Archdiocese of Mobile AL

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Terry McKiernan February 26, 2021

25 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 in 4/2003. Convicted. Sentenced in 2004 to five years in prison. Multiple plaintiffs with allegations going back to 1963. Civil suit filed in 2003 by two men. Settled in 2004. Two more suits filed in 5/2004. Released from prison hospital 7/04/2007 at age 78. Sent to MO for treatment. On AL and MO sex offender registries. On Mobile archdiocese's list 12/6/2018. Noted to be deceased. On Jackson diocese's list 3/19/2019.

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 8/7/2019. Report in 2015 of abuse in FL in the 1960s. The Official Catholic Directory shows him in the 1960s at a parish in Apalachacola, FL in what was then the diocese of Mobile-Birmingham. Died 5/27/1972.

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 12/6/2018. "Misconduct" noted to have been 1965-1968. 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. Alex Crow

Ordained: 2021
Status: Accused

Diocese: Archdiocese of Mobile AL

Assigned to Corpus Christi Parish in Mobile when placed under restrictions 7/26/2023 after fleeing to Italy with an 18-year-old woman on 7/24/2023. In a Valentine's Day letter to the girl when she was 17, Crow professed his love to her and said they were married. The girl was a student at a Catholic high school at the time, where Crow reportedly sat in on classes and heard confessions. The girl's family said that she did not want to go to Italy with Crow and that she relented after pressure from him. Crow told the Archdiocese he would never return to America. Allegedly groomed other young girls. Parents had complained that he was rumored to give teens alcohol at bonfires and perform exorcisms on students; he was nonetheless allowed in 6/2023 to travel with students to Europe. The Archdiocese reported the situation to the District Attorney. Laicization to be initiated. In 11/2023 the girl's parents' attorney said that Crow and the girl had returned to AL. The District Attorney closed its investigation. The two married 11/17/2023. Laicization announced on 1/8/2024.

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Fr. Thomas J. Cullen

Ordained: 1952
Status: Accused

Died: 03/1/2006
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 in 1996. Died 3/1/2006 in Texas City, TX. Named publicly as accused by the archdiocese on its list 12/6/2018.

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Fr. Vernon C. 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 12/6/2018. "Misconduct" noted to have occurred mid-1970s-early 1980s. Died 3/30/2001 in Chester, SC while on leave from the archdiocese.

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 12/2005 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 7/2006 article said he remained in treatment in Alabama. On the Archdiocese's list 12/6/2018. "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 Cecil Gill

Ordained: 1944
Status: Accused

Died: 12/7/1996
Diocese: Archdiocese of Mobile AL

May have arrived in the archdiocese in 1945 from Ireland. (He is first listed in the 1945 Official Catholic Directory, with the notation "now in Ireland.") Had parish assignments beginning in 1945 in Birmingham, Warrington FL, Mobile, Grove Hill, Dothan, Bessemer, Guntersville, Chickasaw, Whistler. Named publicly as accused on the archdiocese's list 12/6/2018 for 'misconduct' in the late 1960s. Gill died in 1996.

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 12/6/2018. "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 3/21/2019. 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 6/1979 and he was laicized 3/21/1992.

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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 12/6/2018. "Misconduct" noted to have occurred 1972-1978. Worked at some point at Most Pure Heart of Mary parish in Mobile. Also worked in New Orleans. On the 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

Died: 02/27/2018
Diocese: Archdiocese of Mobile AL

Removed from St. Vincent de Paul church as of 5/8/2013 and placed on administrative leave after a woman accused him of sexually abusing her at age 10 in 1989 at her family's home. Havens was assigned to St. John's parish in Butler at the time of the alleged abuse. District Attorney's office notified. Allegation deemed credible. Died 2/27/2018. On the archdiocese's list 12/6/2018. 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

Born 8/12/1893, ordained in 1/1927. Died 5/11/1969. First named publicly by the Mobile archdiocese as credibly accused on its list 12/6/2018. (Name spelled 'Kiel'.) Worked in the 1950s at St. Joseph's in Maysville AL. Name included on the Galveston-Houston archdiocese's list 1/31/2019 (shows 'Kyles' as an alternate spelling.) Worked in Houston before his assignment in the Mobile archdiocese and again in the 1960s. As a Josephite, Keil's ministry was in African-American churches. Worked in Tampa FL in the 1930s and was transferred to Baton Rouge LA in 1938. Assigned to a New Orleans parish 1930-1931 and 1953-1955. In Tampa he was an organizer of the African-American Boy Scouts movement and a director of the Urban League.

