Archdiocese of Miami FL – BishopAccountability.org

44 Accused in this Diocese

Br. Anthony R. Parlangeli

Order: SM
Ordained: 1997
Status: Convicted

Died: 8/5/1997
Diocese: Archdiocese of Miami FL

Professed vows as a Marianist in 1963. New York Province. Worked in Fl and Puerto Rico. Per news in 3/2002 a man said that at age 15 he was drugged and raped by Parlangeli on an overnight camping trip. Parlangeli said he was too tired to camp and rented a hotel room. The drugs caused convulsions; Parlangeli took the youth to a hospital ER. Police were notifed; he was arrested. Charges were later reduced to administering drugs illegally. Spent a brief time in jail. Transferred to Baltimore where he also abused. A 1994 civil suit settled. Left the order in 1973, married and raised three children. Moved to CA. Died in 1997. Included on the Order's 6/24/2020 list of accused.

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Br. Kenneth Ward

Order: FMS
Status: Sued

Diocese: Archdiocese of Miami FL

Former dean of students at Msgr. Edward Pace High School. Allegations reported to police in 2006; the Archdiocese says it did not learn of them until Fall, 2012. In an 8/2013 civil suit, three men in their mid-20s alleged that Ward abused them in the early 2000s. He worked at Pace 2000-2006. Spent two more years at Christopher Columbus High School in Westchester. A fourth man sued in 9/2013. Left the order in 2008. Got a state license as a registered nurse in 2012. Worked in a psychiatric hospital.

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Deacon Carlos Humberto Ramirez

Status: Arrested

Diocese: Archdiocese of Miami FL

Ordained for the permanent diaconate 2008. Deacon and teacher at Holy Family Parish in North Miami in 6/2023 when arrested on charges of molesting two students, both girls, ages 11 and 12. The incidents allegedly occurred at the school in 3/2023.

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WTVJ 06.01.23

Fr. Alvaro Guichard

Ordained: 1969
Status: Settled

Diocese: Archdiocese of Miami FL

Accused in a 5/2002 lawsuit of abuse of a teenage boy in the 1970s. Criminal charges not pursued due to the statute of limitations. Reinstated as pastor after 15 months on leave. The Archdiocese could not prove the allegations. Another civil suit was filed in 11/2003; Guichard was again placed on leave. Named in at least four suits. In 9/2006 Guichard filed lawsuits against his accuser and the family of a deceased accuser. He filed another suit in 10/2006. Five plaintiffs are known to have settled claims. A Church trial was held in 11/2007.

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Fr. Anthony Mercieca

Ordained: 1962
Status: Settled

Diocese: Archdiocese of Miami FL

Ordained for the Diocese of Gozo, Malta. Assigned in the Archdiocese of Miami from the mid-1960s through the early 2000s. Admitted in 10/2006 that he fondled altar boy Mark Foley (later U.S. Rep for FL,) in the mid-1960s when Foley was ages 11-13. John Doe 26 then filed suit, alleging that Mercieca performed oral sex on him in the late 1970s at age 12-13. Mercieca admitted that he skinny-dipped with Foley, gave him nude massages, and took him on trips to DC and NYC. (Foley was forced to resign from Congress in 2006 because of his behavior with congressional pages.) A civil suit against Mercieca settled in 7/2007. Another suit filed in 10/2008 claimed abuse in 1977. In 2006 Mercieca was in active ministry in Malta. The Archdiocese of Miami removed his faculties.

Fr. Arnulfo Arandia

Donate Photo

Ordained: 1980
Status: Sued

Diocese: Archdiocese of Miami FL

From Diocese of Guayaquil, Ecuador. Accused of abusing a youth, age 15, in Miami in 1988. Moved to the Jackson MS diocese in 2000. Suspended in 6/2002 when charges surfaced. Believed to have fled to Ecuador. Arandia's accuser said he told a deacon about the abuse in 1988 and Arandia was immediately transferred. The same man also accused Fr. Castellanos of abuse. Prosecutors decided in 1/2004 not to file criminal charges because the statute had run. Included on the Jackson diocese's list 3/19/2019.

