Archdiocese of Mobile AL

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Terry McKiernan February 26, 2021

24 Accused in This Diocese

Br. Nicholas Paul Bendillo

Order: SC
Status: Convicted

Diocese: Archdiocese of Mobile AL

Known as "Br. Vic." Taught at McGill-Toolen High School in Mobile 1959-1998. Complaint received in 1998. Placed on leave. Received treatment. Arrested 4/03. Convicted. Sentenced in 2004 to 5 years prison. Multiple plaintiffs with allegations going back to 1963. Civil suit filed 2003 by two men. Settled in 2004. Two more suits filed 5/04. Released from prison hospital 7/04/07 at age 78. Sent to Missouri for treatment. On AL and MO sex offender registries. On Mobile archdiocese's list 12/6/18. Noted to be deceased. On Jackson diocese's list 3/19/19.

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Fr. Laurence A. Boucher

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Order: SSE
Ordained: 1943
Status: Accused

Died: 05/27/1972
Diocese: Archdiocese of Mobile AL

Named publicly by the Edmundites on their list 8/7/19. Report in 2015 of abuse in FL in the 1960s. The Directories show him in the 1960s at a parish in Apalachacola, FL in what was then the diocese of Mobile-Birmingham. Died 5/27/72.

Assignments:

Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee List 04.15.21

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Br. Joseph Brown

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Status: Accused

Diocese: Archdiocese of Mobile AL

Named publicly as accused by the archdiocese of Mobile on its list 12/6/18. "Misconduct" noted to have been 1965-68. Assigned at some point to Shrine of the Holy Cross parish in Daphne. List doesn't name Brown's Order, whether he was a priest or religious brother, when he worked in the diocese or where the misconduct occurred. Prohibited from ministry in the archdiocese.

Sources:

Archdiocese of Mobile List 12.06.18

Fr. Thomas J. Cullen

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Ordained: 1952
Status: Accused

Diocese: Archdiocese of Mobile AL

Ordained in Ireland, his native country, for the Diocese of Mobile. Elevated to monsignor in 1966. Abuse alleged to have occurred in the 1950s. Retired 1996. Died 3/1/06 in Texas City, TX. Named publicly as accused by the archdiocese on its list 12/6/18.

Sources:

Geneology website 01.27.07
Diocese of Mobile List 12.06.18

Fr. Vernon Dahmen

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Status: Accused

Diocese: Archdiocese of Mobile AL

Named as accused on the archdiocese's list of credibly accused priests and deacons 12/6/18. "Misconduct" noted to have occurred mid-1970s-early 1980s. Deceased.

Sources:

Diocese of Mobile List 12.06.18

Fr. Timothy Wayne Evans

Ordained: 1994
Status: Accused

Diocese: Archdiocese of Mobile AL

Placed on leave in 12/05 after allegations of sexual and substance abuse involving a teenage boy up to 6 years previously. One priest said rumors had circulated for at least three years before the archdiocese investigated. A 7/06 article said he remained in treatment in Alabama. On the archdiocese's list 12/6/18. "Misconduct" noted to have occurred in 1998. Assigned to parishes in Daphne, Monroeville, Bayou La Batre. Director of Office of Youth Ministry. Prohibited from ministry in the archdiocese.

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Fr. Joseph C. Gill

Status: Accused

Diocese: Archdiocese of Mobile AL

Named publicly as accused on the archdiocese's list 12/6/18. "Misconduct" in late 1960s. Parish assignments in Birmingham, Warrington FL, Mobile, Grove Hill, Dothan, Bessemer, Guntersville, Chickasaw, Whistler. Deceased.

Sources:

Archdiocese of Mobile List 12.06.18

Fr. Robert L. Grabowski

Ordained: 1955
Status: Accused

Diocese: Archdiocese of Mobile AL

Named publicly as accused by the archdiocese of Mobile on its list 12/6/18. "Misconduct" noted to have been in 1979. List says he was an Order priest or brother, but doesn't name the Order, when he worked in the diocese or where the misconduct occurred. Assigned at some point to McGill-Toolen High School. Prohibited from ministry in the archdiocese. On the Sioux Falls, SD diocese's list 3/21/19. Was reportedly assigned to St. Mary's Inter-Parochial High School by the late 1950s, and by 1965 was the school's superintendent. Sioux Falls notes that his faculties were permanently removed in 6/79 and he was laicized 3/21/92.

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Fr. John E. Hardman

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Order: SSJ
Ordained: 1944
Status: Accused

Died: 04/20/2007
Diocese: Archdiocese of Mobile AL

Named publicly as accused by the Archdiocese of Mobile on its list 12/6/18. "Misconduct" noted to have occurred 1972-78. Worked at some point at Most Pure Heart of Mary parish in Mobile. Also worked in New Orleans. On Baton Rouge diocese's list in early 2019. In residence at some point at St. Catherine of Siena in Donaldsonville, LA. Hardman died in 2007.

