. In 1/21 a woman told a news outlet that Roberts sexually assaulted her at age 10 in 1949, at St. Anthony's in White River Junction. She told her parents; her father called the police and the head of the parish. Roberts was transferred. He became a girls' school chaplain in Burlington, worked in a number of parishes and schools and as chaplain at a psychiatric facility for children in Brandon, VT. Retired 10/1/80. Died 12/281.

Fr. Forrest W. Rouelle

Ordained: 1956
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Burlington VT

Rouelle's name is mentioned in 8/08 trial against Burlington Diocese and Fr. Edward Paquette. Former Vicar General Searles was questioned about Rouelle and other priests in connection with diocese's concern about sexual misconduct allegations. Rouelle retired in 1/98 and died 3/25/98.

Fr. Ronald A. Soutiere

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Ordained: 1974
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Burlington VT

Named publicly as credibly accused by the diocese on its list 8/22/19. It notes he worked in the diocese 1974-83 and 1999-02. Listed in the 1985 Catholic Directory as a military chaplain. Resigned as pastor of St. Ann's in Milton in 4/02. Placed on leave in 6/02. Faculties revoked 11/2/04.

Fr. John A. Stankiewicz

Order: SSE
Ordained: 1941
Status: Accused

Died: 01/12/2000
Diocese: Diocese of Burlington VT

Accusations "quietly" made public by the Edmundites on a list posted to its website around 9/19. Retired 1989. In 1992 two people reported to the order abuse in the 1950s by Stankiewicz. Allegations substantiated. The order paid for the victims' counseling. Stankiewicz was inducted in 1994 to the order's St. Michael's College Athletic Hall of Fame. Died 1/12/2000.

Fr. Donal D. Ward

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Ordained: 1963
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Burlington VT

Placed on leave 5/02 after being identified as active priest with past accusations of abuse of minor. In 9/02 Attorney General referred to one priest who "groomed" a young man until he was 17 (legal age), then began a sexual relationship with him. On 9/26/02 Ward admitted in statement to a consensual sexual liaison with a young adult male. He resigned from parish but denied grooming, saying instead that the youth had been sexually active for several years before he began the relationship. Resigned and faculties revoked 10/4/02. Died 2/20/18. On the diocese's list of credibly accused 8/22/19.

Fr. Alfred Willis

Ordained: 1976
Status: Settled

Diocese: Diocese of Burlington VT

Complaints from parishioners to Bishop Marshall 1978 that Willis molested their sons. Transferred twice more, accused during both assignments. Placed on leave 1980; sent to Paracletes in NM for treatment. Laicized 1985. Suit filed 2003, claiming abuse in 1970s. One suit settled 2004 for $170K. At least two suits pending 4/06. New suit 3/07. Willis previously settled with this plaintiff. Mistrial declared 6/07. New trial began 11/26/07. Another case settled 2/08 for $170K. Appealed to VT Supreme Court. New trial ordered 10/09. New suit filed Fall 2010. One case settled 1/13. Last believed to be living in VA. Suit filed in 12/18. Settled same month. Suit filed 8/19. On diocese's list 8/22/19.

Fr. Benjamin D. Wysolmerski

Ordained: 1950
Status: Settled

Died: 10/11/1994
Diocese: Diocese of Burlington VT

Accused of abuse of at least two girls in the 1950s and 1970s. At least one claim settled for an undisclosed sum in 1997. A woman alleged he raped her in the 1960s when she was student and again in the 1970s when she was married. One plaintiff said she identified multiple other victims. Resigned 6/15/93. Faculties revoked 6/17/93. Died 10/11/94. Allegations against him mentioned at 8/08 trial against Edward Paquette and diocese. On diocese's list 8/22/19.