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Fr. Benjamin Cieply

Donate Photo

Order: LC
Ordained: 2008
Status: Accused

Diocese: Archdiocese of Miami FL

Named publicly as accused by the Legionaries on 9/6/2018. Ordained in Dallas TX in 2008, transferred to the Archdiocese of Miami in 2015. Report to Child Protective Services in late 2016 of child sexual abuse. CPS could not substantiate the allegations. The Archdiocese removed Cieply from ministry after their internal review. Returned to the Legionaries. Cieply would not participate in the Order's investigation, claiming innocence. In 6/2018 the Order determined a "high probability" that abuse occurred and Cieply was not to return to ministry. He was dismissed from the Legionaries. Case sent to the Vatican, which in 2023 determined that it could not "reach moral certainty that abuse occurred." In 4/2023 Cieply remains a priest, but without faculties.

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Fr. Bryan O. Walsh

Ordained: 1954
Status: Sued

Died: 12/20/2001
Diocese: Archdiocese of Miami FL

Accused in a 6/9/2006 complaint of the sexual abuse of a 14-year-old boy in 1964, including penetration and oral sex. The boy was a ward of Operation Pedro Pan, which Walsh founded and directed. Pedro Pan brought 14,048 Cuban children to the US in 1960-1962 and placed them in orphanages and foster care to remove them from Castro's educational system. Walsh was born and trained in Ireland and ordained for St. Augustine diocese. He became a Miami priest when the diocese was erected in 1958. Retired in 1996. Died 12/20/2001.

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Fr. Charles Cassetta

Order: OMI
Ordained: 1970
Status: Settled

Diocese: Archdiocese of Miami FL

Worked in the Buffalo, NY diocese prior to transfer to Florida. Accused in a 2003 lawsuit of sexually abusing a female student at least ten times in 1971-1972 at Cardinal Newman High School in West Palm Beach. Settled in 5/2004 for $220K. Cassetta left the priesthood, married and was last known to be living in Maryland.

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Fr. Christopher T. Eggleton

Order: OP
Ordained: 1988
Status: Sued

Diocese: Archdiocese of Miami FL

Removed in 8/2002 from his assignment in the Baton Rouge, LA diocese after a civil suit was filed in Miami alleging sexual abuse by Eggleton 1990-1991 in FL. Also worked in New Orleans in 1993. The Archdiocese announced in 7/2004 that Eggleton was found "innocent of all charges by a Miami court" and was to begin work as prior for the Dominican House in Raleigh, NC.

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Fr. Cristobal de Jesus Puertas

Status: Settled

Diocese: Archdiocese of Miami FL

A civil suit filed in 2010 claimed abuse by Puertas of a boy. The archdiocese reported in 2012 that there was a settlement involving Puertas, who was no longer a priest in the Archdiocese. His alleged victim said that Fr. Rolando Garcia knew about the abuse at the time and paid him to keep it quiet.

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Fr. Donald J. Walk

Ordained: 1967
Status: Settled

Diocese: Archdiocese of Miami FL

Walk is named in a 7/2006 settlement with the Miami Archdiocese as having abused a teenage boy in the 1970s-1980s. He had no particular assignment at the time and was still "absent on leave," per the 1989 Catholic Directory. Chaplain of the Miami Dolphins at one point. Accused in a civil suit filed in summer 2007 of abusing a boy, ages 14-16, in the late 1970s. Another plaintiff filed suit in 12/2007 alleging abuse 1977-1982.

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Fr. Edward W. Sokol

Order: OFM
Ordained: 1987
Status: Convicted

Diocese: Archdiocese of Miami FL

Professed vows as a Marianist brother in 1962, Province of New York. Left the Order in 1986. Ordained for the Franciscans in 1987. Arrested in 4/2001 in a police sting after arranging over the internet to meet a 15-year-old boy for sex. Pleaded no contest to computer pornography in 12/2001; the judge allowed him to continue running a group home for disabled adult males. Ordered to leave the home in 3/2002 by social services. Also worked in the Boston archdiocese, at Perkins School for the Blind, and in NH. Briefly had privileges in Miami after the Franciscans withdrew his privileges. Included on the Marianists 6/24/2020 list of accused. Noted to be deceased.

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Fr. Ernesto Garcia-Rubio

Ordained: 1963
Status: Settled

Diocese: Archdiocese of Miami FL

Worked for a year in Miami; moved to Cuba; expelled in 1969 for "serious difficulties of a moral nature (homosexuality)." Miami took him back. Accused in 1988 of sexually abusing four Nicaraguan and Salvadoran refugee boys 1983-1988. Evaluated at St. Luke's Institute in 1988; sent on sabbatical to Colombia; assigned in Honduras. The priest who replaced him at his parish told a news outlet that Garcia-Rubio was sent on sabbatical because he had just celebrated his 25th anniversary as a priest. The Miami Archdiocese removed Garcia-Rubio's faculties in 1989. He was reportedly working at a hotel in the Dominican Republic in the early 1990s and defrocked in 1999. Per the FL Attorney General's report 11/6/2020, Garcia-Rubio was known to befriend and offer help to teenage boys, mostly immigrants, withholding help if they would not provide him with sexual favors. A fifth man sued in 2004, alleging rape in 1984 when he was a refugee, age 13. Some claims settled in 9/2004. New documents revealed in 3/2010. New suits filed in 6/2010 and 2/2013. At least 11 known victims. Deceased.