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Fr. James A. Havens

Ordained: 1979
Status: Accused

Diocese: Archdiocese of Mobile AL

Removed from St. Vincent de Paul church as of 5/8/13 and placed on administrative leave after a woman accused him of sexually abusing her at age 10 in 1989 at her family's home. He was assigned to St. John's parish in Butler at the time. District Attorney's office notified. Allegation deemed credible. Died 2/27/18. On archdiocese's list 12/6/18. It notes misconduct in 1986.

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Fr. Anthony A. Keil

Order: SSJ
Ordained: 1927
Status: Accused

Died: 05/11/1969
Diocese: Archdiocese of Mobile AL

First named publicly by the Mobile archdiocese as accused on its list 12/6/18. Mobile spelled his name Kiel. Worked in the 1950s at St Joseph's in Maysville AL. On the Galveston-Houston archdiocese's list 1/31/19, which gives Kyles as an alternate spelling. Keil worked in Houston before his assignment in the Mobile archdiocese and again in the 1960s. As a Josephite, his ministry was in African-American churches. He worked in Tampa FL in the 1930s and was transferred to Baton Rouge LA in 1938. Worked at a New Orleans parish 1930-31 and 1953-55. In Tampa he was an organizer of the African-American Boy Scout movement and a director of the Urban League. Keil was born on 8/12/1893, ordained in 1/1927, and died on 5/11/1969.

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Fr. Cordell J. Lang

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Ordained: 1979
Status: Reinstated

Diocese: Archdiocese of Mobile AL

Accused in 1995 suit of engaging in immoral sexual acts with boy who was student at Catholic High school where Lang was counselor. Lang claimed that because of MS he was impotent and unable to walk or dress himself since mid-1980s. Trial verdict for Defendant Lang. AL Court of Civil Appeals ruling 5/2/97, 1997 Ala. Civ.App. LEXIS 358, affirmed. Lang reinstated (in 1997?) per 2003 article. Died 10/01. On archdiocese's list 12/6/18. Noted to have been removed, but civil court jury found in his favor.

Assignments:

BA.org Assignment Record

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Fr. Edward J. Lawlor

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Order: SSJ
Ordained: 1940
Status: Accused

Diocese: Archdiocese of Mobile AL

Named publicly as accused on the Mobile archdiocese's list 12/6/18. Name misspelled Lawler. "Misconduct" noted to have occurred in 1972. Doesn't say where. Parish assignments in Birmingham and Mobile. Also worked in New Orleans 1961-1969 and 1989-2001. Deceased.

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Fr. Edward A. Leary

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Order: SSE
Ordained: 1953
Status: Accused

Died: 04/4/2000
Diocese: Archdiocese of Mobile AL

Named publicly as accused on the Mobile archdiocese's list 12/6/18. "Misconduct" noted to have occurred 1970-72, while assigned to Our Lady Queen of Peace in Selma. Retired 1995. Per the Edmundites list 8/7/19, allegation received in 1998; not substantiated. Died 4/4/2000.

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Br. Ralph McGarry

Order: SC
Status: Accused

Diocese: Archdiocese of Mobile AL

Named publicly as accused on the Archdiocese of Mobile's list 12/6/18. "Misconduct" noted to have occurred 1960-61. No indication as to where. Assigned at some point in the archdiocese to the Catholic Boys Home. Deceased.

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Fr. Patrick J. L. Nicholson

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Ordained: 1969
Status: Sued

Diocese: Archdiocese of Mobile AL

Air Force Academy chaplain. Accused of pressing a female freshman at the Academy in 1984 into an improper sexual relationship after she had gone to him for counseling. The relationship resumed briefly in 1999. The woman told military investigators of the situation in 1999 and he was discharged from the Air Force in 2000. Another woman came forward in 2003 to allege abuse by Nicholson when she was age 15 in the 1970s. Previously part of Mobile AL archdiocese. On archdiocese's list 12/6/18.

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Deacon Robert L. Nouwen

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Status: Convicted

Diocese: Archdiocese of Mobile AL

Nouwen pled guilty 12/12 to possession of child pornography (boys). He was deacon at St. Vincent de Paul Church. Removed from ministry. Per 5/13 press release, he also admitted to federal authorities that he had raped two children. Sentenced to 70 months in federal prison and lifetime supervision after release. Archdiocese to ask that he be laicized. On archdiocese's list 12/6/18.