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Fr. Cordell J. Lang

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Ordained: 1979
Status: Reinstated

Died: 10/1/2001
Diocese: Archdiocese of Mobile AL

Monsignor. Accused in a 1995 lawsuit of engaging in immoral sexual acts with a male student 1988-1991 at McGill-Toolen High School, where Lang was counselor. Lang claimed that because of Multiple Sclerosis he was impotent and unable to walk or dress himself since the mid-1980s. Trial verdict for Lang. Reinstated in 1996. Died in 10/2001. On the archdiocese's list of credibly accused 12/6/2018. Noted to have been removed.

Assignments:

BA.org Assignment Record

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Fr. Edward J. Lawlor

Order: SSJ
Ordained: 1940
Status: Accused

Died: 09/5/2012
Diocese: Archdiocese of Mobile AL

Named publicly as accused on the Mobile archdiocese's list 12/6/2018. (Name misspelled Lawler.) 'Misconduct' noted to have occurred in 1972. Doesn't say where. Had parish assignments in Birmingham and Mobile. Also worked in New Orleans 1961-1969 and 1989-2001. Died in 2012.

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Fr. Edward A. Leary

Order: SSE
Ordained: 1953
Status: Accused

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

Named publicly as credibly accused on the Mobile archdiocese's list 12/6/2018. 'Misconduct' noted to have occurred 1970-1972, while assigned to Our Lady Queen of Peace in Selma. Retired in 1995. Per the Edmundites' list 8/7/2019, the allegation was received in 1998; not substantiated at the time. 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 12/6/2018. 'Misconduct' noted to have occurred 1960-1961. 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. Included on the archdiocese's list of credibly accused 12/6/2018.

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Deacon Robert L. Nouwen

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Status: Convicted

Diocese: Archdiocese of Mobile AL

Nouwen pleaded guilty 12/2012 to possession of child pornography (boys). He was deacon at St. Vincent de Paul Church. Removed from ministry. Per a 5/2013 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 was to ask that he be laicized. On the archdiocese's list of credibly accused 12/6/2018.

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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 12/6/2018. '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 1972-1975, 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 3/23/1998. Included on the Charlotte diocese's list 12/29/2019.

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 a 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 the county D.A. in 12/2013 and 1/2014. D.A. 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 2/16/2014, 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 9/30/2014 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

Ordained: 1975
Status: Accused

Diocese: Archdiocese of Mobile AL

Accused of abuse and placed on leave 2003. Per a 12/2005 news article, Schrenger 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. Included on the archdiocese's list 12/6/2018. "Misconduct" noted to have occurred late 1960s-1982. Prohibited from ministry in the 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 2/2003. 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 3/2003. Sherlock admitted 'relations' with at least three students at McGill-Toolen High school. Resigned in 2003. Died in 2005. On archdiocese's list 12/6/2018. Misconduct noted to have occurred 1966-1982.

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 the District Attorney to investigate claims of abuse. The archdiocesan website showed him as "Absent" on one day; the next day his name was no longer there. Smith was reportedly on leave from the archdiocese 1985 -2002. Included on archdiocese's list of credibly accused 12/6/2018. '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 12/6/2018. 'Misconduct' noted to have occurred in the 1970s. Parish assignments in Bayou La Batre, Brewton, Andalusia, Mobile, Semmes. Also in the U.S. 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 1974-1979 while Ziter was pastor of Our Lady Queen of Peace in Selma. Sued in 1994. Suit dismissed due to the statute of limitations. 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 1961-1967 and worked in parishes in Swanton and Williston. Ziter died 7/7/2000. Included the Mobile archdiocese's list 12/6/2018. Per the Edmundites' list 8/7/2019, the allegation was substantiated.

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Our Database of Publicly Accused does not state or imply that individuals facing allegations are guilty of a crime or liable for civil claims. The reports contained in the database are merely allegations. The U.S. legal system presumes that a person accused of or charged with a crime is innocent until proven guilty. Similarly, individuals who may be defendants in civil actions are presumed not to be liable for such claims unless a plaintiff proves otherwise. Admissions of guilt or liability are not typically a part of civil or private settlements. For more information, see our posting policy.