14 Accused in This Diocese
- Archdiocese of Anchorage List 01.16.20
- KTVA 05.03.11
- Catholic Anchor 05.04.11
- Alaska Dispatch 02.26.13
- News-Miner 02.26.13
- Juneau Enterprise 02.27.13
- Statement by Archiocese of Anchorage 02.27.13
- KTUU 02.27.13
- Archdiocese of Anchorage 04.29.15
- KTUU 10.06.16
- Archdiocese of Anchorage List 01.16.20
- Arizona Republic 02.04.03
- Boston Globe 02.05.03
- Juneau Empire (AP) 02.09.03
- ADN.com 08.05.03
- Arizona Republic 08.14.03
- Anchorage Daily News 02.26.04
- Gallup Independent 08.03.05
- Anchorage Daily News 08.04.06
- KTVA 08.04.06
- Anchorage Daily News 09.27.06
- Gallup Independent 05.28.11
- Boston Archdiocese List 08.25.11
- National Catholic Register 08.25.11
- Gallup Independent 11.11.13
- Diocese of Gallup downloaded 02.28.15
- Anchorage Press 01.19.16
- Archdiocese of Anchorage List 01.16.20
- Associated Press 04.07.03
- Juneau Empire 04.21.03
- Fairbanks Daily News-Miner (AP) 02.05.04
- Grand Forks Herald (AP) 07.02.04
- Duluth News Tribune 01.02.06
- Omaha World-Herald 01.13.06
- Des Moines Register 08.30.07
- Iowa Judicial Branch Decision 09.21.07
- Des Moines Register 09.21.07
- Des Moines Register 09.22.07
- Rebuttal by Michael Nash in Juneau Empire 09.26.07
- Wrangell Sentinel Obituary 08.01.19
- Juneau Empire 08.21.19
- Diocese of Juneau List 08.21.19
- Associated Press 08.22.19
Fr. Francis A. Cowgill
Named among seven clerics by the Juneau diocese in 8/19 as having allegations of sexual misconduct against them involving minors or vulnerable adults. Monsignor. Sexual misconduct with minors 1956-64 alleged. Died 10/16/2000. Included on the Anchorage archdiocese's list 1/16/20, where he was assigned 1966-2000.
Fr. Dominic De Domenico
Reportedly in 2005, De Domenico was accused of a "manipulative" relationship with a girl in Anchorage, with the crossing of sexual boundaries when she was age 15 in the mid-1970s, then kissing and fondling beginning when she was age 16 and continuing into adulthood. De Domenico was in the archdiocese 1976-81. The archdiocese knew in at least 1987. The Dominicans' Sexual Misconduct Committee recommended his return to ministry. In 2005 he was not in public ministry and was living at a Dominican seminary in Oakland, CA. He also worked in the Oakland diocese. Included on the Holy Name Province Dominicans list in 10/21. Noted to be living a live of prayer and penance under supervision with a safety plan.
Fr. Javier R. Gutierrez
From Mexico. Ordained for the Juneau diocese. Accused of several incidents of inappropriate sexual behavior, mostly remarks, involving minors and vulnerable adults 1983-88. Sent to work in Tijuana, Mexico after treatment by the Paracletes in Jemez Springs, NM. Faculties withdrawn in 7/02 by Bishop Warfel. Accused by a woman in a 2009 lawsuit of molesting her when she was in elementary school. Suit dismissed on SOL. Laicized in 2018.
Fr. J. Michael Hornick
First incident of inappropriate behavior with a woman in 1997 resulted in treatment. Resigned in 2009 as pastor of St. Nicholas of Myra Byzantine Catholic Church (part of Van Nuys Eparchy based in Phoenix) after a second woman came forward. A third accusation surfaced in 2011. Two of the women were considered "vulnerable adults". After news released, two other women alleged abuse as children. Hornick 'vehemently' denied allegations. Laicization announced 4/29/15. Archdiocese stated that it was aware of seven women with complaints against Hornick. Included on archdiocese's list 1/16/20, noting "sexual misconduct involving minors and vulnerable adults 1970s-2000s."
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Fr. Patrick M. Hurley
Named among seven clerics by the diocese in 8/19 as having allegations of sexual misconduct against them involving minors or vulnerable adults. Allegedly involved in sexual misconduct with minors 1984-85. Assigned to the diocese 1983 until returning to his order in 1985. Assigned to St. Elizabeth parish in Linden, NJ when arrested in 11/91, charged with buying cocaine. Sent to the midwest for treatment. Returned to ministry.
