Fr. Joseph S. Heretick
A female plaintiff in a civil suit filed by 10 accusers in 2/2012 alleged sexual abuse by Heretick in the mid-1980s when he was assigned to St. Michael’s in Absarokee, MT and she was a minor. Also, a man claimed abuse beginning when he was age 8 by Heretick and a Fr. Cawley 1974-1980. Heretick was sent to treatment in the 1980s. The bishop is alleged to have ignored a recommendation that he not be placed back in ministry. Heretick died 1/16/1999. In 4/2018 the Diocese agreed to a $20M settlement of 86 claims of child sexual abuse occurring during the 1940s-1990s, including those against Heretick. The Diocese filed for bankruptcy in 3/2017, just before jury trials were to begin. Heretick’s name was included 8/21/2018 on the Diocese’s list of accused.
- Eastern Montana Catholic Register 06.08.47
- Eastern Montana Catholic Register 08.13.54
- Great Falls Tribune Obituary 01.17.99
- Market Watch 02.08.12
- KRTV 02.08.12
- Great Falls Tribune 02.08.12
- Great Falls Tribune 02.09.12
- Great Falls Tribune 02.12.18
- Associated Press 02.13.18
- Findagrave accessed 02.19.18
- KTVQ 04.27.18
- Great Falls Tribune 04.27.18
- Tamaki Law Offices 04.27.18
- Diocese of Great Falls-Billings List 08.21.19
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