Fr. Francisco Carrera

Donate Photo

Status: Sued

Diocese: Archdiocese of Miami FL

Visiting priest from Spain. A former altar boy sued Carrera in 2002 alleging that the priest molested him in 1981 at Our Lady of Divine Providence Church in west Miami-Dade when he was 13. He also said the Diocese transferred Carrera back to Spain when it learned of the abuse. A second suit filed in 5/2011 alleged abuse of a 10-year-old boy in 1976 at the same parish. Appeals court upheld lower court's dismissal due to the statute of limitations 4/17/2013. Carrera had lived in Spain since the early 1980s.

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Fr. Gerard T. LaCerra

Ordained: 1969
Status: Settled

Died: 7/25/2000
Diocese: Archdiocese of Miami FL

Monsignor. Died in 7/2000. Accused in a 2005 lawsuit of touching, fondling and sexually abusing a youth in the early 1980s, after the youth told him he had been abused by numerous other priests in Miami and other locations. The suit settled in 2007. LaCerra was Chancellor of the Archdiocese during the time of the alleged abuse. He was also accused of destroying incriminating files regarding other priests and protecting Rev. Neil Doherty, a prolific abuser.

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Fr. Gustavo J. Miyares

Ordained: 1973
Status: Sued

Diocese: Archdiocese of Miami FL

Accused, along with Rev. Pedro Jove, in a suit filed in 10/2006 of abusing a boy, age 14, in 1981 and 1982. The abuse allegedly occurred at at a Palm Beach County seminary, a Miami rectory and a condominium in the Keys. Resigned as pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish. Faculties removed. The abuse allegedly included oral sex and sodomy. Another man filed suit in 11/2006, claiming Miyares abused him for over three years when he was a St. Timothy's altar boy in the early 1980s. Accused in an 8/2013 suit of abusing an altar boy in the late 1990s at Immaculate Conception School.

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Fr. Harry Ringenberger

Ordained: 1969
Status: Sued

Died: 5/23/2016
Diocese: Archdiocese of Miami FL

"Fr. Bud." Accused in a lawsuit filed 5/19/2015 of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old boy in 1989 at St. Maximilian Kolbe Catholic Church, Pembroke Pines FL. Allegations include his wrestling naked with the boy, and that he abused other children similarly. The lawsuit claims the Archdiocese was informed of the allegations in 1989 but allowed Ringenberger to work at another parish after sending him away for a year. He died in 2016.

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Fr. Hector Gonzalez-Abreu

Ordained: 1979
Status: Sued

Diocese: Archdiocese of Miami FL

Accused in a civil suit filed in 11/2003 of sexually abusing a teenage boy after he reported to Gonzalez-Abreu that he had been abused by Fr. Alvaro Guichard. Gonzalez-Abreu allegedly plied the boy with alcohol and pornography. Denied the allegations. Placed on leave in 12/2003. Was reportedly later cleared by the Archdiocese. Helped another victim with his case against the Archdiocese; said some priests not only told him about abusing the boy, but bragged about it.

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Fr. James K. Flemming

Ordained: 1986
Status: Sued

Diocese: Archdiocese of Miami FL

A man filed suit in 1/2004 alleging that he was abused by Flemming and his brother, Rev. Neil Flemming, beginning in 1969 at Boystown, a Miami-area orphanage. At the time of the alleged abuse, James Flemming was not yet a priest. The suit alleges that both men used him as their "personal sex servant." James Flemming was a tutor at the school at the time of the alleged abuse.

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Miami Herald 01.21.04

Fr. Jan Malicki

Ordained: 1973
Status: Settled

Diocese: Archdiocese of Miami FL

Ordained in Poland. Arrived in FL in 1989. Accused in a 1998 lawsuit of abusing a 13-year-old girl and a woman. Police investigated for two years; no charges filed. Suit was dormant for four years until the FL Supreme Court ruled in 3/2002 that Churches were not protected from negligent hiring and supervision claims. It settled in 2005. Malicki filed a suit in 7/2002 against the Archdiocese for publicly accusing him of wrongdoing. His suit was dismissed in 6/2003.