Fr. Robert Leising
Named publicly as credibly accused by the Anchorage archdiocese on its list 1/16/20. Worked in parishes in Homer, Soldotna, Kenai and Ninilchik. Allegedly viewed child pornography in 2015. Returned to the Oblates in 2016.
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Br. John McMuldren
In 1995 three brothers alleged abuse by McMuldren in 1985 at a camp he ran for the Archdiocese of Anchorage. McMuldren denied the charges. Archbishop Hurley declared him innocent after an investigation. Transferred to Tyler TX Diocese in 1992. Worked on the Diocesan Pastoral Council and as Director of Guidance and Counseling during the 2003-2004 school year for Bishop T. K. Gorman Catholic School. As of 3/08 he was activities director of Holy Cross Village at Notre Dame.
Fr. Francis A. Murphy
"Frank." Excardinated from Boston to Anchorage in 1964. Left Alaska in the mid-1980s for alcoholism treatment. Reports of child sexual abuse involving at least 5 boys and pornography began to surface about the same time. Worked in Boston after treatment. Boston personnel file released in 2003 included 1985 police report. Removed in 1995. Five plaintiffs got $1.4M from Anchorage settlement in 8/06. Retired to Cuba, NM in the Gallup diocese in 1997; not given faculties. Admitted to abusing boys. Included on the Boston archdiocese's list in 8/11. Died in 2012. Included on the Anchorage archdiocese's list 1/16/20, noting sexual misconduct with minors 1966-79.
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Fr. Michael Patrick Nash
In 11/02 a man alleged abuse by Nash at ages 11-15 during 1979-82. Other allegations arose during review board's investigation. Nash denied all allegations. Personnel files revealed late Bishop Kenny expressed "concern" from a family in 1990. Diocese settled for $175,740 in 2004 with the man who came forward in 2002. Laicized 2005. Iowa Supreme Court ruled 9/07 that Nash be allowed to join the Iowa Bar. Admitted to the AK bar in 2008 and returned to AK to practice law in 2011. Married a woman in 2014. Nash died in a plane crash at age 68 on 7/11/19.
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Fr. Edmund Penisten
Named among seven clerics by the diocese in 8/19 as having allegations of sexual misconduct against them involving minors or vulnerable adults. Pastor of St. Gregory's in Sitka when alleged in 11/10 to have viewed child abuse images. Suspended. Law enforcement informed. Sent to treatment. Returned to ministry. Placed on leave in 5/19 after review by the diocese's Independent Commission.
Br. Frederick Raehsler
Joined the Holy Cross Brothers in WI in 1960. Named among seven clerics by the Juneau diocese in 8/19 as having allegations of sexual misconduct against them involving minors or vulnerable adults. Allegedly involved in sexual misconduct with a minor 1988-93. Worked in AK as a Physician Assistant and was involved with a Skagway parish. Returned to his order in 1993. Worked as a Physician's Assistant and/or nurse also in Blanchard, MI; South Bend, IN; and Wilkes Barre, PA.
Fr. Gerard T. Ryan
Named publicly as credibly accused by the Archdiocese of Anchorage on its list 1/16/20. Noted to be from the Congregation of the Holy Spirit, Ireland. Assigned to parishes in the archdiocese 1971-89. Accused of sexual misconduct with minors 1971-72. Died in 2019.
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Fr. Henry Leo Sweeney
Status: Convicted
Diocese: Archdiocese of Anchorage-Juneau AK
Named among seven clerics by the diocese in 8/19 as having allegations of sexual misconduct against them involving minors or vulnerable adults. Convicted of assault with attempt to rape and contributing to the delinquency of a minor in 1952. Served time in federal prison. Returned to active ministry. Died in 1959.
Fr. Robert J. Wells
Accused of abuse of a girl, ages 10-18. She notified the archdiocese in1992, shortly after Wells died. His name not made public until 2004. The woman filed suit 12/05 and her claims were Included in 8/06 settlement with the archdiocese. Included on the archdiocese list of credibly accused 1/16/20. It notes sexual misconduct with a minor 1977-86. Wells died in 1992.