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Fr. John D. Rutledge

Order: CM
Ordained: 1951
Status: Accused

Died: 03/23/1998
Diocese: Archdiocese of Mobile AL

Rutledge was named publicly as accused on the Mobile archdiocese's list 12/6/18. 'Misconduct' noted to have occurred 1968 while assigned to St Michael's in Auburn, an African-American parish. Rutledge trained at the Vincentian's Mary Immaculate Seminary in Northampton PA and after ordination there in 1951 was assigned to missionary work at St Mary's in Balboa, Panama.Transferred after his Auburn assignment in 1971 to Our Lady of the Immaculate Medal/St Mary's church in Greensboro NC, in the newly formed Charlotte diocese. Rutledge was pastor there 1972-75, then began graduate studies at Catholic University in Washington DC. In 1978, he was assigned again to St Mary's in Balboa. He died there on 3/23/98. On the Charlotte diocese's list 12/29/19.

Assignments:

Diocese of Charlotte Assignment Record 12.29.19

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Fr. Johnny S. Savoie

Ordained: 1995
Status: Accused

Diocese: Archdiocese of Mobile AL

Mobile archdiocesan VAC was contacted apparently in late 2013 by man alleging that Savoie had engaged in 'inappropriate sexual conduct' with him as a boy aged 16-18 in about 2005 at St Lawrence church in Fairhope. Archdiocesan lawyer contacted county DA in 12/13 and 1/14. DA did not investigate because at age 16, the accuser was beyond the AL age of consent. Archdiocese did not place Savoie on leave, and it is not known whether AL child protection officials were notified. The archdiocese reportedly investigated by 2/16/14, when Savoie announced to parishioners: he had been accused, he 'adamantly denied' the allegation, and as the archdiocese 'has determined that there is no evidence to support the accusation,' he 'will remain serving as pastor of St Pius X,' where the principal of the grammar school reports to him. In Savoie's 9/30/14 deposition in a case accusing him of ignoring bullying complaints at the school, he stated that the Fairhope boy was working part-time at St Lawrence.

Assignments:

Detailed BA Assignment Record

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Fr. Arthur C. Schrenger

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Ordained: 1975
Status: Accused

Diocese: Archdiocese of Mobile AL

Accused of abuse and placed on leave 2003. Per 12/05 article, he appealed to Rome the archdiocese's finding that he had two instances of misconduct with minors prior to 1985. One 2003 article says he admitted abuse. No criminal prosecution because of statute of limitations. On archdiocese's list 12/6/18. "Misconduct" noted to have occurred late 1960s-1982. Prohibited from ministry in archdiocese.

Assignments:

Mobile Register 4.04.03

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Fr. J. Alex Sherlock

Ordained: 1966
Status: Accused

Diocese: Archdiocese of Mobile AL

Placed on leave in 2/03. First complaint received by Archbishop Lipscomb in 1997 regarding abuse in the 1970s. Sherlock admitted the incident; Lipscomb transferred him to another parish. At least three further credible allegations were received between 2000 and 3/03. Sherlock admitted 'relations' with at least three students at McGill-Toolen High school. Resigned in 2003. Died in 2005. On archdiocese's list 12/6/18. Misconduct noted to have occurred 1966-82.

Assignments:

The Catholic Week (excerpt) 03.21.03

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Fr. Edward Eugene Smith

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Ordained: 1982
Status: Accused

Diocese: Archdiocese of Mobile AL

Per news reports in 2003, the archdiocese had given Smith's file (along with several others) to District Attorney to investigate claims of abuse. The archdiocese website said he was "Absent" on one day; the next day his name was not on the website. Smith was reportedly on leave from the archdiocese 1985 -2002. Never charged. On archdiocese's list 12/6/18. "Misconduct" noted to have occurred in 1984. Prohibited from ministry in the archdiocese. At some point was assigned to Hotel Dieu Hospital in New Orleans.

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Fr. John J. Walton

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Status: Accused

Diocese: Archdiocese of Mobile AL

Named publicly as accused by the archdiocese on its list 12/6/18. "Misconduct" noted to have occurred in the 1970s. Parish assignments in Bayou La Batre, Brewton, Andalusia, Mobile, Semmes. Also in US Army Reserve. Deceased.

Sources:

Archdiocese of Mobile List 12.06.18

Fr. Nelson B. Ziter

Order: SSE
Ordained: 1947
Status: Sued

Died: 07/7/2000
Diocese: Archdiocese of Mobile AL

Removed from ministry in 1993 after a man alleged physical and sexual abuse 1974-79 while Ziter was pastor of Our Lady Queen of Peace in Selma. Sued in 1994. Suit dismissed on SOL. Ziter founded the Boys and Girls Club in Slma. Assignments in AL included Queen of Peace in Selma, St. Philip Neri in Belle Fontaine, St. Elizabeth in Selma, and Our Lady of Lourdes in Mobile. Director of spiritual affairs at St. Michael's College in VT 1961-67 and worked in parishes in Swanton and Williston. Ziter died 7/7/2000. Included the Mobile archdiocese's list 12/6/18. Per the Edmundites' list 8/7/19, the allegation was substantiated.

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