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Fr. Joaquin Guerrero

Donate Photo

Ordained: 1960
Status: Settled

Diocese: Archdiocese of Miami FL

Ordained in 1960 Cuba. Worked in the Archdiocese of Miami, apparently until 1965. Accused in 11/2002 of raping and abusing a boy, age 14, for six months in 1962. His alleged victim said he had come to FL from Cuba under a program sponsored by the Archdiocese and was placed in a camp, where the abuse occurred. The claim settled in 9/2004.

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Fr. Jose Pablo Nickse

Ordained: 1973
Status: Settled

Died: 12/24/2002
Diocese: Archdiocese of Miami FL

From Cuba. Worked in Florida for at least 20 years. Placed on leave in 6/2002 after a lawsuit claimed he and Fr. Ricardo Castellanos abused a 15-year-old youth in 1982. Additional complaints and/or suits filed. Some settled in 2004. Nickse died of a heart attack in 12/2002, before the allegations were completely investigated.

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Fr. Joseph Calimari

Donate Photo

Status: Sued

Diocese: Archdiocese of Miami FL

Accused in a 2007 lawsuit of sexually abusing a boy, ages 2-4, and his older brother at Christ the King in Perrine in the 1960s. The abuse allegedly occurred in the church office, a bedroom and a school bus. The brother died by suicide in 2006.

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Miami Herald 07.19.07

Fr. Joseph Cinesi

Ordained: 1980
Status: Settled

Diocese: Archdiocese of Miami FL

Per news in 9/1999, a man told police in 7/1998 that Cinesi had had sexual contact with him about 100 times when he was between 12- and 15-years-old in the late 1970s- early 1980s. The Diocese settled at least five claims and/or lawsuits against Cinesi between 1999 and 2001. Another civil suit was filed in 5/2004 alleging abuse of a boy in 1978-1979. It settled in 9/2004.

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Fr. Joseph Huck

Ordained: 1969
Status: Settled

Diocese: Archdiocese of Miami FL

Accused in a suit filed in 6/2003 of sexually abusing a boy, ages 12-14, in the mid-1970s. Huck's accuser was a resident of Boys Town, outside of Miami. Huck allegedly silenced the boy with threats. The boy is said to have told his house parent and the director and was punished. He said he also told Archbishop McCarthy, who told him not to say such things about a priest. Claims settled in 2004. Huck retired in 2002.

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Fr. Joseph J. Kershner

Order: SchP
Ordained: 1964
Status: Sued

Diocese: Archdiocese of Miami FL

Principal of Cardinal Gibbons High School when suspended in 6/2002 due to allegations of abuse in the 1980s. Allegedly grabbed a student's buttocks. Two male teachers also complained that he groped them. Cleared by the Review Board in 12/2002 and returned him to active ministry. He then retired because of health problems. Named in a civil suit filed late 2009 or early 2010 in FL.

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Fr. Juan Ramon O’Farrill

Ordained: 1945
Status: Sued

Died: 11/30/1994
Diocese: Archdiocese of Miami FL

From Cuba. Sought political asylum in the US in 1959. Retired in 1983. A 4/2011 civil suit alleged that in 1988 O'Farrill sexually molested a 16-year-old boy from Nicaragua who sought counseling from him at St. Michael the Archangel in west Little Havana. O'Farrill allegedly gave the boy alcohol in orange juice and performed oral sex on him. O'Farrill died in 1994. Just before his death he was arrested and charged with giving an alibi to a robber in exchange for sex.

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Fr. Kevin F. O’Brien

Order: SDB
Ordained: 1977
Status: Sued

Died: 6/4/1981
Diocese: Archdiocese of Miami FL

Made first vows as a Salesian brother in 1966. A suit filed in 3/2005 claimed sexual misconduct by O'Brien in 1978 and 1979 with a student at Mary Help of Christians School in Tampa, where he was principal. Known to have also worked in OH and Boston MA. Died in 1981. Included in 3/2020 on the Salesians' list of credibly accused.

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Salesians List 03.31.20

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Fr. Kevin T. McDonald

Donate Photo

Ordained: 2013
Status: Accused

Diocese: Archdiocese of Miami FL

Named publicly as credibly accused by the Las Cruces diocese on its list in 2020. Abuse allegedly occurred in Miami prior to McDonald's ordination for the Diocese of Las Cruces. A complaint was received in 2014. McDonald was removed from public ministry in 2018.

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Diocese of Las Cruces List 11.13.20

Fr. L. Yates Harris

Ordained: 1977
Status: Sued

Died: 11/1/1996
Diocese: Archdiocese of Miami FL

Taught public school in MD for 14 years prior to seminary and was a guidance counselor for five of those years. Moved to South FL after ordination. Accused in a 3/2003 lawsuit of sexually abusing a 17-year-old boy in 1982. Harris was the boy's guidance counselor and chaplain at St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Ft. Lauderdale. The alleged victim said the counseling office at the school was lined with pictures Harris had taken of shirtless male students. All had hand-written notes on the back on them. Harris died in 1996.

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Fr. Miguel A. Fernandez

Ordained: 1950
Status: Settled

Diocese: Archdiocese of Miami FL

Accused in a 2005 civil suit against the Archdiocese of Miami of abuse of a young teenage boy in a West Palm Beach parish rectory. The boy had arrived in FL from Cuba in 1980 in the Mariel Boat Lift and was living at a church-operated refugee facility. He also alleged abuse by multiple other priests in the Archdiocese and elsewhere. The suit settled in 2007. Fernandez died in 4/2004.

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Fr. Neil “Gus” Doherty

Ordained: 1969
Status: Convicted

Diocese: Archdiocese of Miami FL

Parish priest, counselor for Catholic Family Services. Archdiocese was warned of Doherty's behavior many times, as early as 1971. Kept in ministry until 4/2002. Lawsuit in 2003 claimed abuse of four to five boys. Settlement in 1994 for $50K. New suit in 2005 claimed abuse of a boy over five years, starting when the boy was 11 in 1997. Drugged and raped victims. Had them call him "Gus." Arrested in 2006. Settlement(s) in 2006. Two claims settled in 6/2007. Three more plaintiffs came forward in 4/2007. Multiple suits 2007-2013. By 11/2011 26 men had come forward with allegations. Trial awarded $100M in 11/2011; plaintiff(s) will never collect. Pleaded no contest in criminal matter 1/14/2013. Sentenced to 15 years 1/28/2013. New allegations emerged during the FL Attorney General's investigation, report released 11/6/2020. Reportedly in 8/2023, Doherty had been released from prison and was living in a residential neighborhood in Orlando. A new lawsuit filed in 10/2025 claims Doherty groomed and raped a 16-year-old boy multiple times around 1995.

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Fr. Otto Martinez

Order: SJ
Ordained: 1963
Status: Accused

Diocese: Archdiocese of Miami FL

Reportedly in 2004 Martinez was one among approximately 20 archdiocesan priests investigated by prosecutors. No charges were filed due to the statute of limitations.

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Fr. Pedro Jove

Ordained: 1974
Status: Sued

Diocese: Archdiocese of Miami FL

Accused, along with Rev. Gustavo Miyares, in a suit filed in 10/2006 of abusing a boy, age 14, in 1981 and 1982. The abuse allegedly occurred at at a Palm Beach County seminary, a Miami rectory and a condominium in the Keys. In 2006 Jove was referred to as "a former priest who runs a nonprofit Miami-Dade agency for senior citizens." He left the Archdiocese 20 years prior and "formally left the priesthood" 12 years prior.

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Fr. Rafael Escala

Ordained: 1957
Status: Settled

Died: 1/27/2009
Diocese: Archdiocese of Miami FL

Ordained in Cuba. Expelled after the Castro revolution. Spent some time in the Dominican Republic, and ended up in the Miami area in 1977. In late 2011, a man notified the Archdiocese that he had been sexually abused by Escala in the late 1980s when he was 16. Escala caught him stealing from the collection plate, threatened to tell the boy's father but abused him instead. Escala died 1/27/2009. The claim was settled in 1/2013.

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Miami Herald 03.16.13

Fr. Ricardo Castellanos

Ordained: 1970
Status: Settled

Diocese: Archdiocese of Miami FL

Placed on leave in 2002 due to allegations in a lawsuit that he sexually abused a boy, ages 14-16, in the early 1970s. The abuse allegedly occurred at St. Kieran Church and LaSalle High School in Miami and during overnight trips to Disney World. Criminal charges were not pursued due to the statute of limitations. At least four civil suits named Castellanos. Two claims settled 9/22/2004. Retired in 2005 when a new suit was filed. Another suit filed in 5/2012 claims Castellanos abused a youth more than 150 times in about 1995 at San Isidro Church in Pompano Beach.

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Fr. Rocco Charles D’Angelo

Ordained: 1956
Status: Settled

Diocese: Archdiocese of Miami FL

The Miami Archdiocese knew in 1966-1967 that D'Angelo had molested at least 4-5 boys. The boys and their parents confronted church officials, and were promised he would go away and never work with kids again. D'Angelo went for therapy and then on to new assignments in the St. Petersburg Diocese. Numerous suits were filed in Miami and Tampa. Several settled; others were dismissed on the statute of limitations. Per the 11/6/2020 FL Attorney General's report, D'Angelo was "retired" in 1994 after an allegation. He died in 2005. One man who settled in 1998 sued again in 2002, alleging fraud on the part of Archdiocese. Settled in 4/2009.

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Fr. Rolando Castillo

Ordained: 1994
Status: Sued

Diocese: Archdiocese of Miami FL

Accused in a 10/2007 civil suit of sexually abusing a 17-year-old youth in 2001. Placed on leave. Denied all allegations. Cleared by the archdiocese in In 4/2009. Was to be returned to active status and reassigned to a different parish. Civil suit was unclear as to whether the plaintiff was actually a minor at the time of the alleged abuse in 2001. Lawsuit was "mutually resolved."

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Fr. Rolando G. Garcia

Ordained: 1986
Status: Settled

Diocese: Archdiocese of Miami FL

From Cuba. Accused in a 2007 civil suit of sexual abuse of 11-year-old boy in 1989 at St. John Bosco in Little Havana. Settled in 2009. A new suit filed in 9/2012 alleges abuse in the 1980s when Garcia was in seminary. Suspended for 10 days then returned to active ministry. Per the Archdiocese, Garcia passed a polygraph test. Accused in 10/2012 of covering up abuse by another priest. A new suit filed 10/23/2012 claims abuse beginning in 1994. Garcia denied all allegations. Removed without privileges 10/24/2012. Resigned 11/30/2012.

Fr. Thomas A. Dennehy

Ordained: 1958
Status: Sued

Died: 4/10/1999
Diocese: Archdiocese of Miami FL

Ordained in Ireland. First public allegations against Dennehy were made in a civil suit filed 10/5/2010. The plaintiff alleged that Dennehy abused him when he was an altar boy, ages 12 and 13, in 1967-1968, at St. John the Baptist parish. In addition to masturbation, oral sex, and sodomy, the plaintiff was allegedly forced to dress in a girl's school uniform during the abuse. Dennehy was the parish pastor and Cardinal Gibbons High School principal. He retired in 1993 and died in 1999. Miami said it offered counseling to the plaintiff in 2009, but he denied that happened.

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Fr. Thomas J. Engbers

Ordained: 1967
Status: Accused

Diocese: Archdiocese of Miami FL

Resigned from his parish in 4/2002 citing health reasons. The Archdiocese confirmed in 6/2002 that Engbers' resignation was because of a complaint in his file of child sexual abuse 22 years prior. Notes in the file showed the boy's name and a reference to Engbert's treatment for a foot fetish. The alleged victim said that his father reported the abuse to church authorities at the time but nothing was done; he came forward again in Spring 2002.

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Fr. Trevor Smith

Ordained: 1967
Status: Guilty plea

Diocese: Archdiocese of Miami FL

Accused in a 9/2002 civil suit of sexually abusing a 10-year-old boy over four years in the late 1990s. Smith was chaplain at a nursing home owned by the Archdiocese of Miami, where the boy's grandmother was a resident. Settled in 2003 for $500K. Smith was also accused of inappropriate contact with boys in the 1970s. Sent for therapy in 1973. Arrested in 6/2004 and charged with two counts of lewd and lascivious assault against the boy he abused at the nursing home. Pleaded guilty in 12/2004. Sentenced to two years house arrest and eight years probation.

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Sr. Joan Marie Meidinger

Order: OP
Status: Sued

Diocese: Archdiocese of Miami FL

Accused in a suit filed 4/12/2011 of groping and fondling a first grade boy during the 1978-1979 school year at St. James Catholic School in North Miami. Meidinger was the school's principal. The abuse allegedly occurred under the guise of tucking in the boy's shirt. Defendants are Archdiocese of Miami, the archbishop, the Dominican Sisters of Adrian MI, and the school. Died in 2001.

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